Our route then continues through the Lehamite and Indian Creek drainages, eventually leading us to our camp at the incredible Snow Creek promontory with up-close views of Mt Watkins and Half Dome. Day 3, we will either relax and enjoy the high sierra lakes and vistas or make an additional short but steep trek of Mt. It’s about protecting what sustains us. Not surprisingly, there are many! The permit station here is open until 5pm and you can ask the rangers questions about trail conditions and regulations. Check out some of our favorite backpacking trips in the park and get out there! Note that a shuttle offers free transit service throughout the Tuolumne Meadows area during summer, including to Tenaya Lake. Below is a suggested 3-day itinerary. The Best Winter Adventures in North America. Yosemite 3 Day Backpacking trip to Half Dome. This itinerary may be done in reverse depending on the wilderness permit. Another day you could drive down to Yosemite Valley at your leisure and enjoy the scenery. See Yosemite hiking. You are also close to the trailhead for the Chilnualna Falls day hike and Buena Vista Lakes backpack, both described in the hiking and backpacking section below. Our final morning had us up and out of camp early in hopes of beating the crowds to the view point atop Yosemite Falls and descended the Falls Trail before the full heat of the day had a chance to set in. All group gear including stoves, cookware, water filters, group first aid kit, etc. Our friendly office staff are ready to answer any questions and help you book your next adventure! This is a wonderfully scenic trip with moderate days and highlights including hiking alongside the highest waterfall in North America (Yosemite Falls-2,425') and some of the best views of Yosemite Valley and Half Dome in the entire Park. 2 nights of wilderness tent camping (permits included). Stop by the historic Ahwahnee Hotel for a drink and take in the one of the grandest examples of the Park Service's rustic architecture style. For this shorter itinerary we're honing in on the more accessible areas such as Yosemite Valley, the South Rim and Tuolumne Meadows. A valley shuttle provides free transit around Yosemite Valley and stops within walking distance of nearly all major landmarks and trailheads. We believe good things come from people spending time outside. After we enjoy the spectacular and improbable falls lookout point, we’ll travel another .5 mile or through evergreen forests to camp. Most visitors enter Yosemite from the west or south entrances, which aligns with the orientation of the below itinerary, but it can be done in reverse order if you will be entering Yosemite … This was going to be a pretty easy day with 8ish miles, mostly descending down into the meadows. Photo: Kyle Frost. Return to Wawona Road and head downhill to Tunnel View en route to Yosemite Valley. Trails under a mile in length explore the meadow and meander along the Upper Tuolumne River. Bridalveil Creek Campground is the only camping available on the South Rim proper, so that's your best bet. John Muir Trail Northbound: Florence Lake to Yosemite Valley, John Muir Trail: Agnew Meadows to Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Grand Traverse with Horsepack Support, Glacier Point and Yosemite's South Rim Day Hike. I've told friends and family about the trip and none of them believe how well I ate. After dinner, plan on enjoying a spectacular night of stargazing. I will be sending another e-mail shortly to sing the praises of SYMG and to say thanks again for not only changing the way Rachel feels about backpacking, but allowing me a great opportunity to change Rachel's and my relationship forever. Breakfast at the Ahwahnee.Built in 1927, this magnificently rustic hotel is among the most beautiful in the U.S. It’s worth seeing any time. No Yosemite itinerary would be complete without a trip up to Glacier Point for an incredible view of many of Yosemite’s iconic sights from the very top of the valley. At our creekside camp we’ll enjoy refreshing swimming holes, followed by a gourmet backcountry dinner prepared by your guide(s). 2-3 day backpacking trip suggestions. I could see all of the places we'd hiked...and it was a lot! Moderators: Wickett, dan. We arrived in Yosemite National Park the day before starting our backpacking trek on the Yosemite Highlights Loop. Review of The Wildland Trekking Company. After exploring Glacier Point, continue back on Glacier Point Road to the Sentinel Dome/Taft Point parking area. Arrive in Yosemite; If you arrive before dark, find somewhere to watch the sunset; Camp at Yosemite’s Backpackers’ Campground; Day 2. Wilderness permits can be applied for in advance – and this is highly recommended – as the popular trailheads can fill up on the first day that reservations open. Looking for more tips? Back to Yosemite 3-Day Itinerary Contents Day 3 (7am to 3pm) – Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, Gaylor Lakes Our final day was a Saturday, so we visited one of the quieter areas of the park high up along Tioga Rd (only accessible in the summer), … Since the group begins hiking on Day 1 with specific mileage to cover, it is important that you are on time to meet your guide and group in the morning. If the Cathedral Lakes Trail is a bit more than what you're after, consider a nice flat walk around Tuolumne Meadows itself, the largest subalpine valley in the Sierra. Why you should go: This 2-3 day high-altitude romp is heaven for alpine lake lovers. During summer the shuttle also provides access to Glacier Point. Start the morning off with a ride through the eastern portion of the valley exploring Cook Meadow, the Yosemite Falls area, and the beaches and bridges crossing the Merced River. we’ll continue along the rim to Yosemite Point lookout. She said yes!! https://www.alltrails.com/.../yosemite-national-park/backpacking Geographically, the park can be thought of as having six main areas: Yosemite Valley, Hetch-Hetchy, South Rim, North Rim, Tuolumne Meadows, and the park's expansive backcountry. Head out to the center of the meadow to Soda Springs, where you'll enjoy postcard like views of the surrounding Cathedral Range and Tuolumne's many shapely domes. We're novice backpackers, but have done a lot of hiking and are comfortable with strenuous terrain. Our adventure coordinators will find out what type of experience you are looking for and they will help craft the perfect Three Day adventure for you to enjoy. Backpack 10 Lakes Basin. If you would like to visit the Yosemite backcountry for an extended adventure that will be sure to create memories to last a lifetime, check out any of our guided Yosemite backpacking trips! I didn't get home until 1am but it was worth it. Try and stay in the park the night before, either at Wawona, Crane Flat, or Bridalveil Creek Campground to get a jumpstart on the day and get close to the South Rim. Due to its popularity, permits must be obtained for any overnight stay in Yosemite, backpacking or otherwise. It meant a lot more to do the "tourist" things after the trip because I could see how much I'd accomplished. Distance: *28 miles, 9 miles per day *Difficulty: Moderate Type: End-to-end, shuttle Best Time to Hike: May-October Description: Get away from the Yosemite Valley crowds on this epic trek. And articles is crazy twist of fate that Rachel and i were able to have the trip recommend. 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