Yosemite Autocamp Winter Tour
Inn-Based Hiking Tours
4 Days, 3 Nights 20+MI /32+KM
Trip Highlights
Come join us for an extraordinary four days of exploring Yosemite National Park in the winter plus the added benefit of wonderfully unique lodging! Each day we’ll embark on a different exciting day hike or snowshoe trek throughout the Park, and each evening we’ll return to Autocamp Yosemite, where guests will have private Airstream accommodations and delicious meals either prepared by your guide or we will dine locally. We provide all the meals, lodging, local transportation, and an expert guide so you can relax and soak up Yosemite!
Our daily treks cover the gamut from popular, classic hikes to lesser-known gems that we selected just for this trip. We’ll spend time in Yosemite Valley; we’ll venture up into the snow at Badger Pass, and explore one of Yosemite’s three Giant Sequoia Groves. We’ll see waterfalls, high peaks, stunning viewpoints, and giant Sequoia trees, all enhanced by winter’s beauty. You’ll get to see and experience an amazing amount of this park in just 4 days!
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Wonderful, Unique Lodging
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Crowd-free Yosemite Hiking
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Best waterfalls & Viewpoints
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Pristine Winter Scenery
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Stunning Views of the Valley
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Home Cooked Meals
Book This Trip
View Dates
Trip Details
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Trip Type
Inn-Based Hiking Tours -
Trip Length
4 Days, 3 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
6-7 mi -
Group Size
2-10 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
This trip follows well maintained trails. Some concerns include loose dirt, large stepping stones and tree roots. The top of Vernal/Nevada falls has exposed vertical drops with safety railings in place. Trails can be icy or snowy on this trip so be prepared to careful with your footing on variable surfaces.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Shuttle: 45-60 minutes each way
Hiking Mileage: 7.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2900 feet
Elevation Loss: 2900 feet
On this Yosemite hiking tour, we’ll start our trip with a hike to two of Yosemite’s crown jewels, Vernal Fall, and Nevada Fall, along either the John Muir Trail or the Mist Trail, depending on conditions. While many of Yosemite’s hikes are centered on a final destination, today’s route features stunning views the whole way, from Upper Yosemite Falls across the Valley, to the phenomenal granite heights of Liberty Cap, Grizzly Peak, the Panorama Cliffs, Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point and even Half Dome soaring above our heads.
After we lunch at a picturesque point overlooking the falls, we’ll drive back to Autocamp Yosemite and get settled in our accommodations and have a chance to shower. We’ll reconvene in the evening for a delicious dinner.
Day 2
Shuttle: 45-60 minutes each way
Hiking Mileage: 7 miles
Elevation Gain: 1000 feet
Elevation Loss: 1000 feet
Accommodations: Autocamp Yosemite
Today we will arise early and enjoy a great breakfast and a scenic drive into Yosemite’s high country. We’ll head up the Glacier Point Road to the winter road closure at Badger Pass, site of California’s oldest ski area. Here, we’ll strap on snowshoes and begin an epic trip out to spectacular Dewey Point with its unique views of Yosemite Valley. The route begins on the closed Glacier Point Road and winds through a red fir and lodgepole pine forest. These trees thrive in this cold and snowy environment and have adapted throughout the millennium to these conditions. We soon pass through a series of snow-covered meadows before we drop down to Dewey Point and an extraordinary view of Yosemite and the High Sierra. We savor the view before the lure of a steaming cup of hot chocolate at the Badger Pass Ski lodge inspires us to begin our return.
Day 3
Shuttle: 45-60 minutes each way
Hiking Mileage: variable
Elevation Loss: variable
Accommodations: Autocamp Yosemite
Today we start with hot coffee or tea and breakfast It’s a very special day as our goal is to explore the hidden gems of Yosemite Valley. We’ll follow parts of the Valley Loop trail to areas rarely seen by the casual tourist. We’ll experience unique and up close views of Half Dome, El Capitan, the Merced River and Yosemite’s famous waterfalls enhanced with a glittering facade of ice. Either on snowshoes or with our hiking boots, depending on conditions, we’ll tailor our day to make the most of this most incredible Valley.
Day 4
Shuttle: 45-60 minutes each way
Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1200 feet
On our final day, we’ll pack up and enjoy a hearty breakfast before leaving our cozy accommodation among the pines. We’ll turn south and enjoy one last, special treat. Today’s hike takes us into Yosemite’s biggest trees – the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. We’ll hike the lower and upper loops, which provide for a wonderful morning of hiking. We’ll visit the 2700 year old Grizzly Giant, the 25th largest tree on earth, as well as many other of these giants. We’ll also get an unparalleled view of Wawona Valley, another of Yosemite’s special places.
After our hike and lunch we’ll contemplate the unforgettable time we’ve just experienced, and most likely start hatching new plans for future trips to more special places like Yosemite!
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
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What's Included
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3 nights of lodging at Autocamp Yosemite
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Use of trekking poles and snowshoes
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All meals are included from breakfast on Day 1 through lunch on the last day
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Transportation for the duration of the tour (starting and ending from Autocamp Yosemite)
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
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Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Yosemite
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Alcoholic beverages
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
Autocamp Yosemite
3 NIGHTS
Autocamp’s wonderfully unique lodging experience features deluxe Airstreams with spa-inspired bathrooms and chic interiors. Each unit has a private patio and campfire area. The Autocamp Yosemite clubhouse is a modern mid-century facility where we enjoy home-cooked dinners.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
You’ll meet your hiking guide and group at Autocamp Yosemite between 6 and 9 AM the morning the trip begins. If you will not have your own vehicle, we can also pick you up in Yosemite National Park or in Mariposa, California. Your guide will be in contact approximately 2 weeks before your trip and will provide directions to Autocamp. You can leave your vehicle parked at Autocamp for the duration of the tour.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed information about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Autocamp Yosemite
You’ll meet your hiking guide and group at Autocamp Yosemite between 6 and 9 AM the morning the trip begins. If you will not have your own vehicle, we can also pick you up in Yosemite National Park (at Curry Village) or in Mariposa, California. Your guide will be in contact approximately 2 weeks before your trip and will provide directions to Autocamp. You can leave your vehicle parked at Autocamp for the duration of the tour.
Most of our guests drive personal or rental vehicles to Autocamp Yosemite, but you can also travel to and from Yosemite National Park using train and bus options from much of California:
From Fresno: Yosemite Area Rapid Transit (YARTS) is offering 1 bus ride each direction from Fresno to Yosemite Valley.
From Other California Cities through Merced: by rail on the Amtrak San Joaquin Train to the city of Merced (serviced by most large cities in California) or by Amtrak “Thruway” Bus Service from Merced to Yosemite Valley. To book your trip, use Amtrak’s Online Reservation Service to book round-trip Amtrak travel to “YOS” (Yosemite Valley).
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s rendezvous time, generally, you can expect it to be between 6 and 9 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will be done hiking normally before 5 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time) on the final day.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Reviews
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Caitlin T
11 months agoThis trip was life-changing.
The Yosemite autocamp tour over Christmas week was life-changing. Sass was an incredible guide. She was prepared, informative, and professional and she fostered a great group dynamic. The hot lunches were incredible on our winter hikes. The itinerary was perfect with such varied experiences from waterfalls to vistas to huge sequoia. I feel like I got the best possible introduction to Yosemite. I also loved staying at Autocamp and Wildland made the whole process so easy with meals and the campsite included. It was truly a delight to unplug, connect with cool people, and enjoy nature without worrying about the details. Thank you for such a magnificent experience!
Don M
12 months agoThis trip was phenomenal.
I first discovered Wildland back in 2017 and I have been hiking with them every year since then except for 2020 due to Covid. I have now done six backpacking and one inn based trip and every one of them have been exceptional. The guides have all been knowledgeable about the plants, geography and history of the areas we were hiking. The equipment is top notch, the food is amazing and I have met wonderful people from all over the world on my hikes. I highly recommend Wildland and am currently exploring for my next adventure with them.
Paul Z
2 years agoExcellent!
Excellent guiding, well-planned hikes, provided top-of-the-line equipment and great meals make for a great vacation experience, unburdened by having to plan on my own.
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