Grand Yosemite Traverse
Guided Backpacking Trips
5 Days, 4 Nights 38MI / 61KM
Trip Highlights
This outstanding trip was recognized by National Geographic as one of the highly esteemed “World’s Top 15 Trails.” Famous outdoor adventure journalist Peter Potterfield also put this route on his list of “25 Classic Hikes in North America.” Covering 38 miles of breathtaking mountain scenery, we hike through the core of Yosemite National Park and enjoy plenty of time in the most remote and most classic areas of the park. Guests rave about this trip, and most frequently mention as their personal highlights: entering the park by hiking over the remote 11,000ft Isberg Pass, which gives us a bird’s eye view into the high country; a stunning section of the John Muir Trail; a beautiful descend of the Merced River; iconic Vernal and Nevada Falls and camping on the shores of an alpine lake. Don’t miss this one – it’s unforgettable!
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Yosemite High Country
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Alpine Lakes
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Thundering Waterfalls
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Mountain Solitude
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Iconic Views
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End in Yosemite Valley
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View Dates
Trip Details
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Trip Type
Guided Backpacking Trips -
Trip Length
5 Days, 4 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
4-11 miles -
Group Size
4-12 Guests
Receive a PDF info packet via email which includes:
- 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 features some long daily hiking distances (up to 11 miles) with significant elevation gains and losses for multiple days in a row. Backpack weight is 45+ pounds, and elevations go up to 11,000 feet. All of these details combined make this trip Level 4 difficulty.
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 to Trailhead: 3 hours
Hiking Distance: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1800 feet
Elevation Loss: 300 feet
We’ll pick you up early at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Fresno and begin our journey north. The scenic drive is about 3 hours and takes us to a remote starting point for this amazing hike. Today’s hike takes us higher in to the Sierra Nevada mountains, where the views expand with every step we take. Our first night’s camp is at a gorgeous meadow. We’ll set up camp and settle in for our first night under the stars. Your guide(s) will prepare a delicious dinner, and you’ll have an opportunity to explore and stargaze before retiring for the night.
Day 2
Hiking Distance: 8 miles
Elevation Gain: 2300 feet
Elevation Loss: 800 feet
This morning we’ll enjoy a hot breakfast, break camp and hit the trail. Our hike takes us through an alpine basin full of crystal clear lakes mirroring the high peaks with their glassy waters. Then we’ll climb up to the high point of our trip, which is also one of the most dramatic ways to cross into Yosemite National Park: Isberg Pass, which sits at a towering elevation of 11,100 feet! Now inside the Park, we’ll continue on to our majestic camp near a subalpine lake and the headwaters of Yosemite’ most famous river: The Merced. Our camp is framed by several 11,000 to 12,000 foot peaks.
Day 3
Hiking Distance: 11 miles
Elevation Gain: 180 feet
Elevation Loss: 2960 feet
Today we enjoy a mostly downhill trek along high the Merced River, which grows in size as we descend. The scenery today is absolutely gorgeous as we drop out of the alpine and into the deeper valleys and river canyons that lead to Yosemite Valley. We will set up camp on the shores of beautiful Merced Lake.
Day 4
Hiking Distance: 8 miles
Elevation Gain: 320 feet
Elevation Loss: 1450 feet
Today we descend along the the Merced River and revel at its crystal clear waters, plunging pools and polished granite slabs. The impressive domes of Mount Broderick and the Liberty Cap dominate the northern skyline as the view west encompasses 6222 foot Grizzly Peak, the Panorama Cliffs, and Glacier Point across the canyon. After setting up camp, we can relax by swimming at “the beach” or just hanging around camp enjoying the pine-scented air. We will celebrate our final night in the backcountry with a delicious backcountry dinner.
Day 5
Hiking Mileage: 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 500 feet
Elevation Loss: 2650 ft
Shuttle: 2.5 hours
Our trek from Little Yosemite Valley to the Happy Isles trailhead continues yesterday’s journey along the Merced River, where we’ll soak up views of towering granite domes and sheer cliffs. Today’s hike takes us past two of Yosemite Valley’s most dramatic waterfalls: Nevada and Vernal Falls. Rain gear may be a good idea as the trail descends a series of stair steps directly in the path of the thunderous spray of Vernal Fall! Our hike ends on the banks of the cascading Merced River in the east end of Yosemite Valley. We will meet our shuttle driver and enjoy a relaxing drive back to Fresno for the conclusion of our adventure. What a week it’s been!
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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Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
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High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use)
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Use of trekking poles
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All meals are included from breakfast on Day 2 through lunch on the final day
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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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Transportation originating and ending in Fresno, CA
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Bear cannisters for food storage
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear and footwear -
Dinner on Day 1, snacks/drinks at Red Meadows and Tuolumne
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Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
Backcountry Sleeping
4 Nights TENT CAMPING
Sleeping on llama treks is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Backcountry Cuisine
FRESH & DELICIOUS
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your trekking guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
Amazing Campsites
IN THE ACTION
Campsites vary by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
This trip meets in Fresno, CA at 6:00 pm the evening before the trip begins for a pre-trip orientation meeting. The meeting location is the Fairfield Inn and Suites Hotel near the Fresno International Airport. Your guide will be in contact approximately 10 days prior to coordinate the rendezvous.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Fresno, CA
Fresno International Airport is a convenient airport to fly into, and the starting and ending point of the trip (Fairfield Inn and Suites) is located across the street from the airport. Please arrive in Fresno well before 6:00 PM and don’t plan any departing flights on the final day before 7:00 PM.
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the Day 1 pick-up time at the orientation meeting. Generally, you can expect it to be between 5 and 7 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will be back into Fresno normally around 4 PM on the final day (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time.)
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)
- 10 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis
- specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
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