Best of Yosemite Inn Based Tour
Inn-Based Hiking Tours
5 Days, 4 Nights 28MI /45KM
Trip Highlights
Come join us for an extraordinary week of hiking in Yosemite National Park! Each day we’ll embark on exciting day hikes throughout the Park, and each evening we’ll return to a comfortable lodge where we’ll enjoy relaxing and charming restaurant meals and cozy rooms. We provide all the meals, lodging, local transportation, and an expert guide so you can relax and soak up Yosemite!
Our daily hikes cover the gamut from popular, classic hikes to lesser-known gems that we selected just for this trip and our Yosemite Basecamp Tour. We’ll spend time in Yosemite Valley, and we’ll venture up into the high country of Tuolumne Meadows. We’ll visit waterfalls, high peaks, stunning viewpoints, and giant Sequoia trees. You’ll get to see and experience an amazing amount of this park in just 5 days!
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Diversity of Hikes
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Spectacular Waterfalls & Domes
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Alpine Peak Ascent
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Amazing Glacial History
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Premier Lodging Outside the Park
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Wonderful Lodge & Picnic Meals
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Guides Choice Trip
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Trip Details
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Trip Type
Inn-Based Hiking Tours -
Trip Length
5 Days, 4 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
5-6 miles -
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.
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.
Optional Pre-trip Lodging
This Yosemite hiking tour has optional add-on, pre-trip lodging for the night before the trip begins at Rush Creek Lodge. Lodging in the Yosemite area can be difficult to secure, so we offer this night’s accommodations as a convenience and added benefit for guests who prefer it. Dinner is not included in the pre-trip lodging, and breakfast Day 1 is included but will be provided by your guide.
For pricing and availability, please reach out to our Adventure Consultant team (800-715-HIKE).
Day 1
Shuttle: 45 minutes each way
Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 3000 feet
Accommodations: Rush Creek Lodge
Your guide will pick you up at Rush Creek Lodge or at Curry Village in Yosemite National Park, and we’ll make our way to the first day’s hike at Happy Isles trailhead. Our day begins with a hike to two of Yosemite’s crown jewels, Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall, along the John Muir or the Mist Trails. While many of Yosemite’s hikes are centered on a final destination, this 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 return to the Valley floor and explore more of the scenic wonders of this fantastic place. Then we return to our lodge where we’ll get cleaned up and meet for a much-deserved dinner that evening.
Day 2
Shuttle: 1.5 hours each way
Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1800 feet
Accommodations: Rush Creek Lodge
Today we will arise early and drive up into Yosemite’s high country. We’ll head east along the Tioga Pass Road, stopping at Olmsted Point for a mesmerizing view of Yosemite’s alpine mountains and Half Dome in the distance. We’ll reach our morning trailhead in Tuolumne Meadows: a series of vast, alpine meadows with mountain streams snaking their way through the tall grass and plentiful wildflowers. Here, we’ll get an overview of the meadows from our hike to the summit of Lembert Dome. This hike involves some scrambling before topping out at the 9450 ft. summit with its amazing views of the Cathedral Range and the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River.
Afterward we’ll head up to Tioga Pass, the highest highway crossing in California and the Sierra. Our after lunch hike will take us up the steep trail to the Gaylor Lakes Basin just below the rugged Sierra Crest. We’ll visit high alpine lakes and perhaps, the abandoned 1870’s Great Sierra Mine before returning to our lodge and resting up for dinner.
Day 3
Shuttle: 1.5 hours each way
Hiking Mileage: 10.2 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2540 feet
Accommodations: Rush Creek Lodge
Today we will climb one of Yosemite Valley’s iconic granite domes, Half Dome’s northerly sibling, the spectacular North Dome. Our hike starts above the Valley at a normally quiet trailhead and heads south through a pristine Lodgepole Pine forest. After only a few miles we will enjoy a rejuvenating break at Indian Arch, an arch-shaped rock that provides breathtaking views of the mountains that surround us. From Indian Arch we will descend down onto the top of North Dome where we will enjoy a picnic lunch with out-of-this-world, 360-degree views of Yosemite Valley and the surrounding mountain peaks as our backdrop. After snapping lots of photos and soaking up the views, we will complete our hike back to the trailhead, then return to our hotel for showers, evening cuisine, and another relaxing evening.
Day 4
Shuttle: 1.75 hours each way
Hiking Mileage: 6.3 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1500 feet
Accommodations: Rush Creek Lodge
Today’s hike takes us into Yosemite’s biggest trees and the largest and most impressive trees on earth – the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. We’ll hike the lower and upper loops, which provide for a wonderful day 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. The Park Service has recently completed a restoration of the Grove and removed much of the man-made infrastructure-returning much of the natural peace and quiet to this special place.
Day 5
Shuttle:1 hour each way
Hiking Mileage: 5.5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2020 feet
Shuttle: 2 hours
On our final day, we’ll pack up and enjoy a hearty breakfast before leaving Rush Creek Lodge. We’ll turn east and enjoy one last, special treat: a summit attempt on Mount Hoffmann, a peak at the geographical center of Yosemite National Park! Our hike takes us uphill to May Lake, a charming sub-alpine lake framed by sheer granite cliffs. We’ll take a break at the lake before continuing up the flanks of Mount Hoffman. This summit involves only hiking but is an exciting ascent up a picturesque mountain peak.
The highlight of today comes when we reach the summit, which some people say offers the best view of any in Yosemite! From its high perch we will be looking down on Half Dome and Clouds Rest – a rare vantage point – and over to the bright granite peaks of the Cathedral Range. We’ll snap some pictures and soak up the views before heading back down to May Lake and back to the trailhead. After our hike and a final lunch we’ll contemplate the unforgettable week we’ve just experienced, and most likely start hatching new plans for future trips to 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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Four nights of double occupancy lodging at the Rush Creek Lodge, or similar equivalent in rare cases (single occupancy requires an additional single supplement)
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Pre-trip lodging is available for an additional charge per room
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Use of trekking poles and a day pack
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All meals are included from breakfast on Day 1 through lunch on the last 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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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
* These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used.
RUSH CREEK LODGE
4-5 NIGHTS
Rush Creek Lodge offers a relaxed, yet modern and sophisticated lodging experience in a forested setting in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains near the west entrance to Yosemite. We escape the crowds in Yosemite Valley, yet are perfectly poised to maximize our adventure!
(pool, spa)
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
You will meet your hiking guide and group at Rush Creek Lodge between 7 and 9 a.m. the morning the trip begins. You can also meet your guide at Curry Village inside Yosemite National Park if that works better for you. Your guide will be in contact approximately 2 weeks before your trip to coordinate the exact time and location of the rendezvous, which will depend on current weather and road conditions.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Rush Creek Lodge
TRAVEL TO RUSH CREEK LODGE
You will meet your hiking guide and group at Rush Creek Lodge between 7 and 9 a.m. the morning the trip begins (pre-trip lodging at Rush Creek is an optional add-on). We can also meet you at Curry Village in Yosemite Valley on Day 1 if that works better for you. Your guide will be in contact approximately 2 weeks before your trip to coordinate the exact time and location of the rendezvous, which will depend on current weather and road conditions.
Personal or Rental Vehicle: You can most easily travel to and from Rush Creek Lodge using a personal vehicle or rental vehicle. Rush Creek Lodge is a half mile from Yosemite National Park’s west Highway 120 entrance. Their address is 34001 CA-120, Groveland, CA 95321.
Trains and Amtrak: from many California cities, you can connect to Yosemite 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. Once in Yosemite Valley you will connect with the YART Sonora line that stops at Rush Creek Lodge.
To book your train or Amtrak bus trip, use Amtrak’s Online Reservation Service to book round-trip Amtrak travel to “YOS” (Yosemite Valley).
Start/End Times
Your guide will coordinate the first day’s rendezvous time approximately 2 weeks before the trip. Generally, you can expect it to be between 7 and 9 a.m., although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will be back to Rush Creek Lodge on the last day normally around 3 PM to allow guests to travel to San Francisco that evening (this time is not guaranteed however, 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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Judson T.
4 months agoMr.
We had a wonderful time! Morgan was delightful, knowledgeable, and accommodating. Highly recommend!
Aniruddha R
1 year agoGreat experience, just like the previous time.
Great experience, just like the previous time. Craig and Michael were thoughtful and considerate guides and made sure everyone in the group had a good time. Craig and Michael thought of a different itinerary every day and ensured we saw most of the natural beauty of Yosemite.
Mary Joan P
1 year agoAmazing Experience
Incredible hiking experience made even more amazing with the extraordinary skills of tge Wildland guides.
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