Best of Yosemite Inn Based Tour
Yosemite, CA
5.0 (30 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Diversity of Hikes
- Spectacular Waterfalls & Domes
- Alpine Peak Ascent
- Amazing Glacial History
- Premier Lodging Outside the Park
- Wonderful Lodge & Picnic Meals
- Guides Choice Trip
Description
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!
One of the most amazing aspects of visiting Yosemite is learning about its glacial history. Your guide will point out this history throughout the week, noting evidence such as sheered domes, mountains of moraine, massive boulders perched in impossible positions, and other unique features. You’ll also learn about Yosemite’s wildlife, Native American history, and early settler history.
$1185 Single Supplement
The single supplement guarantees your own room. If you would like to forego the single supplement, you can request to be paired with a roommate of the same gender. If we are unsuccessful in pairing you with a roommate, the single supplement will apply.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
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.
Hiking Distances:
5-6 miles
Backpack Weight:
10-12 lbs
Terrain:
Lightly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
2900 feet
Heights Exposure:
Moderate
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 10-15 pound backpack for 6-8 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on lightly rugged terrain
- Hiking with occasional, moderate heights exposure
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Yosemite trip a solitude 2. You can expect as much as an hour of solitude at a time.
MINIMUM OF 2 GUESTS
If a trip does not reach the minimum number of guests, you may choose to transfer to another trip date or another trip, be refunded your payments in full, or you may have the choice to pay a supplemental fee to run the trip with fewer guests. We make the final determination for these trips 4-6 weeks before the departure date, and notify guests of changes and options immediately.
Private Trips
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 2
- 4 People: Rate x 1.5
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person and single supplements apply
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Itinerary
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!
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.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Four nights of double occupancy lodging at the Rush Creek Lodge, or similar equivalent in rare cases (single occupancy requires an additional single supplement)
- Pre-trip lodging is available for an additional charge per room
- Use of trekking poles and a day pack
- All meals are included from breakfast on Day 1 through lunch on the last day
- 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.
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device (InReach Explorer or satellite phone)
- Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Yosemite
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear and footwear (see recommendations)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Alcoholic beverages
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What to Expect
We provide all your meals from lunch the first day through lunch the last day. Your guide will prepare breakfasts and lunches with a variety of hot and cold meals that are appropriate for the day’s activities. Feel free to tell us about your food preferences, as we’re more than happy to tailor the menu to your needs/desires. Some specialty diets may require an additional fee.
For dinners, we’ve hand-picked local restaurants you’re sure to enjoy! We made our decisions based on the quality of their food, their charm, and how much local color and character they have.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Leki trekking poles
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
Guest Packing List
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system (water bottles and/or bladder) and other items specific to each trip.
Trip Logistics
How Do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
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.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.
Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.
The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.
Guide Shifts
The guide(s) for this trip work daily shifts from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. During off hours (9 p.m. to 5 a.m.) the guides’ time is their own, and they are free to sleep, rest, take personal time, postpone guest requests until the next morning, and any other legal, reasonable activity people engage in when not working. We ask all guests to respect the guides’ off-duty hours by not waking or asking anything of them unless there is a true emergency. Also, state law requires that employees receive an uninterrupted 10 minute break every four working hours, so guides are required to take four 10 minute breaks between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.
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
Weather in the Sierras
Being a high mountain environment, the Sierra Nevada Mountains are prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. This is an exciting aspect of being in the mountains. On trips in June, snow is a possibility, and the rest of the summer rain is always a possibility on your trip. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). See below for average summer temperatures:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||||
|
Month
|
Valleys
|
Alpine
|
||||
|
hi
|
low
|
hi
|
low
|
|||
|
January
|
49°
|
26°
|
45°
|
25°
|
||
|
February
|
55°
|
28°
|
46°
|
26°
|
||
|
March
|
59°
|
31°
|
48°
|
27°
|
||
|
April
|
65°
|
35°
|
54°
|
30°
|
||
|
May
|
73°
|
42°
|
62°
|
37°
|
||
|
June
|
81°
|
51°
|
71°
|
46°
|
||
|
July
|
89°
|
57°
|
77°
|
50°
|
||
|
August
|
89°
|
56°
|
81°
|
53°
|
||
|
September
|
82°
|
51°
|
71°
|
46°
|
||
|
October
|
74°
|
39°
|
62°
|
37°
|
||
|
November
|
58°
|
31°
|
51°
|
29°
|
||
|
December
|
48°
|
26°
|
46°
|
25°
|
||
Accommodations
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)
* These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used.
Trip Reviews
- SORT BY:
- Most recent
- LOW - HIGH
- HIGH - LOW
Denise C.
Patient, Attentive Guide
Casey, our Wildland guide, was so patient and careful to make sure the different levels of hikers were challenged without leaving anyone behind. The only suggestion for improvement that I would give is that he impart more information about the landscapes we travelled through.
Aniruddha R
Great 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
Amazing Experience
Incredible hiking experience made even more amazing with the extraordinary skills of tge Wildland guides.
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