Best of Yosemite Winter Hiking 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. Each day we’ll embark on a different exciting day hike or snowshoe trek through the Park, and each evening we’ll return to Yosemite View Lodge where guests will have the chance to dine locally and unwind with warms showers 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 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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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
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
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 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 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 Yosemite View Lodge 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: 60 minutes each way
Hiking Mileage: 7 miles
Elevation Gain: 1000 feet
Elevation Loss: 1000 feet
Today we will rise 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 millennia 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 minutes each way
Hiking Mileage: variable
Elevation Loss: variable
Today we start with hot drinks 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 incredible Valley.
Day 4
Shuttle: 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, start hatching new plans for future trips to more special places like Yosemite!
What's Included
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Three nights of double occupancy lodging at the Yosemite View Lodge, or similar equivalent in rare cases (single occupancy requires an additional single supplement)
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Use of a day pack, trekking poles, and snowshoes or micro spikes if needed
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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 in El Portal, CA)
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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
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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.
YOSEMITE VIEW LODGE
4-5 NIGHTS
Yosemite View Lodge is just minutes from the Arch Rock entrance to the national park and sits on the banks of the Merced River. It offers a relaxed, peaceful stay away from the crowds of Yosemite Valley, yet close enough to make sure we 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 Yosemite View Lodge between 7 and 9 a.m. the morning the trip begins. Your guide will email you 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.
*********** to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Yosemite View Lodge
TRAVEL TO Yosemite View LODGE
You will meet your hiking guide and group at Yosemite View Lodge between 7 and 9 a.m. the morning the trip begins (pre-trip lodging at Yosemite View Lodge is an optional add-on). Your guide will email you approximately 10 days 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 El Portal, CA using a personal vehicle or rental vehicle. Yosemite View Lodge is 2.4 miles from Yosemite National Park’s Arch Rock Highway 140 entrance. Their address is 11136 CA-140, El Portal, CA 95318.
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 Merced you will connect with the YART Merced/140 line that stops at Yosemite View 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).
Pre and Post Trip On Request Lodging
We secure limited amounts of pre and post trip lodging in El Portal, CA as an optional add-on for guests of this trip. This lodging is on request, and is available on a first come, first serve basis. If interested, please reach out directly to our team to check availability.
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 Yosemite View 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
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