High Sierra Loop: Nelson Lake Entry
Guided Backpacking Trips
5 Days, 4 Nights 25MI / 40KM
Trip Highlights
This dramatic and varied itinerary takes guests through the heart of Yosemite’s wilderness and has some of everything Yosemite has to offer. Our point to point hike begins in Tuolumne Meadows and ends in Yosemite Valley, and features a range of terrain from off-trail hiking to maintained trails. The scenery changes constantly and the crowds vanish as we descend from the high country down Yosemite’s most famous river and its tributaries. We will cut a path straight through the heart of the Park as we hike over high mountain passes and through deep river canyons, past alpine lakes, flower-filled mountain meadows, signature granite domes and roaring waterfalls. This is an adventure to remember, and yet has a moderate difficulty rating, making it a fantastic option for a wider range of fitness levels than our Level 4 and 5 hikes.
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Point to Point Hike
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Tuolumne Meadows
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Remote Subalpine Lakes
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Iconic Views
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Famous Waterfalls
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Moderate Off-trail Hiking
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Guides Choice Trip
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Trip Details
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Trip Type
Guided Backpacking Trips -
Trip Length
5 Days, 4 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
5-9 mi -
Group Size
1-6 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 trek is off trail for the first two days, which makes for moderately rugged hiking. After that it follows well maintained trails and includes a Day 4 hike of almost 9 miles with a descent of 2400 feet, which is the most difficult day of the trip.
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
This Yosemite backpacking tour begins with rendezvous in Yosemite Valley in the parking lot of Curry Village near the bear boxes at shuttle stop 14 at 6PM on Day 1. You will easily spot your guide waiting for you in a Wildland Trekking hat. We’ll conduct an orientation meeting, after which we’ll get settled in the Backpackers Camp a stone’s throw away from majestic Tenaya Creek and under the spectacular domes and cliffs of Yosemite Valley. We’ll enjoy dinner either at Curry Village or in camp.
Day 2
Shuttle: 2 hours
Hiking Mileage: 5.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1770 ft
Elevation Loss: 810 ft
Our hike begins in Tuolumne Meadows, the largest alpine meadow in Yosemite. We start with a gentle climb through a sublime lodgepole pine forest to beautiful mountain lake near tree line. We’ll explore this sub-alpine gem while your guide prepares lunch under the granite spires of a towering peak. After lunch, the trail will all but disappear as we cross a 10,000+ foot pass into a magnificent and remote canyon. As we finish the day, we will set up camp at possibly the most stunning high country lake in Yosemite. We’ll watch the glow of the sunset on granite cliffs reflected in the waters of the lake as your guide prepares a well-earned dinner.
Day 3
Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 100 ft
Elevation Loss: 1490 ft
Today we dive into the heart of the Yosemite Wilderness. After a delicious breakfast, always with hot tea and/or coffee, we will follow the outlet stream of the lake to its confluence with a pristine mountain creek. Our trek continues through wildflower strewn meadows and across huge granite slabs down to the junction with another stream, where we’ll set up camp. After a hearty dinner we’ll spend the evening stargazing next to a lovely campfire with the rewarding feeling that we are the only people for miles.
Day 4
Hiking Mileage: 8.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 320 ft
Elevation Loss: 2400 ft
Today marks a dramatic change in the scenery. We descend into the Merced River Canyon and follow it past roaring rapids and swirling cascades. We stop for lunch, and maybe a quick dip in the river, amongst the soaring sugar pines and granite domes of Lost Valley before making camp at the Little Yosemite Valley campground. We will spend the evening with fellow hikers from all over the world at the communal campfire rings before turning in under the shadow of Yosemite’s most iconic feature: Half Dome.
Day 5
Hiking Mileage: 5.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 740 ft
Elevation Loss: 2870 ft
Our return to Happy Isles and Yosemite Valley will follow the John Muir Trail, a parallel trail to the Mist Trail. This more relaxing route offers additional outstanding views of the falls, Liberty Cap, Mount Broderick and the backside of Half Dome, as it switchbacks down through a Douglas fir forest below the north face of the Panorama Cliffs. Reaching the trail’s end at Happy Isles, we can celebrate our accomplishment with a foot soak in the cold waters of the Merced or an ice cream cone at the snack shack!
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 dinner 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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National park backcountry camping permits
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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
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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 -
National park entrance fee
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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
TENT CAMPING
Sleeping on backpacking trips 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 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 Yosemite Valley in the parking lot of Curry Village near the bear boxes at shuttle stop 14 at 6PM on Day 1. Your guide will contact you approximately 10 days before your trip to coordinate this rendezvous and answer any last minute questions you have. Your guide will be waiting for you in a Wildland Trekking hat and shirt. This trip includes dinner and camping that night at the backpackers camp. Personal vehicles can remain parked at Curry Village during your trip.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed information about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Yosemite Valley
TRAVEL TO YOSEMITE VALLEY BACKPACKERS CAMP
This trip meets in Yosemite Valley in the parking lot of Curry Village near the bear boxes at shuttle stop 14 at 6PM on Day 1. Your guide will contact you approximately 10 days before your trip to coordinate this rendezvous and answer any last minute questions you have. Your guide will be waiting for you in a Wildland Trekking hat and shirt. This trip includes dinner and camping that night at the backpackers camp. Personal vehicles can remain parked at Curry Village during your trip.
Many Wildland guests rent vehicles or drive their own to Yosemite Valley. However, 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. To reach the Yosemite Valley Backpackers Camp get off at Curry Village and either walk or take a national park shuttle to North Pines Campground. Walk to the back of the campground and across the footbridge to the camp.
From Other California Cities: 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 at the orientation meeting. Generally, you can expect it to be between 5 and 8 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will be out of the backcountry 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)
- 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
Reviews
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Anderson M
3 years agoWill be highly recommending
Mike, our guide, made this trip. He was positive, engaging, a complete billy-goat on the rocks, knows the area really well, was a plethora of information about the formations and the park, and was very professional and prompt the entire trip. His off trail choices were excellent. I really enjoyed camping at lake Nelson! Also he gave us the option for a day hike day so we could see 5 lakes in our immediate area instead of just hiking a creek. I thought that was a great option for day 3 and ended up being my favorite day. All food and equipment provided my Wildland Trekking was perfect and in good shape, or food wise delicious. I will be highly recommending Wildland Trekking to others.
Beatriz J
3 years agoGreat Time!
great time! organized, secured, adventure time that gave all of us opportunity tu learn, laugh, and enjoy nature first timers thru hikers. Mike is chef, guide, friend, excelente person, professional and human all the time. thanks mike gracias! nature is easier with a guide like you. great work, great friend.
Proce M
3 years agoAwesome
My original trip is for Back Packing and it was modified to Base Camping due to the Mariposa fire, I'm just glad that it's not canceled so I didn't waste my day off for nothing and not waste money on all reservations like an airline, and car rentals. The adventure hike, mountain climbing, and alpine dipping were great, Jessie the guide was awesome, and our group was great. Looking more adventure in the future with Wild Land again. Thank you for the memories.
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