Ansel Adams Wilderness High Sierra Camp
Packstock or Porter Supported
5 Days, 4 Nights 24MI / 39KM
Trip Highlights
The Ansel Adams Wilderness, bordering Yosemite National Park, is a spectacular expanse of California’s High Sierra renowned for its dramatic granite peaks, alpine meadows, and crystal-clear lakes. Encompassing 79,000 acres and over 350 miles of trails, it offers endless opportunities for exploration and solitude. On this trip, we hike with light daypacks while pack animals carry our gear to a scenic lakeside basecamp. From camp, we venture out each day to discover high mountain cirques, hidden lakes, and more in one of the Sierra’s most breathtaking wilderness areas.
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Pack Stock Support
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Spectacular Wilderness
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High Alpine Lakes
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Mountain Vistas
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Meadows & Wildflowers
Book This Trip
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Trip Details
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Trip Type
Packstock or Porter Supported -
Trip Length
5 Days, 4 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
Up to 6 miles -
Group Size
2-12 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 features moderate hiking distances on moderately rugged terrain that includes on-trail and off-trail sections. Backpack weights are on the light-moderate side at 15-25 pounds.
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
On Day 1 you will meet your Guide in Fresno around 4:00 pm. We will enjoy a scenic drive to Bass Lake, California, where we will camp for the night and have dinner and orientation. Your guide will review the itinerary, check gear and answer questions.
Day 2
Drive Time: 1 hour
Hiking Distance: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1709 feet
Elevation Loss: 322 feet
Today we’ll get an early start. After breakfast at our campsite, we will shuttle to our starting trailhead. We will begin our hike through beautiful conifer forests and along rushing mountain creeks and set up camp near the shores of a gorgeous subalpine lake with stunning views of the surrounding high country. This is our home for the next 3 nights, so we’ll settle in and have a bit of down time before our first delicious backcountry dinner prepared by your guide(s)!
Day 3
Hiking Distance: up to 6 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: up to 2,000 feet
Our first morning waking up in this amazing place will be complimented by a hot breakfast and steaming tea or coffee prepared by your guide(s). After breakfast we will enjoy our first day hike from camp: this one takes us into a stunning basin with multiple lakes in the high country above camp. Our hike follows established on-trail and off-trail sections, and the hike can be customized based on the desires of the group.
After our hike you’ll have time to relax in camp, fish or swim in the lake. We’ll reconvene for another hearty dinner and amazing evening beneath one of the most beautiful night skies you’ve likely ever seen.
Day 4
Hiking Distance: up to 6 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: up to 2,500 feet
After another tasty breakfast served up by your guide(s) we’ll set out once again to explore the mountains, valleys, basins and cirques that define the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Today we’ll hike toward one of the peaks that comprise the boundary between the Ansel Adams Wilderness and Yosemite National Park. From our highest point, we’ll relax for a picnic lunch and soak up the panoramic mountain views, then return to camp. Your guide(s) will prepare a celebratory dinner tonight to commemorate our last evening in the wilderness.
Day 5
Drive time: 1.5 hours
Hiking Distance: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 322 feet
Elevation Loss: 1709 feet
After a relaxing morning we’ll break down camp, load the mules and say goodbye to our lakeside camp. Today we reverse our route from Day 2, taking our time to soak in the mountains. We aim to be back to the trailhead by 4 PM, where we’ll sort the gear and say our fond farewells. Your guide will transport you back to Fresno Airport or Hotel of choice.
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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Transportation for the duration of the tour beginning and ending in Fresno, CA
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Mules to transport the majority of gear and food
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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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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 from dinner on day 1 through breakfast on the last day
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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 -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Waterbottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-15% of trip cost) Note: Gratuities for mule teams are included in the trip rate.
Accommodations
Backcountry Sleeping
4 Nights TENT CAMPING
Sleeping on backpacking treks is in premier 1-person, or 2-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
Delicious Backcountry Cuisine
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 originates and concludes in Fresno, CA. You will be transported from Fresno to Bass Lake where we hold the pre-trip orientation at 6:00 pm. During orientation we will review the packing list, communicate the next day’s logistics and answer any last-minute questions you have.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Pre and Post Trip On Request Lodging
We secure limited amounts of pre and post trip lodging in Fresno, 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
This trip originates at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Fresno Airport Hotel at 4:00 PM on Day 1. We will have you back to the airport or hotel of your choice in Fresno no later than 8 pm 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.
Reviews
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Doris D
1 day agoA challenging and fun adventure
Fred, our guide, was terrific. Took us on interesting hikes, some of which challenged my abilities, but that was part of the fun--seeing that we could do things that we may not have had the confidence to attempt on our own! The location was so beautiful and private and peaceful. And Fred's meal preparations for us were far better than anything I make at home (maybe not saying much). Really outstanding gourmet quality meals. The mule assisted aspect made it possible for us to get out there even with our no-longer-young bodies, and made it that much more enjoyable. Meeting the mules and the wrangler was actually one of my favorite parts of the trip! Great job, Wildland!!
Heather M
26 days agoGreat trip
Great trip! The hikes were challenging but not crushing. The scenery was amazing. The guides were great and the other guests were amazing.
Cheryl I
26 days agoA wonderful adventure
Ian is a great guide, and it was a pleasure to meet him and have him a part of our adventure. The pack mules allowed us to experience this amazing place.
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