Yosemite Valley Basecamp Tour

Yosemite, California
5.0 (27 reviews)

Trip Highlights

  • Iconic Yosemite Views
  • Stunning Waterfalls
  • Diversity of Hikes
  • Towering Granite Domes
  • Fascinating Glacial History
  • Giant Trees - One 3,000+ Years Old!
  • Yosemite Valley Minus Summer Crowds

Description

Our Spring/Fall Basecamp Tour in Yosemite Valley is a truly unique opportunity to experience the heart of Yosemite National Park in its best seasons. Lying at just 4,000 feet in elevation, “The Valley” has moderate winters, perfect shoulder seasons (spring and fall) and summers are quite hot. This trip allows our guests to enjoy the most comfortable seasons in the Park, a time that has the most impressive waterfall flows because of high mountain snowmelt (spring) and some of the most solitude one can find in the Valley!

We’ll set up a comfortable basecamp at a campground near Yosemite Valley and each day set out on hikes to waterfalls, amazing view points, edges of sheer cliffs, and more! Each evening we’ll return to camp for wonderful outdoor meals, campfires, and relaxation.

Read more …
From USD
$1920 Per Person
Trip Type: Camping Hiking Tour
Difficulty Level:
Solitude Level:
Group Size: 2-10 Guests
Trip Length: 4 Days
Distance: 20+MI / 32+KM

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2

Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult

SUMMARY OF DIFFICULTY
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:

6-7 mi

Backpack Weight:

8-12 lbs

Terrain:

Lightly Rugged

Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:

2900 ft

Heights Exposure:

Moderate

Please Note: Terrain, Elevation Gain and Heights Exposure ratings reflect the section or day of the trip with the maximum difficulty of each. Much of the trip is at easier levels. See the trip itinerary for more detailed information.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP

  • Hiking uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb backpack for 6-8 hours
  • Maintaining balance and footing on lightly rugged terrain
  • Hiking with occasional, moderate heights exposure
* For an official and complete list of physical requirements, please see our Essential Eligibility Criteria.

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 1.75
  • 4-5 People: Rate x 1.5
  • 6-8 People: Rate x 1.25
  • 9-12 People: Rate x 1.15

*all rates are per person

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Itinerary

Itinerary

Day 1

  • Hiking Mileage: 7.5 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 2900 feet
  • Elevation Loss: 2900 feet

On this Yosemite hiking tour, we’ll meet up the first morning of our trip at the Curry Village parking area in Yosemite Valley. From there, we start our 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, 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 make our way to the campground. As your guide prepares a sumptuous meal, there is time to is sit around the campfire and watch as the alpenglow turns a brilliant crimson in the sky above.

Day 2

  • Hiking Mileage: 5.8 miles
  • Elevation Gain/Loss: 3800 feet

Today we’ll tackle the Upper Yosemite Falls trail and ascend 3800 ft. to the North Rim of Yosemite Valley and the top of the sixth highest waterfall in the world! We begin our hike on the Valley floor at the historic Camp 4, where many of the legendary big wall climbers hung out in the 1950’s and 60’s. The trail ascends sharply from there as we make our way through oak/pine woodland that is prime habitat for bobcats. We soon reach Columbia Rock, with amazing views of Half Dome and the Clark Range across the Valley, before descending a bit to our first dramatic view of Yosemite Falls and the feel of cool mist on our faces. Continuing up a series of switchbacks, we top out on the Valley rim before descending a vertigo inducing stairway to the falls overlook. After a picnic lunch back at the rim we descend to the trailhead and our camp for a well-deserved gourmet dinner around the campfire.

Day 3

  • Hiking Mileage: Variable
  • Elevation Gain/Loss: Variable

We’ll give our sore legs a break today and spend our time exploring the wonders of Yosemite Valley. After a hot breakfast and coffee in the chill spring air, we’ll collect our day packs and set off on the Valley Loop Trail. The possibilities are endless, as we can explore more popular sights as Bridalveil Fall and Mirror Lake; or, we can go off the beaten path to more obscure places like the Old Big Oak Flat Road with its one of a kind views of El Capitan or Sierra Point, the only place in Yosemite to see four major waterfalls. We’ll top off the day with a picnic dinner and experience one of the most beautiful sunsets possible.

Day 4

  • Hiking Mileage: 6.3 miles
  • Elevation Gain/Loss: 1500 feet

On our final day, we’ll pack up and enjoy a hearty breakfast before leaving our basecamp among the ponderosa 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, and most likely start hatching new plans for future trips to more 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

TRIP DATES & BOOKING

Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.

Available to Book

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

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

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

Trip Details

What's Included

  • Top-of-the-line tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and day pack
  • Use of trekking poles
  • 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)
  • National park entrance fee
  • Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
  • Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
  • 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

All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the outdoors – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.

For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.

We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.

Gear We Provide

We provide all group gear which includes the following:

  • Deuter or Osprey backpacks
  • Sierra Designs, Kelty or Big Agnes tents
  • Sierra Designs, Kelty, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware sleeping bags
  • Thermarest sleeping pads
  • Leki trekking poles
  • Cooking stoves and cookware
  • 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.

Additionally, some guests choose to bring their own sleeping bag. We supply high quality, synthetic fill bags that are professionally laundered after every trip. Synthetic fill is non-allergenic, insulates when damp and stands up well to repeated washings, but is heavier and bulkier than down. If you’re able to bring your own down sleeping bag, there are multiple benefits. If not, we’ve got you covered!

Trip Logistics

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’ll meet your hiking guide and group in Curry Village in Yosemite Valley around 8 AM the morning the trip begins. Your guide will be in contact approximately 2 weeks before your trip and will specify the exact location of the rendezvous at that point. You can park your personal vehicle at Curry Village for the duration of the trip.

Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.

Travel to Yosemite Valley

TRAVEL TO CURRY VILLAGE IN YOSEMITE

You’ll meet your hiking guide and group in Curry Village in Yosemite Valley around 8 AM the morning the trip begins. Your guide will be in contact approximately 2 weeks before your trip and will specify the exact location of the rendezvous at that point. You can park your personal vehicle at Curry Village for the duration of the trip.

Most of our guests drive personal or rental vehicles to Yosemite, but you can also travel to and from Yosemite National Park using train and bus options from much of California:

From FresnoYosemite Area Rapid Transit (YARTS) is offering 1 bus ride each direction from Fresno to Yosemite Valley.

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.

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

Accommodations

PREMIER CAMPGROUNDS

3 NIGHTS

On our basecamp tours we hand pick wonderful campgrounds that put us right in the action for exceptional hiking and camping vacations. They may be national park, state park, or private vehicle-accessible campgrounds. They may vary by trip date depending on availability and seasonality.

FANTASTIC MEALS

11 MEALS

Basecamp trips include meals for the duration of the tours beginning with breakfast the first day through lunch the final day. Meals are prepared by your guide(s) using fresh ingredients, exclusive Wildland recipes, and we adhere to all department of health outdoor cooking codes.

COMFORTABLE CAMPING

CAMPING AMENITIES

What amenities do basecamp tours include? Cold and hot drinks, campfires (where/when allowed), camp chairs, access to showers, fresh food, roomy tents, comfortable sleeping pads, comfy sleeping bags, camp pillows and more! Camp comfortably, eat like royalty, and hike til your heart’s content!

Trip Reviews

Trip Reviews

  • Average Customer Ratings:

  • 5.0 (27 reviews)
Matthew L
5.0

Great experience all around.

5 months ago

Austin was our guide for the Yosemite Valley Basecamp hike we did. From the lead up with emails and registrations all the way through our final goodbyes, Austin was amazing. Fun, personable, knowledgeable, a great cook... He really put everyone at ease with the drives, hikes, dinners, and sleeping arrangements. He was always asking about how we felt, if we were up for something outside the itinerary, and every hike we went on was amazing. Austin was great, Wildland Trekking was great, just a great experience all around. I will definitely find another reason to use Wildland on future excursions.

Gail B
5.0

We enjoyed the trip immensely.

6 months ago

Our second Wildland Trekking trip and they continue to exceed our expectations. Our guide, Ian, did an incredible job catering to our needs and chose beautiful challenging hikes. Will keep using this company for trip because the quality of service.

Rachel P
5.0

Excellent Experience

6 months ago

Ian was excellent. He took the stress out of this camping experience in Yosemite so we could just relax & fully take in & enjoy the experience. He setup the camping site, prepared all meals & took care of the dishes, setup the camping fire, drove, etc. He also had the days planned out very nicely with backup plans if the group was physically tired mid way through the hike or if the weather changed or just in general & he was always checking how we were all doing & offering all alternatives. He lives right outside the park & is very familiar with the ins & outs of the park which made for the most efficient experience. He took us to some of his favorite spots that we otherwise would have never seen. Excellent experience with Ian, couldn't have gone better & he was very personable.

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