Glacial Basin Thru Hike
Yosemite Valley, CA
5.0 (5 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Epic Thru Hike
- High Country Views
- Alpine Lakes & Rivers
- Majestic Meadows
- Breathtaking Views
- Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River
Description
Come explore the spectacular high country of the world-renowned Sierra Nevada with Wildland Trekking on this hike through the heart of Yosemite National Park. This point-to-point trek will take you on a traverse of the geographic center of Yosemite. Starting off the spectacular Tioga Road, our path will lead us through upper montane forests and across high exposed ridges to a sublime, glacial-carved sub-alpine basin with several lakes where we will spend two nights among some of the best mountain scenery on Earth. From the lake-filled basin we traverse the edge of the dramatic Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River – a 4,000′ deep, granite chasm with roaring whitewater and water-polished granite walls far below us. Our trip ends at one of the most beautiful lakes in the Sierra. This tour takes us off the beaten path in Yosemite so we’ll be able to enjoy flower-filled meadows, star-studded nights and the pastel hues of the alpenglow in peaceful solitude.
NEED TO KNOW: YOSEMITE PERMITS
Yosemite issues backcountry permits 5.5 months in advance. It’s beneficial to register before permits are issued and if you do, we recommend not making concrete travel arrangements until the permit is secured. We have a very good success rate with Yosemite permits, but if unsuccessful your deposit is 100% transferable or refundable.
$1600 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This trip is along well maintained trails. Some concerns include loose dirt, large stepping stones and tree roots. Day 2 and Day 4 are both a challenging climb in/out of Ten Lakes Basin on well a maintained trail with little to no heights exposure.
Hiking Distances:
5-7 mi
Backpack Weight:
35-45 lbs
Terrain:
Lightly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
2400 ft
Heights Exposure:
Light
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 35-45 lb backpack for 6-8 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on lightly rugged terrain
SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Yosemite backpacking trip a solitude 2. You can expect several hours of solitude at a time.
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.
Most of our 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 4 bus rides 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).
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 People: Rate x 1.25
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsITINERARY
DAY 1
This Yosemite backpacking adventure begins with rendezvous in Yosemite Valley on the patio of Curry Village in front of the Yosemite Mountain Shop at 6PM on Day 1. The Mountain shop is located on the street-facing side of the Curry Village Pavilion (closest to the parking lot). 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
- Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2300 feet
- Elevation Loss: 850 feet
After a quick breakfast, we will shuttle to our starting trailhead on the Tioga Pass Road. We’ll cross three small creeks as the trail takes us through a forest interspersed with lodgepole pines, red fires and western white pines. We hike through stunning Half Moon Meadow and then ascend over three dozen switchbacks up to 9600 ft to Ten Lakes Pass with stupendous panoramic views of much of Yosemite. A final one mile descent through scattered white bark pines leads us to the shores of one of the lakes in the breathtaking Ten Lakes Basin. We will set up camp and enjoy a relaxing evening with a hearty backcountry dinner prepared by your guide.
DAY 3
- Hiking Mileage: 5-7 miles
- Elevation Gain: varies
- Elevation Loss: varies
Today is a layover day and that will give us the opportunity to kick back, relax and explore the area. After a leisurely breakfast and a chance to enjoy our coffee around the campfire, we’ll pack up a picnic lunch and begin our day of exploration. Our itinerary is flexible but we’ll plan on visiting some of the out of the way lakes and, perhaps, bagging one of the many peaks surrounding the lake basin. After a high altitude picnic, we’ll be back at camp by mid-afternoon and that will give us time for another swim, or to just relax with a good book beside the lake.
DAY 4
- Hiking Mileage: 7.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2400 feet
- Elevation Loss: 1550 feet
We’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast after an early wake-up call and prepare for today’s hike down from our high country camp. There will be a lot of ups and downs as we traverse the southern edge of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. We will break for a picnic lunch at a scenic spot (plenty to choose from!) and continue to our campsite high above the 4000 ft. deep, Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River. Views from here are fantastic, encompassing much of the northern half of the park from Matterhorn Peak down to Mount Dana and beyond.
DAY 5
- Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 340 feet
- Elevation Loss: 1970 feet
After a quick breakfast we’ll begin our final hike that takes us out of the mountains. Our trail drops us steeply as we switchback down the east side of Tuolumne Peak. Then it’s easy going along the glacially scoured valley as we follow Murphy Creek down from its headwaters in the Polly Dome Basin. We head south from here, through a dense lodgepole forest, along the lightly traveled Murphy Creek trail. We end our trip at a trailhead on the shores of Tenaya Lake, a beautiful sub-alpine lake nestled in a glacial basin surrounded by the white granite peaks and domes of the Yosemite high country. We’ll shuttle back to Yosemite Valley and reminisce on the way, and perhaps start dreaming about our next adventure!
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
- Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
- High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use) – or bring your own.
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from dinner on Day 1 through lunch on the last day
- A professional, knowledgeable, certified Yosemite hiking guide
- National park backcountry camping permits
- Bear cannisters for food storage
- 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
- A Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and dependents to a discount of 10% off any Wildland hiking trip after your first one (must book directly with us to receive the discount)!
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Clothes, raingear, leather gloves (for the cables on Half Dome) and footwear (see recommendations)
- 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 backcountry – 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 synthetic-fill sleeping bags (or bring your own)
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and cookware
- Bear cannisters
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
WHAT GEAR TO BRING
We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are two 1-liter water bottles per person, leather gloves, and either a headlamp or flashlight per person. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important.
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!
WHAT CLOTHES TO BRING
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with detailed guidance about what clothes to pack (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, and our recommended clothing system. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required.
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?
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 guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
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 CONSIDERATIONS
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. We’ve developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and all tours carry an emergency communication device. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
GUIDES
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
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.
GROUP SIZE AND AGE RESTRICTIONS
The standard group size on backpacking trips is 5 guests, with a maximum of 10 guests. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) and we’ll answer all your questions.
Age restrictions 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
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
Of course campsites vary tremendously 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 backpacking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Reviews
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- Most recent
- LOW - HIGH
- HIGH - LOW
Hugo G.
Fantastic trip and great guide!
First trip with Wildland and they totally met my expectations. Well organized, well planned, the scenery was beautiful (swimming in Alpine lakes is not something you do every day), and our guide was top-notch (knowledgeable, personable, and a great cook; thank you Carm!!!).
Peggy H
Excellent Job
Wildland Trekking did an excellent job on our backpacking trip to Ten Lakes Basin (Yosemite). Our guides, Brittany and Michael were spectacular and we would ask for them again, if we ever do another Wildland Trekking tour. Due to unanticipated medical issues of one of our group members, we could not complete the Ten Lakes Basin trip as planned. Brittany and Michael worked with our group to accommodate our needs, and they reconfigured our trip so that we had magnificent hikes in very cool places with excellent views. Brittany and Michael were professional and fun, as well as patient and helpful. We had a great trip! By the way, the food was top-notch too!
Patrick D.
Great Company
Our guide Claire was excellent and flexible under difficult circumstances (wildfire). Whole wildland team was great throughout entire process.
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