Young Lakes – Mount Conness
Yosemite Valley, CA
5.0 (8 reviews)Trip Highlights
- High Country Views
- Summit Mt. Conness
- Alpine Lakes
- Joys of Solitude and Wilderness
- Adventure & Scenery in 3 Days
- Pristine Camps
- Guides Choice Trip
Description
Simply put, this is the 3-day trip we would choose if we were looking to make the most of a long weekend hiking trip in Yosemite! Our Young Lakes to Mount Conness backpacking trip is for visitors who want to pack a tremendous amount of scenery and adventure into a relatively short trip. We begin in stunning Tuolumne Meadows, a subalpine wonderland of meandering trout rivers, sparkling granite domes, vast meadows, and amazing alpine views. We’ll camp on the shores of the beautiful Young Lakes and on Day 2 day hike off trail to the top of Mount Conness (one of the tallest peaks in Yosemite), which provides an exciting ascent and phenomenal panoramic views of Yosemite Valley and the surrounding high country.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to explore off-the-beaten-path wonders and high country beauty of Yosemite National Park! Give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) to learn more or book your spot today.
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% transferrable or refundable.
$1070 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult
- Backpack Weight:
- 25-35 pounds
- Daily Hiking Distances:
- 7-8 miles
- Most Elevation Loss:
- 2600 feet day hiking
- Most Elevation Gain:
- 2600 feet day hiking
- Quality of Trails:
- Well maintained and off trail hiking
- Additional:
- We follow established trails to Young Lakes, but our hike to the top of Mount Conness is off trail and involves hiking on scree slopes, steep inclines, and areas with unstable footing.
Participants should:
- be active and healthy
- regularly exercise vigorously
- be comfortable hiking, biking, running, or swimming for several hours without many breaks
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Yosemite backpacking trip a solitude 2. You can expect as much as an hour of solitude at a time.
Learn More about our Rating SystemTRAVEL 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:Â Yosemite Area Rapid Transit (YARTS)Â 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).
California does not charge sales tax on services, so there is no sales tax for this trip.
All trips in Yosemite National Park have a 5% fee required by the National Park Service. This fee is applied when your reservation is made and is passed through directly to the national park.
There are no other taxes or fees associated with this trip. Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) with any questions!
Private Trips
Traveling in perfect company is a wonderful thing! With our private trip offerings you can book a trip exclusively for your group. Whether it’s with family, friends or colleagues, private trips are a fun and enriching way to explore the outdoors.
Private trip pricing is based on a sliding scale, depending on the number of people in your party. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax and national park fees (where applicable) or guide gratuity. Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE to get the ball rolling!
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2
- 3 People: Rate x 1.3
- 4 People: Rate x 1.1
- 5+ People: Rate x 1
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsItinerary
DAY 1
This guided Yosemite backpacking trip 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: 1980 feet
- Elevation Loss: 670 feet
Our hike begins in beautiful Tuolumne Meadows, the largest sub-alpine meadow in the Sierra. From the trailhead we pass Lembert Dome, one of the many shining granite domes that surround the meadow, as we wind our way up hill through a thick forest of lodgepole pines. A quick ascent brings us to Dog Lake, with incredible views south to colorful Mount Dana and Gibbs, where we take our first break and soak in the scenery. Pushing onward, we cross more flower-filled meadows that reveal phenomenal views of the serrated peaks of the Cathedral Range dominating the skyline to the south. After a trailside lunch, we reach one of the most beautiful areas in Yosemite, the Young Lakes Basin at almost 10,000 ft. Here, before we settle down to a well-deserved gourmet dinner, we take a quick dip in the bracing waters of lower Young Lake.
DAY 3
- Hiking Mileage: 7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3180 feet
- Elevation Loss: 3180 feet
We start the morning with hot drinks and a filling breakfast in the chilly high altitude air as we prepare for the highlight of our trip: the summit of 12,590 ft. Mount Conness, one of the tallest peaks in Yosemite! The shear southwest face of the peak dominates the view as we pass middle and upper Young Lakes on our cross-country route through a sparse forest of whitebark pines. After crossing the headwaters of Conness Creek we begin a steep ascent to a tarn nestled in a beautiful basin on the south slopes of Mount Conness. Here, a difficult climb up a slippery talus slope brings us to the easier summit plateau. A final class three scramble brings us to the summit with one of the best views in the Sierra. Half Dome, Cathedral Peak and Mount Lyell are a few of the hundreds of peaks we see as our view stretches from California’s Coast Range to Boundary Peak, the highest point in Nevada! After our summit lunch, we retrace our steps to camp, in time for another afternoon dip in the refreshing waters of lower Young Lake.
DAY 4
- Hiking Mileage: Â 6miles
- Elevation Gain: 670 ft
- Elevation Loss: 1980 ft
With some nostalgia, we pack up after a quick breakfast and prepare for our last day’s hike out. Happily, it is almost all downhill as we retrace our first days hike for about a mile and a half before we veer off on the trail toward Dingley Creek. As we approach Tuolumne Meadows, views through the forest of lodgepole pines open up to show fantastic cloud forms over the surrounding granite domes and spires. We soon meet up with day hikers and trail riders as we approach the trailhead. Here we’ll enjoy one last lunch together and celebrate our successful summit triumph!
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.
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, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and technical backpack
- 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 satellite phone
- You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and kids to a lifetime discount of 10% off any Wildland Trekking hiking trip after your first one!
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Clothes, raingear, leather gloves (for the cables) and footwear
- 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 sleeping bags
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki or Black Diamond 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. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
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. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
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 most tours carry a satellite phone. 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
Yosemite and Sequioa-Kings Canyon guides 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 and 1 guide, with a maximum of 10 guests and 2 guides. 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)
- 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
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 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
- SORT BY:
- Most recent
- LOW - HIGH
- HIGH - LOW
Kathy R.
Great Trip
Great trip. Would not have been able to ascend Conness without Michaela's help. She did a great job of ensuring our entire group could make the ascent. Lots of encouragement and patience,
Greg R.
An Adventure Not to be Missed
The Young Lakes - Mt. Conness trip is an adventure not to be missed. As our guide promised, the view from the summit of Mt. Conness is incomparable. We cannot conceive of trying this ascent without an experienced Wildland guide.
Julie S.
Above and Beyond
Dyland went above in beyond. From his trail cooking to his knowledge of Yosemite to his amazing attitude, I can't say enough how much he made our experience.
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