Trip
Overview
Lodging
Detailed ItinerarySorry no detailed itineraries available yet, please call 800-GO-ACTIVE for more information
All meals included.
San Francisco, California
Geological Wonders, Horseback Ride, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife
Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
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801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710
Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time
Or contact your travel agent
Deep within California's Sierra Nevada mountain range lies Yosemite National Park, a breathtaking sanctuary of dense forests, sprawling meadows, thundering waterfalls and dramatic granite peaks - ideal for families looking for a balance of astounding scenery, fun-filled activities, relaxation and exploration. Yosemite is one of our nation's most stunning natural wonders, intimate in feel yet grand in scale. Begin your adventure with a taste of the Wild West in California's Gold Country and Stanislaus National Forest before forging into Yosemite itself (kids will love the rock climbing and mule ride). Breathe in mountain air and the scent of pine in picturesque campgrounds, and visit the enduring and celebrated natural wonders nestled within the park.
View the Family Premiere Inns Itineraries.
View other trips in USA
Meet in San Francisco 
Shuttle into the heart of the Sierra Nevada and California's Gold Country Enjoy a barbecue lunch upon arrival 
Take a short spin along quiet roads in the forest or remain at the campground and explore the surrounding trails Take an optional trip to check out massive O'Shaughnessy Dam, an incredible sight to behold Embark on a fantastic hike from Glacier Point - where we have panoramic views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and the Sierra Nevada - down into the valley.
While adults enjoy a guided interpretive hike, kids explore the park via a mule ride There are plenty of optional activities to choose from in the afternoon, including biking, hiking or museum visits Kids take a rock-climbing class in Tuolumne Meadows Adults hike up to Lembert Dome, which rises 800 feet above the meadows Meander through the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias and marvel at these majestic trees, which John Muir deemed "nature's finest masterpiece" Hike to powerful Carlon Falls in the Tuolumne River Valley before shuttling back to San Francisco.
Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.
Lodging What's
this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.
Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic
regional flair.
Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the
areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and
proximity to our activities.
Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every
camp chore and perform culinary magic.
We had a terrific trip. Our leaders were outstanding in every way, the scenery was awe inspiring and everyone had a wonderful time...so much natural beauty and fun experiences in one week!- Lancaster, PA
For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the California tour experts. For multisport tours in USA, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our USA multisport tours click here. For our selection of award-winning USA biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning USA walking and hiking tours click here.
Stanislaus National Forest (3 nights)
Set in the Hetch Hetchy Valley and surrounded by the Stanislaus National Forest, this campground offers private bathrooms (including hot showers) and proximity to our activities.
Yosemite (2 nights)
A welcoming campground nestled in the pristine high-country meadows. Hot showers require a short shuttle.
Trips For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Average Distance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biking | Walking & Hiking |
||
| 1 | 2-3 hours |
10-20 miles |
2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours |
21-30 miles |
5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours |
31-40 miles |
7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours |
41-55 miles |
9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours |
56-75+ miles |
11-13+ miles |
2 Route Options Available
3 Route Options Available
2 Route Options Available
2 Route Options Available
1 Route Option Available
On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with no significant gain or loss in elevation. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.
