Yosemite Walking Tour

Yosemite Walking & Hiking

Overview
Lodging
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Trip Highlights
  • Sublime hikes to thundering waterfalls, alpine meadows and spectacular panoramas
  • Glean secrets of Yosemite Valley from a local naturalist
  • Sprawling Tuolumne Meadows, with endless trails
  • Walk amid the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite’s largest stand of giant sequoias
  • Ahwahnee Hotel, the best way to stay in the valley
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The Natural Wonders in California's Sierra Nevada

John Muir knew exactly what he was seeing. So big, so beautiful, so worth preserving. Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls - legendary landmarks in a legendary park whose grandeur is almost overwhelming. It’s no surprise that many 19th-century tourists to this glacier-carved wonderland saw it as a new Eden. Soak up jaw-dropping vistas from Glacier Point. Marvel at soaring granite cliffs that the early travelers once likened to Gothic cathedrals. Bask in the shade of towering sequoias. Welcome to Yosemite National Park: 761,266 acres of "wow!"

Day 1 Walk amid the awe-inspiring Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite’s largest stand of these ancient trees The grove’s famous Grizzly Giant tree is estimated to be 1,800 years old - give or take a few centuries.

Day 2 Sublime hikes to thundering waterfalls, alpine meadows and spectacular panoramas in the Sierra Nevada, called the "Range of Light" by John Muir After fueling up with a picnic, get your legs moving on a scenic hike to remote Chilnualna Falls Perhaps you’ll be up for a swim or a spa treatment at our hotel, cradled by the pines of the Sierra National Forest.

Day 3 Ahwahnee Hotel, the best way to stay in the valley  Travel to Glacier Point, with commanding vistas of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and the Sierra Nevada As you hike to the historic Ahwahnee Hotel, feel dwarfed by the vertical cliff walls looming above you.

Day 4 Glean secrets of Yosemite Valley from a local naturalist The valley is yours to explore however you wish, be it horseback riding, hiking to Lower Yosemite Falls or paying a visit to the Ansel Adams Gallery.

Days 5-6 Sprawling Tuolumne Meadows, with endless hiking trails, glorious high-country scenery and a profusion of summer wildflowers Cap off the week with a hike to Carlon Falls in a hidden corner of the park.

Guests Reviews About This Trip

I had very high expectations for this trip, having wanted to visit Yosemite for many years. I have to say that they were exceeded in every respect. The trip leaders were very enthusiastic and on top of everything. They took us to some beautiful places, where we saw very few people. The lodgings were very luxurious and the food was great. I will never forget this trip!
Leda Sammarcospan - Kingston, UK
This is my third Backroads trip. I am pleased to note that every other member of our party had previous Backroads experiences! Such return support speaks for itself.
Larry Bergen - Roscoe, IL
Yosemite stands on its own but was certainly enhanced by our great leaders. They were fun, helpful, personable, professional...everything one expects and needs from a group leader. Looking forward to our next Backroads trip!!
Darlene Dorminy - Chula, GA

Premiere Inns*

Tenaya Lodge
Tenaya Lodge

Fish Camp (2 nights) A welcoming mountain resort near Yosemite’s South Gate with plentiful amenities and panoramic forest views. (pool, spa)

Ahwahnee Hotel
Ahwahnee Hotel

Yosemite Village (2 nights) A National Historic Landmark - and as much an icon of Yosemite as Half Dome - the Ahwahnee features elaborate stained-glass windows, etched stone floors, original Miwok Indian arts and crafts, carved wood paneling, Oriental rugs and Shaker-style furnishings. (pool)

Evergreen Lodge
Evergreen Lodge

Groveland (1 night) Elegantly rustic and welcoming cabins nestled amid towering pines on the western border of Yosemite. (pool) 

* Casual Inn


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Natural & Artistic Inspiration in New Mexico

Wyoming: Yellowstone & Grand Tetons Walking & Hiking

Exploring the Wyoming Wilderness

This Trip Is Rated Level 1-4

Routes 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 Road Bike Average Mountain Bike Average* Walk & Hike Average
Level 1 2-3 hours 10-20 miles 10-15 miles 2-5 miles
Level 2 2-4 hours 21-30 miles 16-20 miles 5-7 miles
Level 3 3-5 hours 31-40 miles 21-25 miles 7-9 miles
Level 4 4-6 hours 41-55 miles 26-30 miles 9-11 miles
Level 5 5-7+ hours 56-75+ miles 31+ miles 11-13+ miles

*Mountain bikes are used in locations where the best riding is on a combination of dirt and paved roads. View trip locations

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Levels 2 to 5  2 Route Options Available
  • 4.2, 6 miles
  • 800 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 1 to 3  3 Route Options Available
  • 4, 6, 8.4 miles
  • 1200 - 2400 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 1 to 4  4 Route Options Available
  • 4.3, 5.5, 8.5, 10.5 miles
  • 1200 - 750 feet elevation gain; 4000 feet elevation loss 
Day 4
  • Levels 1 to 2  Several Route Options Available
  • 2 - 6 miles
  • 500 feet elevation gain
  • Guided Walk 3 hours
Day 5
  • Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
  • 3.3, 6 miles
  • 300 - 850 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • 3.6 miles
  • 200 feet elevation gain
Terrain Description
Alpine, canyon and valley trails, scenic waterfall hikes.

For 33 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the California tour experts. See our award-winning USA walking tours and hiking tours, USA biking tours and USA multisport tours.

Walking & Hiking

Premiere Inns

6 days, 5 nights
arrow view dates

Trip Price*
  • $3,198 to $3,498 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$1,130 for sgl. occ.)
Meet/Depart

San Francisco, California


* Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.

Trip Notes

All meals included except 1 dinner

Recommended Reads

Essential trip reading

Cancellation Policy

View cancellation policy

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When Is Small
Too Small?

You may find some companies singing the praises of traveling in a very small group. We know this rarely works unless you’ve handpicked your closest friends for a
private trip.

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When Is Small
Too Small?

You may find some companies singing the praises of traveling in a very small group. We know this rarely works unless you’ve handpicked your closest friends for a private trip. Otherwise, you may find yourself going crazy with the constraints that a very small group puts on you: there’s one van, and it’s leaving at one time, and you’re all in it. You’re sitting with the same people every night at dinner, and although pleasant, not necessarily captivating after the fifth dinner. You may feel more self-conscious about doing your own thing, since the group moves more as a unit—not through anyone’s intention but just through human nature. Backroads group sizes are small enough to move through the world in a low-impact way but big enough to invite compelling group dynamics.

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Not too small

"Excellent! Loved it. I thought it would be fun, but it was even more fun than I thought it would be. And I was most pleasantly surprised and pleased by my fellow guests - they were smart, interesting, outgoing and fun and easy to talk with. I felt comfortable immediately and really enjoyed getting to know them."

Bill Maris
Burlington, VT

Contact a Trip Consultant today!

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or 510-527-1555

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from 7 am to 5 pm, PT

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