California's Yosemite Valley Walking & Hiking Tour

Small Group Adventures for:

Couples, Friends & Solos Adults 18+

Women's Adventures Women 18+

Families with Young Adults 20s & Beyond Best for ages 20+ (min. age 18)

Families with Older Teens & 20s Best for ages 17-23 (min. age 14)

Families with Teens & Kids Best for ages 9-17 (min. age 4)

From $3,799 - $4,599 /person

5 days

4 nights

Activity Levels 1-3

We categorize our trips based on a range of activity levels from leisurely (1) to avid (5) with plenty of options in between.

Casual Plus Hotels

Premiere Hotels - From lavish luxury to on-trend boutique, offering experiences as unique as the regions we explore.

Casual Plus Hotels - A step above Casual but not quite Premiere.

Casual Hotels - Known for their character, charm and proximity to outdoor adventures and Backroads activities.

Small Luxury Ships - Unpack once and cover more distance on an intimate ship with spacious staterooms and superb amenities.

California's Yosemite Valley Walking & Hiking Tour

Small Group Adventures for:

Couples, Friends & Solos Adults 18+

Women's Adventures Women 18+

Families with Young Adults 20s & Beyond Best for ages 20+ (min. age 18)

Families with Older Teens & 20s Best for ages 17-23 (min. age 14)

Families with Teens & Kids Best for ages 9-17 (min. age 4)

5 days

4 nights

Activity Levels 1-3

We categorize our trips based on a range of activity levels from leisurely (1) to avid (5) with plenty of options in between.

Casual Plus Hotels

Premiere Hotels - From lavish luxury to on-trend boutique, offering experiences as unique as the regions we explore.

Casual Plus Hotels - A step above Casual but not quite Premiere.

Casual Hotels - Known for their character, charm and proximity to outdoor adventures and Backroads activities.

Small Luxury Ships - Unpack once and cover more distance on an intimate ship with spacious staterooms and superb amenities.

2024: Apr-May 2025: Apr-May

From $3,799 - $4,599 /person

National Park’s Springtime Waterfalls & Wildflowers

Something special happens to Yosemite in the spring. It's like a light turns on, offering a new perspective on the landscape. The icons are here, of course: Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls. But the drama is turned up. Flowers start to show their colors as they reach for blue sky and still snow-covered peaks. Powerful waterfalls, robust from spring melt, are even more entrancing. And the summer temperatures have yet to arrive. This is springtime in Yosemite. And it shines!  

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Highlights

  • Embark on spectacular hikes to vibrant meadows, luscious waterfalls and jaw-dropping vistas
  • Feel the majestic energy of Yosemite’s ancient trees on a walk through a grove of giant sequoias
  • Explore Yosemite's incomparable valley floor, without the typical summertime bustle and throngs
  • Marvel at eminent and sometimes snowcapped rock formations, including world-famous Half Dome
California Yosemite Valley Walking and Hiking Tour map

California

Start/End San Francisco

Airports & Travel details*

* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.

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Itinerary

Days 1-2

Description

Hike through Yosemite Valley from Bridalveil Falls, taking in views of iconic Half Dome and El Capitan • Spend a leisurely afternoon at the storied Ahwahnee Hotel • Enjoy a swim in the heated outdoor pool, explore the hotel’s museum-like public spaces and hallways and just soak in the historic ambience • Set out on foot from Yosemite Valley past waterfalls and towering granite walls • Follow a stretch of the famed John Muir Trail • Opt for a hike to Yosemite Falls, hop on a bike and cruise through Yosemite Valley or visit the Ansel Adams Gallery • Savor dinner and views out to Glacier Point in the Ahwahnee’s grand dining room beneath impressive wrought-iron chandeliers hanging from the 34-foot-high ceiling.  

Accommodations
The Ahwahnee

(2 nights)

Nights 1-2

The Ahwahnee
Yosemite Village
Casual Plus Hotel

A National Historic Landmark, this iconic hotel features elaborate stained-glass windows, original Miwok Indian arts and crafts, Oriental rugs and Shaker-style furnishings. (pool)

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

Days 3-5

Description

Walk amid majestic giant sequoias—these centuries-old trees are enough to take your breath away • Embark on an illuminating walk with a local naturalist into the valley • Sink into the charming comfort of Yosemite’s newest lodge, situated on a wooded 20-acre expanse •​ Explore Hetch Hetchy, engaging with the valley’s fascinating natural and human history • View striking Kolana Rock, an El Capitan-like granite dome looming 2,000 feet above, as well as Wapama Falls’ triple cascades • Delight in an array of brightly colored wildflowers, including lupine, monkeyflower, buttercup and wallflower in the valley once described by John Muir as “a grand landscape garden” • Hike alongside the South Fork of the Tuolumne River to picturesque two-tiered Carlon Falls. 

Accommodations

Nights 3-4

Rush Creek Lodge
Groveland​
Casual Plus Hotel

Set on 20 wooded acres at the doorstep to Yosemite National Park, this new lodge offers an ideal blend of contemporary sophistication and rustic warmth. (pool, spa)

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

What's Included

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Straight Talk

We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Weather-Related Itinerary Changes

Springtime weather in Yosemite is generally pleasant, with typically warm days and cold nights. However, rain and snow are still possible and even in an average year, higher elevations are routinely covered in snow. Trail conditions in spring can be wet, muddy or even snowy, and hiking routes and distances may need to change depending on these conditions.

Shuttles

In order to bring you the best of what Yosemite has to offer, we spend more time shuttling on this trip than on a typical Backroads trip. This enables us to explore our favorite areas of the park and enjoy its natural wonders and springtime splendor to the fullest.

Want to learn more about this trip?

Request a Detailed Itinerary! Complete with descriptions of each day, tips on travel arrangements, regional highlights and more, it’s the perfect tool to help you choose. You can easily share it with friends too!

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From $3,799 - $4,599 /person

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Hotels

Adventure-Ready Hotels

Ideally located with ready access to trip activities, our Casual hotels are also known for their character and charm.

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

Nights 1-2

The Ahwahnee
Yosemite Village

Casual Plus Hotel

A National Historic Landmark, this iconic hotel features elaborate stained-glass windows, original Miwok Indian arts and crafts, Oriental rugs and Shaker-style furnishings. (pool)

Nights 3-4

Rush Creek Lodge
Groveland​

Casual Plus Hotel

Set on 20 wooded acres at the doorstep to Yosemite National Park, this new lodge offers an ideal blend of contemporary sophistication and rustic warmth. (pool, spa)

From $3,799 - $4,599 /person

View Dates
Return

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From $3,799 - $4,599 /person

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Dates & Prices

Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.

Your guest & room selections

1 adult

1 room, 1 bed

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Apr 28
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Our Private Trips are best for groups of 6 or more. We suggest joining a scheduled trip.

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Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.

Want to learn more about this trip?

Request a Detailed Itinerary! Complete with descriptions of each day, tips on travel arrangements, regional highlights and more, it’s the perfect tool to help you choose. You can easily share it with friends too!

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Backroads provides flexible booking policies so that you can plan your vacation with complete peace of mind.

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From $3,799 - $4,599 /person

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