![Wide shot of mountains at sunset.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/YO_shutterstock_1804423408_0.jpg.webp?itok=bYuLHiN4)
![guests hike a sunny trail in yosemite](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_060.jpg.webp?itok=pBXsWkXE)
![a group of Backroads guests on a hike](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_017.jpg.webp?itok=nM1v_uMl)
![Wide shot of redwood trees.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/YO_shutterstock_252752608_0.jpg.webp?itok=eMd0P--d)
![hikers cross a bridge over a roaring waterfall](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_028.jpg.webp?itok=ImKYry8y)
![a rainbow behind a group of hikers](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_024.jpg.webp?itok=ZAqZhA23)
![Two hikers cross rocks under a waterfall](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_089.jpg.webp?itok=G9a5Cbyz)
![Deer eating grass.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/MYOQF_JHE_ST_22_002_1.jpg.webp?itok=C1bwLdS7)
![Backroads leaders serving a picnic](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_049.jpg.webp?itok=2Hj6iWFR)
![Guests pose with a large tree](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_056.jpg.webp?itok=YqOAjpcR)
![two hikers walk up a rocky trail](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_064.jpg.webp?itok=sg6UAAPG)
![backroads guests hiking in yosemite](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_033.jpg.webp?itok=32dj_hXs)
![Wide shot of flowery meadow, mountains in background.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/YO_shutterstock_32568895_0.jpeg.webp?itok=KH7FHbNw)
![a bear walks by stones](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_019.jpg.webp?itok=vP9GOU7h)
![Shot of the Ahwahnee Lodge.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/MYOQF_ALY_ST_22_007_1.jpg.webp?itok=MU-C7_zr)
![Wide shot of Yosemite Falls.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/YO_GCR_ST_23_002_0.jpg.webp?itok=l-yEMuYi)
![Shot of waterfall, craggy riverbed in foreground.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/YO_GCR_ST_23_004_0.jpeg.webp?itok=0DkT_w5n)
![Shot of wildflower branch, flowing stream behind it.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/YO_GCR_ST_23_003_0.jpg.webp?itok=wnxOSb8M)
Yosemite Valley Walking & Hiking Tour
From $4,399 - $4,949 /person
5 days
4 nights
Activity Levels 1-3
Casual Plus Hotels
Yosemite Valley Walking & Hiking Tour
5 days
4 nights
Activity Levels 1-3
Casual Plus Hotels
2025: Apr-May
![Wide shot of mountains at sunset.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/YO_shutterstock_1804423408_0.jpg.webp?itok=bYuLHiN4)
![guests hike a sunny trail in yosemite](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_060.jpg.webp?itok=pBXsWkXE)
![a group of Backroads guests on a hike](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_017.jpg.webp?itok=nM1v_uMl)
![Wide shot of redwood trees.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/YO_shutterstock_252752608_0.jpg.webp?itok=eMd0P--d)
![hikers cross a bridge over a roaring waterfall](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_028.jpg.webp?itok=ImKYry8y)
![a rainbow behind a group of hikers](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_024.jpg.webp?itok=ZAqZhA23)
![Two hikers cross rocks under a waterfall](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_089.jpg.webp?itok=G9a5Cbyz)
![Deer eating grass.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/MYOQF_JHE_ST_22_002_1.jpg.webp?itok=C1bwLdS7)
![Backroads leaders serving a picnic](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_049.jpg.webp?itok=2Hj6iWFR)
![Guests pose with a large tree](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_056.jpg.webp?itok=YqOAjpcR)
![two hikers walk up a rocky trail](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_064.jpg.webp?itok=sg6UAAPG)
![backroads guests hiking in yosemite](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_033.jpg.webp?itok=32dj_hXs)
![Wide shot of flowery meadow, mountains in background.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/YO_shutterstock_32568895_0.jpeg.webp?itok=KH7FHbNw)
![a bear walks by stones](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2024/WYOQ-9_JNI_24_019.jpg.webp?itok=vP9GOU7h)
![Shot of the Ahwahnee Lodge.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/MYOQF_ALY_ST_22_007_1.jpg.webp?itok=MU-C7_zr)
![Wide shot of Yosemite Falls.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/YO_GCR_ST_23_002_0.jpg.webp?itok=l-yEMuYi)
![Shot of waterfall, craggy riverbed in foreground.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/YO_GCR_ST_23_004_0.jpeg.webp?itok=0DkT_w5n)
![Shot of wildflower branch, flowing stream behind it.](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_gallery_full/public/2023/YO_GCR_ST_23_003_0.jpg.webp?itok=wnxOSb8M)
National Park’s Springtime Waterfalls & Wildflowers
Bring on the drama—it’s springtime in Yosemite. The icons are here, of course: Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls. But the wonder is heightened. Flowers show their colors as they reach for blue sky and peaks still covered in snow. Powerful waterfalls, robust from spring melt, are even more entrancing. And the summer temperatures have yet to arrive. Let Yosemite put a spring in your step.
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](/sites/default/files/styles/trip_page_map/public/2023/24_CS_WYOQ9_1.jpg.webp?itok=bvf4MFp_)
Start/End San Francisco
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
![](/sites/default/files/styles/itinerary_533/public/2023/MYOQF_ALY_ST_22_007_1.jpg.webp?itok=xcx6mChg)
Days 1-2
Set out on foot through Yosemite Valley from Bridalveil Falls, taking in views of iconic Half Dome and El Capitan • Soak in the historic ambience of the storied Ahwahnee Hotel as you roam the museum-like hallways and relax in the same public spaces that hosted presidents, royalty and celebrities • Hike from Yosemite Valley past waterfalls and towering granite walls • Follow a stretch of the famed John Muir Trail • Hop on a bike and cruise through Yosemite Valley or visit the Ansel Adams Gallery • Savor dinner and views out to Glacier Point from the floor-to-ceiling windows in the Ahwahnee’s grand dining room, featuring a 34-foot-high gabled ceiling with massive pine trusses.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/itinerary_533/public/2023/YO_ALAMY_GP079P_0.jpg.webp?itok=FzYlxdLu)
Nights 1-2
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)
![](/sites/default/files/styles/itinerary_533/public/2023/YO_shutterstock_252752608_0.jpg.webp?itok=N4Sb9Q0V)
Days 3-5
Hike amid majestic giant sequoias in Tuolumne Grove—these centuries-old trees will take your breath away • Get up close and personal with Big Red and the Dead Giant for a sense of perspective • 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, monkey flower, 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.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/itinerary_533/public/2021/YOI_PR_RushCreekLodge_001.jpg.webp?itok=AWxdLZjC)
Nights 3-4
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)
What's Included
See moreStraight 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.
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.
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.
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.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/itinerary_533/public/2023/YO_ALAMY_GP079P_0.jpg.webp?itok=FzYlxdLu)
Nights 1-2
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)
![](/sites/default/files/styles/itinerary_533/public/2021/YOI_PR_RushCreekLodge_001.jpg.webp?itok=AWxdLZjC)
Nights 3-4
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)
Gallery
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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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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