This trip requires a minimum of two guests to guarantee departure. All trip departure dates are pending confirmation of permit availability, which is known 24-weeks in advance of the departure date. Additionally, Wildland Trekking operates with permissions from National Park Service, BLM, and other land agencies that govern the Commercial Use Authorizations, and those management agencies can deny access based on various factors in which your guides will have to oblige. Please wait until you receive confirmation from Wildland Trekking before making travel arrangements.

Yes, private departures are available on this trip. Private departures require a group size of at least five people and additional costs may apply. Please contact our Adventures Team if you are interested in scheduling a private departure date. Please refrain from making travel arrangements until you have confirmed dates from Wildland Trekking.

All Wildland Trekking trips are subject to itinerary changes based on a variety of circumstances beyond their control, including, but not limited to, permit or campsite availability, snowpack, river crossings, wildlife, park or land closures, and forest fires. Wildland Trekking reserves the right to cancel any trip because of internal reasons including but not limited to inadequate signups, loss of staff due to injury or illness, and significant damage/loss of inventory.

The trip begins and ends in Yosemite Valley. Most 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: Yosemite Area Rapid Transit (YARTS) offers bus rides in 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).

If you plan to book lodging before or after your trip, Wildland Trekking recommends the hotel options below.

- Yosemite Valley Lodging
- Yosemite Lodge (in El Portal, 30 minutes from Yosemite Valley)
- Yosemite Blue Butterfly Inn (in El Portal, 30 minutes from Yosemite Valley)
- The Cedar Lodge (40 minutes from Yosemite Valley)
- Redwoods in Yosemite Vacation Rentals

We recommend checking with your pre- and post-trip hotel(s) to inquire about luggage storage. Most of the time hotels are happy to accommodate. On backpacking trips, vehicles can be parked at Curry Village.

This is a backpacking trip and you'll be sleeping in tents. Sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and single, double, or three-person tents will be available to use.

The following will give you an idea of the camping equipment provided:
Sierra Designs, Kelty or Big Agnes tents: 1 person, 2 person, or 3 person
Sierra Designs, Kelty, Big Agnes or Mountain Hardware sleeping bags
Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads

Solo travelers can have their own tent for no additional fee.

This trip has a maximum capacity of eight guests and a Wildland Trekking guide.

Age restrictions are as follows:
For scheduled tours, the minimum age is 12 years old. However, for private tours the minimum age is 10 years old, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case-by-case basis.

All meals are included from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on the final day. Each guide tailors the menu for the specific trip and group. Each guide is extensively trained on backcountry food handling and are trained on meal planning. All Wildland Trekking hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. They 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, meals are supplemented with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, your guide will provide an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion during the hikes.

Wildland Trekking can 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.

It is recommended that you bring an allotment of cash for anything you would like to buy during the trip (souvenirs). You should also budget for the industry recommended guide gratuity of 10-20% of the trip cost.

Clothing:
- Sturdy Hiking boots, mid weight, lug-soled, above the ankle, waterproof and ideally well broken in. Important note: Buy your boots 1/2 size to 1 size larger than your street shoes to allow for feet swelling and thicker socks
- Lightweight tennis shoes or Crocs®, for camp
- Hiking socks, one pair for every two days of your trip, plus an extra pair to sleep in. Recommended brands include Bridgedale®, Smartwool®, or similar padded socks (wearing thin liner socks under your hiking socks is highly recommended). No cotton socks!!
- Gaiters
- Sun hat or baseball cap and bandana
- Mosquito head net
- Warm hat and gloves, sherpa style hat and light-to-mid weight fleece or wool gloves
- Long underwear, one pair of wicking tops and bottoms that are light-to midweight, example materials include capilene, merino wool, polypropylene, etc.
- T-shirt or nylon travel shirt
- Warm top, mid-weight shirt, sweater or pullover, also wicking material such as merino wool, fleece or polypropylene
- Fleece jacket or insulated coat, warm, lightweight and packable fleece jacket or coat insulated with a synthetic material
- Nylon pants and shorts, or zip-offs
- Bathing suit
- Fleece pants (late-August and September only)
- Rainproof jacket and pant - Waterproof/breathable jacket and pant such as Gore-Tex® or coated nylon - with the pants look for side leg zippers or a style that will allow you to remove them without removing your boots

Gear:
- Water bottles or bladder, 2-3 liters total capacity
- Camp pillow, lightweight, packable camp pillow
- Contact lenses and glasses if you wear contact lenses please also bring a pair of glasses - your contacts are likely to become dirty and may be difficult to clean
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm
- Bug repellent, preferably a product containing at least 25% "DEET" (some people are sensitive to this product)
- Toiletries, and a small washcloth in stuff sack (bandana can serve as a washcloth)
- Headlamp, spare batteries (preferably an L.E.D. type that works with AA or AAA batteries)
- Camera, spare batteries (optional)
- Notebook or paperback book, (optional)
- Knee braces, if needed
- Prescription medicine, please inform your trip leader of any medications you are taking
- Vitamins, (optional)
- Fly fishing gear, if you want to fish
- Money, for tipping your trip leader (optional but appreciated, generally 10-15% of your trip cost based upon the quality of your experience)

You should be comfortable hiking 5-8 miles per day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-35 pound backpack. This trip has a cumulative elevation gain of 6,300 feet and follows established and maintained trails.

Once you have booked your trip with Wildland Trekking, they will send a trip packet with very detailed training instructions specific to your tour. The enjoyment received from any physical activity is largely dependent on the shape you’re in. The fitter you are the more fun you’ll have. A combination of cardiovascular fitness, strength in all muscle groups and flexibility will help ensure an enjoyable experience. As such, we recommend you prepare for your trip with a moderate training program focused on walking and hiking, ideally in hilly terrain.

We highly recommend you purchase trip insurance. It allows you to seek reimbursement if you are forced to cancel your trip for unforeseeable reasons, or if you need to cover medical help, emergency transport, and/or theft or accidental damage while traveling. For travel insurance, we recommend VisitorsCoverage.

We recommend you visit the local government websites where you plan to travel and review the required documentation for entry, current restrictions, and general recommendations for travel within the area. We encourage you to also visit your home country's embassy website if you are traveling to a foreign country. Requirements can change rapidly. Please be sure you stay abreast of the requirements and restrictions for anywhere you plan to visit. You can also enroll in the U.S. government’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and you will be sent updates if the situation in your destination changes. You can find the program link at https://step.state.gov/.

Yes! Book confidently with Free Cancellations within 72 hours of booking. After 72 hours, cancellation fees will apply.

New For 2021 Departures: We’re providing more flexible booking options on this trip.

Up to 60 days prior to departure*
You may postpone your trip up to 60 days prior to departure with no fees or penalties.

You will have the option to:
1) Select a new travel date and travel when you're ready, or
2) Receive a lifetime store credit toward a future trip. Standard cancellation fees will apply.

*Please note, you must choose a new date at the time of postponement to avoid any additional trip costs.

Between 59 and 30 days prior to departure
You may postpone your trip up to 30 days prior to departure, but fees will apply.

You will have the option to:
1) Select a new travel date and travel when you're ready. Additional trip costs may apply and new dates are subject to availability, or
2) Receive a lifetime store credit toward a future trip. Standard cancellation fees will apply.

For more information on our Travel Cancellation Policy please Click Here.