Trips
Hike For Discovery
Yosemite Valley and Sequoias
These are leisurely day hiking and driving tours to many of the more famous locations in Yosemite National Park and can include the quiet, seldom visited Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias located about 15 miles west of Yosemite Valley. Some of these locations are well visited but SYMG naturalists can give you a unique experience and knowledge that few visitors ever receive. The following is alist of places that you will most likely see. They can be linked together, 
depending on time and energy, or done individually. Your guides will choose the best areas for the day, depending on timing, group dynamics, and conditions.
Ahwahnee Hotel to Mirror Lake/Meadow semi-loop, 3 miles: A large part of this semi loop has a surprising get-away-from-it-all feel to it. From the Ahwahnee we follow the lightly traveled trail towards the Indian Caves located under the imposing formation of Washington Column. Along the way we pass Indian sites and underneath the well known Royal Arches cliff. Mirror Lake is located at the lower end of Tenaya Canyon and directly under the nearly mile high formation of Half Dome. Leaving Mirror Lake we retrace our steps almost to Indian Caves then go to the bank of Tenaya Creek which we follow to its junction with the Merced River which is followed back to the Ahwahnee.
Waterfall Tour, 1-3 or 4 miles: This can involve walks to the base of Bridelveil, Lower Yosemite, Vernal and, for the more adventurous, the base of almost never visited Cascade Falls. Cascade Fall also offers excellent mid-summer swimming on hot days. A longer trip is a full day off trail trip to the base of Ribbon Fall. This is a fairly short 3 .5 mile round trip but is a strenuous adventure hike.
Any of these trips can be modified to make a side hike to the base of El Capitan, one of the largest granite formations in the world and a popular multi-day rock climbing destination for climbers from all over the world. This can be anything from an easy 1 mile to strenuous 3-4 mile hike.
Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias, 3-4 miles, easy/moderate: An enjoyable hike, downhill to and uphill from, what was possibly the first grove of giant Sequoias seen by non-native people. This is a very lightly visited grove of sequoias and is a very quiet and peaceful location with a pleasant creek running through. In the spring the Western Dogwood Trees are spectacular. We may also indulge in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia trees in the Southern corner of Yosemite with the famous Grizzly Giant.
Old Big Oak Flat Road, is another spot we may visit. This is an easy 2-3 mile round trip, which is lightly used with great views of El Capitan, Cathedral Rocks and Bridelveil Fall.
With most of these trips a recommended lunch stop along the Mereced River or perhaps at the lightly visited Turtleback Dome, a 1/2 mile round trip. The dome is located directly above the Merced River Canyon and is a quiet spot with beautiful views of Yosemite Valley.