Hiking Trips

Yosemite Hiking Trips and Yosemite Tours since 1991. Browse our trip list below to learn more about the many trips and tours offered by Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides.

• Day Guides: Take a Yosemite hiking trip with a naturalist guide 'off the beaten path' through Yosemite's majestic landscape of waterfalls, high peaks, cascading streams, and lush meadows.
• Panorama Trail Yosemite Day Hike: The 8.5-mile trail offers stunning views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, beginning on the southeastern rim and ending in Yosemite Valley 3,000 feet below.
• Ansel Adam's Wilderness Day Hike: The Ansel Adams Wilderness is the perfect place to stretch your legs without having to share space with the throngs of park visitors.
• Half Dome Yosemite Day Hike: Looming 4,800 feet above Yosemite Valley is the "Crown Jewel" of the Sierra, Half Dome. This granite monolith has captured the imagination of explorers, climbers and artists alike and is the most sought-after summit in Yosemite National Park.
• Yosemite's Tuolumne Meadows Hiking Weekend: Tuolumne Meadows offers unparalleled access to the sub-alpine environment of Yosemite National Park. There are many high country day hikes that are easily accessible from the Meadow's Campgrounds.

Hiking with Packstock Trips

• Mt. Conness (12,590') Backpacking Trip: Classic High Sierra backpacking with beautiful hiking and a challenging 3rd class alpine peak ascent.
• John Muir Trail - Agnew Meadows to Tuolumne Meadows: Alpine lakes, wildflower-strewn meadows and glaciated peaks set the stage for an exciting and memorable adventure on one of the world's most classic hiking trails, the John Muir Trail.
• Ansel Adams Wilderness High Sierra Camp: An ideal family adventure-gear packed in with mules!
• Mount Whitney Hiking Trips: Horsepack supported Hiking trip to Mt Whitney (14,495') in Sequoia National Park.
• Yosemite Grand Traverse with Horsepack Support: This hiking trip is a real stunner with highlights including a Half Dome ascent, a section of the John Muir Trail, a tour of Yosemite Valley and a nearly 60-mile hiking traverse through the heart of Yosemite.
• High Sierra Singer-Songwriters Workshop: This unique trip combines the breathtaking beauty of California's Ansel Adams Wilderness with the opportunity to learn from and play music with some amazing singer-songwriters.

Backpacking Trips

• Yosemite Falls-Snow Creek Loop: We'll spend 3 days backpacking up the Yosemite Falls trail and doing a loop back to Yosemite Valley. This is a wonderful early season trip (ideal for May departures).
• Half Dome Backpacking Weekend: On this 4-day adventure we'll backpack along the Merced River, up the famous Mist Trail, summit Half Dome, Yosemite's most famous monolith, camp in picturesque Little Yosemite Valley and hike on the iconic and historic John Muir Trail.
• Half Dome and Clouds Rest: On this 4-day adventure we'll backpack through the Tuolumne back country, summit Clouds Rest (9,926') and Half Dome (8,836'), Yosemite's most famous monolith, as well as hike on the famous and historic John Muir Trail past two of the world's most iconic waterfalls.
• Alpine Lakes: Remote timberline lakes, spectacular views of the Sierra Crest, and an itinerary geared towards exploration of this seemingly untouched landscape.
• Yosemite High Passes Loop: The high country lakes, peaks, and passes of Yosemite are truly spectacular and on this 50 mile loop, we'll hike deep into the heart of this alpine environment.
• Yosemite Grand Traverse: This backpack trip is a real stunner with highlights including a Half Dome ascent, a section of the John Muir Trail, a tour of Yosemite Valley and a nearly 60-mile hiking traverse through the heart of Yosemite.
• Trans-Sierra Trail to Mt. Whitney: A grand crossing of the Sierra Nevada through Sequoia Nat'l Park, culminating in an ascent of Mt. Whitney from the west, coupled with dramatic hiking deep in the wilderness makes this backpacking trip one of our most spectacular adventures.
• John Muir Trail: Outside Magazine rated hiking the JMT with SYMG as one of the 50 greatest trips in the world. It spans 212 miles from Yosemite National Park to Mt. Whitney along the crest of the famed Sierra Nevada. Porter guides hike in 4 re-supplies of food during the journey, making the pack weight manageable each section.
• Sierra High Route Backpacking Trip: The Sierra High Route (SHR) is an official name for an unofficial "route" that runs 195 miles above and across the The John Muir Trail. The trip is mostly off trail and follows the highest route in the Sierra for 195 miles from Southern Kings Canyon to Northern Yosemite.

Rock Climbing Trips

• Day Guides: Hiring a private guide is one of the best ways to develop specific skills, climb many routes in a day, learn to lead climb, try rock climbing for the first time, or just get to know an area new to you.
• Basic Rock Climbing Weekends: Small groups, tent camps near the climbing areas, and a program designed to cater to all levels of climbers make these trips a great way to spend a weekend in Yosemite.
• Rock Camps: Take your skills a step further. Learn anchors, leading principles, AMGA standards for top ropes, advanced techniques and multipitch systems. Small groups, expert guides, and a lot of great climbing.
• Professional Climbing Guides Institute: SYMG offers rock climbing guide training and certification courses and assessments via mentors and assessors approved by the Professional Climbing Guides Institute (PCGI). PCGI is a 501c3 non-profit public charity that develops and governs nationally recognized training, assessment and certification standards for the professional and aspiring rock climbing guides in grade III and under terrain.

Fly Fishing Trips

• Day Guides: A day guide for wade fishing or float tubing is an excellent way to learn new skills and maximize your time in the Yosemite area.
• Weekends: On this trip we'll fish a stream one day and an alpine lake on the other. All beginning fly fishing instruction is covered while focus is on still water and stream techniques, locating fish, nymphing and dry fly fishing.

Private and Custom Trips

• About Private and Custom Trips: Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides trips are all available for private groups, and we plan custom itineraries for individuals and groups alike, in all months of the year. A "private" trip means that the trip is exclusively for you and your family, friends, or your group.

Family Adventures

• Family Adventures: SYMG offers many different types of Family trips and adventures. Our guides love working with families. To teach the kids about life in the wilderness is a treat for everyone involved. Please feel free to look through the SYMG trips linked on our Family Adventures page and let us know if you have any questions.

Student Programs

• About Student Programs: With a guiding staff equally experienced in working with both adults and student groups in technical skills, natural history, ecology, land sciences, interpersonal communication, and group dynamics.

Corporate Events

• About Corporate Events: During the months of July, August and September, SYMG offers corporate groups single and multi-day programs in the pristine high country of Sierra National Forest, Yosemite National Park, and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. One of our most popular itineraries is a weekend program which can include hiking, rock climbing, and fly fishing.