Yosemite Hiking Trips, & High Sierra Backpacking Vacation Tours

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 Hiking Weekend Trips: Experience the beauty of days spent hiking in the Yosemite backcountry, while staying at our high camp.
  • 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

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.
  • High Tour: Pristine lakes, granite peaks, tumbling freestone streams, and blue sky dominate the landscape on this dramatic backpacking trip in the Yosemite backcountry.
  • Alpine Lakes: Remote timberline lakes, spectacular views of the Sierra Crest, and an itinerary geared towards exploration of this seemingly untouched landscape.
  • Mt. Conness: Come climb a peak! Mt. Conness, along the northeastern border of Yosemite Nat'l Park is considered one of the best kept secrets of the area.
  • Mountain Skills Seminar: Taking backpacking to new levels, our Mountain Skills Backpacking trip is designed to teach skills necessary for off trail hiking, early or late season trips, for peak climbing, and as a preparation for mountaineering trips.
  • 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:Featured 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.
  • Mt Whitney (14,495') Backpack: This 8-day trip begins at the remote access of Horseshoe Meadows trailhead along the famous Pacific Crest Trail. This is a backpack trip into the far less frequently traveled back side of Mt. Whitney , which sits in Sequoia National Park.
  • 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:Featured 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.
  • Alpine Lakes Yoga Retreat Trip: Relax and unwind in a spectacular high mountain setting.
  • Women's Backpacking Course in the Wilderness of the Sierra Nevada: This trip is intended for beginner and intermediate backpackers who are looking to enhance their backcountry skills in a wonderfully scenic mountain environment while in the company of like-minded travelers.

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.
  • Advanced Rock Climbing Weekend Trips: Breaking the 5.10 Barrier: The Breaking the 5.10/5.11 Barrier weekends are designed for intermediate to advanced climbers that want to take their climbing to the next level. With a high guide to client ratio, you are assured to get the most out of your weekend.
  • Advanced Learn to Lead Weekend: The Advanced Learn to Lead Weekend courses are a great way to make the transition from leading at the gym to leading outdoors. While in Southern Yosemite you will climb on spectacular alpine granite, with wonderful views of the Sierra.
  • 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.
  • Learn to Lead Camp: SYMG's expert guides will teach you lead climbing techniques, lead belaying, rope handling skills, building and cleaning sport anchors. Our professional guides have spent years perfecting their rock climbing skills all over the world and look forward to teaching you about lead climbing and sharing their experiences with you.
  • 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.
  • Fly Fishing School: SYMG's Yosemite Fly Fishing School is a 3 day course in fly fishing. Set in Yosemite National Park, our classroom will be the Merced & Tuolomne Rivers in Yosemite.
  • Fly Fish Utah's Green River: The canyon country of Utah sets the backdrop for this scenic spot. The wildlife is as plentiful as the fish population.
  • Fly Fish Idaho and Montana's Henry's Fork and Madison Rivers: The Blue Ribbon Henry's Fork River and the Madison River are both considered two of the best trout streams in America. The consistency of good fishing coupled with size of the fish caught make both of these rivers very exciting and rewarding places to fly-fish.

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.

Mountaineering and Winter Trips

  • Snowshoe Winter Camping: This trip is designed to give an overview of backcountry Winter travel, including snow-camping, meal preparation, snow-conditions analysis, winter travel on skis or snowshoes, route finding, etc.
  • Basic Mountaineering: The high country lakes and peaks of the Ansel Adam's Wilderness/Yosemite high country are truly spectacular--this trip takes you deep in the heart of this alpine environment to learn basic mountaineering.
  • El Pico de Orizaba (18,850'): International climbing & travel, culture , and a climb up the 3rd highest mountain in N. America, El Pico de Orizaba.
  • Aconcagua (22,841'): International climbing & travel, culture, and a climb up the highest mountain in the Western hemisphere and highest outside of Asia. Aconcagua is also one of the famous "7 summits."

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.
  • Guides Training Course: This course is about becoming a well rounded guide and learning a profession in addition to the individual mountain skills. It is our goal, when you complete this course, to be able to secure a job as a guide anywhere in the world with the skills you've learned.

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.

Wilderness Photography

  • Wilderness Photography Workshops: A unique backpacking experience that has your gear and food packed into the first camp allowing you the time and ease to photograph along the way.

Costa Rica Multi-Sport

  • About Costa Rica Multi-Sport Trip: The months of November-February are Costa Rica's dry season. Costa Rica is a diverse country with many eco-systems, lovely people, and adventures at every turn! We will visit the countries' rainforest jungle, coastline, and Featuredhighlands on this trip. There is so much to do in this country that it is hard to see if it all in one trip, but our 9-day adventure is designed to give you the best of the people, the diverse beauty and wildlife, and the exciting adventures Costa Rica has to offer.

Hike for Discovery

  • About Hike for Discovery: At SYMG, we are honored to be chosen by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) in 2006 to be their official adventure outfitter and partner for the Hike for Discovery Yosemite program. We will be bringing the same care, professionalism and enthusiasm that we are famous for throughout the entire Sierra to these wonderful events.