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This trip will take you to the summit of two of the most spectacular and famous summits in Yosemite National Park. On our trek we will explore the Tuolumne backcountry, backpack over the summit of Clouds Rest (9,926'), climb to the summit of Half Dome (8,845'), travel down a section of the John Muir Trail and see the breathtaking Vernal and Nevada waterfalls all in a long weekend format!
2023: $1895 per person
Check in to Curry Village within spectacular Yosemite Valley anytime after 5pm. Meet your guide and group at 6pm on the porch of the Mountain Shop in Curry Village for a short meet-and-greet and trip orientation. Dinner tonight is on your own at one several local restaurants.
After breakfast on your own, you will meet your guide in front of the Curry Village Mountain Shop at 7:30am. We’ll leave our cars here in the parking lot and take a shuttle to the Sunrise Trailhead at Tenaya Lake (8,140’). The shuttle takes about an hour. We’ll then hike about 4 miles to the Sunrise Lakes area for our first night’s camp.
4 miles, Elevation: +1526'/ -256'
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Today we’ll start our day with a hearty breakfast before grabbing our packs and hitting the trail. We’ll hike up and over Cloud’s Rest (9,926’). From the summit you will have incredible views of Half Dome, the Tuolumne High Country and deep down into Tenaya Canyon below. After enjoying lunch on the summit, we will continue another 3.5 downhill miles to our camp on Sunrise Creek (7,210’).
7.5 miles, Elevation: +1402' /-3671’
Beginning early in the morning, we’ll eat breakfast and start our hike to the summit of Half Dome (8,845’). Half Dome is a side-trip from the main trail and we’ll stash our backpacks and hike up with just the necessities. After a few miles of gaining elevation within the fir forests, we break above treeline for our first look at the famous Cables Route. After a bit more hiking we’ll make the quick and straightforward climb up the final stretch to Half Dome’s summit. Spectacular views await of the Sierra high country and down into Yosemite Valley far below. After taking in the beauty of Half Dome’s summit, we’ll come back down to our packs, grab a quick lunch and hike to our final campsite in Little
6.1 miles, Elevation: +2042' /-3107'
4-day itinerary: After hiking to the summit of Half Dome in the early morning (as described above in the 5-day itinerary, we’ll come back down to our packs, grab a quick lunch and hike all the way to Yosemite Valley (4,035’). We will have breathtaking views of Nevada and Vernal Falls and the Merced River along the way. We will end our trip back at Curry Village by 3-5pm (12 miles).
*length of itinerary is determined by permit availability
Today, we’ll enjoy our last morning together and start our hike down to Yosemite Valley (4,035’). We will have breathtaking views of Nevada and Vernal Falls and the Merced River along the way. We’ll end our trip back at Curry Village by lunchtime.
3.5 miles, Elevation: +574'/ -2660'
Your trip begins and ends at Curry Village in Yosemite Valley, CA. Plan to arrive before 6pm so you can meet your guides and group for your trip orientation. We recommend driving to Curry Village, although public transportation is also an option (see notes about public transportation below). We'll return to Yosemite Valley by 1pm on the last day of your trip.
This trip is rated as moderate and is designed to be a beginner-friendly backpacking trip. You will be carrying a 30-35 lb backpack for 3 days of the trip and should plan to come well prepared. While you will be able to leave your full backpack at camp when you hike to the summit of Half Dome and Clouds Rest, it is still a strenuous trail and a physically demanding day.
In training, you'll want to focus on leg strengthening using a combination of gym workouts, stair climbing, and hiking in your local area with a fully weighted pack. We recommend hiking in the boots you plan to wear and to feel comfortable with your personal clothing and gear.
With the Half Dome permitting regulations in place since 2013, coupled with a huge increase in demand for fewer permits, itineraries may be subject to slight changes and different trailheads may be used to make sure we can climb Half Dome. The permit we receive dictates whether the trip will be 4 days or 5 days. All departures including Half Dome are not guaranteed until 24 weeks in advance when the permits become available to reserve. We will let you know immediately of any updates.
If you prefer not to drive to Yosemite Valley, public transportation is available for this trip. Yosemite Area Regional Transportation (YARTS) is the sole provider for the surrounding Yosemite area. We recommend reserving a ticket online ahead of time. Please make sure that you choose a time from your location that will have you arriving in Curry Village, Yosemite Valley by the latest 6 pm for your trip orientation (we recommend arriving around 4 pm to check in to your tent cabin first). Note that at the end of your trip, you will be back to Curry Village and done with lunch around 1 pm, so plan departure times accordingly.
