About the trip

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 (8,836'), travel down a section of the John Muir Trail and see the breathtaking Vernal and Nevada waterfalls all in a long weekend format!

Accommodations: We provide your first night lodging in the Curry Village tent cabins and two nights tent camping (price based on shared occupancy). Located in the heart of the Yosemite Valley, Curry Village is the ideal spot to explore all that Yosemite has to offer.

Equipment: We supply all group camping gear (stoves, cookware, water filters, group first aid kit, etc.). We can also supply personal camping equipment (backpacks, sleeping bags, ground pads, trekking poles, and tents) upon request with no additional fee. You are welcome to bring your own personal camping equipment if you prefer. A detailed gear list will be sent to you upon registration.

Meals: We provide meals starting with lunch on day two through lunch and trail snacks the last day. Our "Backcountry Gourmet" meals have been acclaimed in Sunset Magazine. We take pride in providing excellent meals even in remote surroundings.

Your Cost Includes: Meals (as noted above), group camping gear (as noted above), personal camping equipment (as listed above), accommodations (as noted above), applicable permits, professional mountain guide(s), pre-trip planning packet, and trip support from our friendly office staff.

Not Included: Personal clothing and footwear, personal gear not listed under “Equipment” above, meals while in the front country, tips for guides (10-20% of trip cost is customary), transportation, and optional trip cancellation insurance.

Preparation: Training is paramount to the enjoyment and success of your trip. We recommend exercising in the months prior to your trip to bolster sustained cardiovascular/aerobic activities as well as core and leg strength. Day hikes with a full backpack, preferably on hilly, off road terrain, is the best way to train for our trips. Activities such as cycling and step-master type machines are also excellent and preferable to a routine comprised solely of running.

Full Itinerary

Day 1: 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.

Day 2: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 lace up our boots and hike about 4 miles to the Sunrise Lakes. We’ll be surrounded by granite ridgelines at tonight’s lakeside camp, a wonderful place for swimming, sunsets and stargazing.

Day 3: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

Day 4: 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. Not to be missed is a peek over the edge from The Visor, perched 4,700ft above Tenaya Canyon. After taking in the beauty of Half Dome’s summit, 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).

*Please note that with the new 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 and Cloud's Rest. A common alternate plan is adding an extra Day 5 to the trip. All departures including Half Dome are not guaranteed until 6 months in advance, when the permit lottery is completed. You will be informed of any necessary changes.

*Similar trips include: Half Dome Backpacking Weekend, Yosemite Falls Loop, High Tour, Red Peak Loop with Half Dome Summit