Itinerary
- Day 1
Yosemite Valley
You'll arrive at Curry Village in Yosemite Valley by 6PM where your hiking guide will meet you. After an orientation meeting to go over the week ahead, you'll head to the Backpackers Camp near Tenaya Creek and get settled in with the valley's dramatic domes and cliffs surrounding you. Dinner happens either back at Curry Village or right in camp, depending on what works best for the group.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at Curry Village or in camp)
Included Activities
- Meet guide at Curry Village at 6PM
- Orientation meeting
- Camp setup at Backpackers Camp near Tenaya Creek
Landmarks Curry Village Yosemite Valley Tenaya Creek 
- Day 2
Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows
Start with a quick breakfast in Yosemite Valley, then drive out to the Tuolumne Meadows trailhead, which is the largest sub-alpine meadow in the Sierra. From there you'll hike 6.5 miles on mostly level ground following the Tuolumne River, stopping for lunch along the riverbank with the Cathedral Range in view. After lunch the terrain gets steeper as the trail climbs through cascades to reach camp, which has treated water, bear boxes, and solar outhouses. This spot will be home for two nights, and there's a beautiful cascade with a swimming hole just a 10-minute walk away if you want to cool off.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Quick breakfast in Yosemite Valley), Lunch (Lunch along the Tuolumne River)
Included Activities
- Breakfast in Yosemite Valley
- Guided hike from Tuolumne Meadows (6.5 miles, 300 feet elevation gain, 1000 feet elevation loss)
- Lunch along the Tuolumne River
- Access to cascade and swimming hole near camp
Landmarks Tuolumne Meadows Cathedral Range Tuolumne River 
- Day 3
Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne
Today you'll check out the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, one of Yosemite's most scenic sections, visiting three waterfalls on a 7-mile hike. The route descends through Glen Aulin to California Falls, then moves on to Le Conte Falls, and finally reaches Waterwheel Falls, which is the biggest and most impressive of the three. You'll have a picnic lunch there before heading back. The trail gets progressively steeper as it follows the Tuolumne River, so pace yourself. After you return to camp in the late afternoon, there's time for a swim in the river or just to rest and relax. Shorter hike options are available if you need extra time to recover and swim.
- Meals
- Lunch (Picnic lunch at Waterwheel Falls)
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne (7 miles, 1700 feet elevation gain, 1700 feet elevation loss)
- Visit to Glen Aulin
- Visit to California Falls
- Visit to Le Conte Falls
- Visit to Waterwheel Falls
- Picnic lunch at Waterwheel Falls
- Access to Tuolumne River for swimming
Optional Activities
- Shorter hike option to return to camp early for swimming and relaxing
- Option to stay in camp instead of hiking to Waterwheel Falls
Landmarks Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne Glen Aulin Wildcat Point California Falls Le Conte Falls Waterwheel Falls - Day 4
Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley
You can sleep in this morning and take your time with breakfast before making the 6.5-mile hike back to the trailhead using the same route from Day 2. Stop for a picnic lunch along the way or near Tenaya Lake, one of Yosemite's nicest lakes. As you return to Yosemite Valley and look back at the granite peaks one last time, you'll probably start thinking about when you can come back to the Range of Light.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Relaxing breakfast), Lunch (Picnic lunch en route or at Tenaya Lake)
Included Activities
- Relaxing breakfast
- Guided hike back to trailhead (6.5 miles, 1000 feet elevation gain, 300 feet elevation loss)
- Picnic lunch en route or at Tenaya Lake
Landmarks Tenaya Lake
