YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

GUIDED HIKING, BACKPACKING, & TREKKING TRIPS

Nothing in the Sierra Nevada mountains compares to the lupin filled meadows, dogwood studded valley’s, snowmelt fed waterfalls, and granite walls and domes of Yosemite National Park. Carved by an enormous glacier over one million years ago, Yosemite National Park is considered by many to be the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains and is a true natural spectacle to behold. Attractions such as Half Dome, El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls, and the Mist Trail are just a few of the main attractions Yosemite Valley has to offer, but if you really want to explore Yosemite, the best place to do so is in the backcountry, on the nearly 750 miles of wilderness trails Yosemite National Park has to offer. It’s estimated that only 5% of annual visitors to the park leave the Valley to explore other areas of Yosemite National Park.

Discovered in 1851 by western settlers (although Yosemite Valley had been inhabited for many years beforehand), Yosemite is rich with Native American history dating back to simpler times when the Ahwahneechee people, or Awanis, roamed the valley under the watch of Chief Teneiya. You can find much of this history, accompanied by the many majestic sights, strewn throughout Yosemite Valley and in the backcountry during your visit. Let Golden State Guiding be the service to bring these sights and history to life for you during one of our backpacking or trekking trips into the Yosemite backcountry.

Our family of Guides are ready to show you an incredible time in Yosemite National Park. Our team isn’t just your run of the mill backpacking guides, we’re climbers, mountaineers, backcountry skiers, splitboarders, and outdoor educators who spend countless hours, year-round, in the Sierra Nevada backcountry with our guests, exploring all the nooks and crannies the Sierra has to offer. Whether you’re looking to explore the lush meadows of Tuolumne, pass through the Cathedral Range on your way to Yosemite Valley, or start your journey along the John Muir Trail, we’ve got something for everyone. Scroll below to view our featured backpacking offerings and let our incredible Guide team lead you on an adventure you won’t soon forget. John Muir said it best “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt”!

Looking to get off the beaten path or link together multiple trails for a custom trip? We can customize and tailor nearly any trip for any size group. The Yosemite National Park trail system is endless so we only showcase a handful of trips here. Click the button below to inquire about any backpacking trip you’re looking to do and we’d be happy to set it up! We also offer single day hikes if this is something that is of interest to any of our guests.

Yosemite Backpacking Trip Inquiries/ Bookings

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YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK BACKPACKING TRIPS

TEN LAKES BASIN

Trip Length 5 Days

It’s said that only 5% of Yosemite National Parks visitors leave the Valley and explore other remote areas of the park. If you’re looking to unveil the hidden gems of Yosemite National Park then join us for a backpacking adventure in the Yosemite wilderness! Throughout this long weekend we’ll travel through some of the lesser seen sights of Yosemite National Park’s high country via Ten Lakes, just west of Tuolumne Meadows, as we wind our way through Ten Lakes Basin and thread the trail through the Yosemite backcountry. During our trip we’ll have the pleasure of camping for two nights in Ten Lakes Basin, we’ll pass by the impressive Tuolumne Peak, and we’ll get to camp on the third night at Polly Dome Lakes!
PRIVATE TRIP RATES (PER PERSON, PER DAY)
One Person $450
Two People $350
Three People $275
Four People $250
Five People $250
Six People $250
BACKPACKING RENTAL PROGRAM
The above private trip rates include commercial wilderness permits, a bear canister, and your professionally trained guide. Additional backpacking equipment may be rented for a small fee. Please see our Backpacking Rental Program for more info.
Pre Trek Meeting - Meet in El Portal for a pre trip meeting the night before your departure. We’ll do group introductions and meet the rest of your fellow backpackers for the trip, as well as ensure you have all the equipment needed for your 5 days in the Yosemite wilderness.
Day 1 - Caravan to Ten Lakes trailhead up near Tuolumne Meadows off of Highway 120. Hike to Ten Lakes Basin. We’ll set up a mini basecamp in this beautiful basin as we prepare to explore it’s sites the following day.
Day 2 - We’ll spend the entire day exploring Ten Lakes Basin! Rock hop from lake to lake and see what this beautiful part of Yosemite National Park has to offer!
Day 3 - Hike from Ten Lakes Basin to Polly Dome Lakes. This will be our most challenging hiking day with 12 miles of hiking and 2,600’ of elevation gain. It’ll be worth the trek as you’ll be camping at the beautiful Polly Dome Lakes this evening!
Day 4 - Casual rise while we enjoy our final day in the backcountry. The trailhead exit is only 3 miles from our last camp and nearly all downhill. Upon arrival to the trailhead exit you’ll be greeted with stunning views of Tenaya Lake.
All 2025 backpacking trips will be customized for our guests including the dates they want to book. Click here to inquire about your own personal trip today and we’ll get right back to you!
Trip Elevation Profile Graph
Topographical Map
Mileage - roughly 21 miles
Overall elevation gain - 5,000’+
National Park Service Difficulty Rating:
Very Strenuous
Yosemite National Park Commercial Wilderness Permits
Professionally trained guide(s) operating in 6:1 ratios
Bear Canister
Please review our Minimum Equipment List to ensure you have the rest of the equipment needed for your trip. If rental gear is needed, please see our Backpacking Rental Program page for more info. All rentals fees are in addition to the prices listed above.

TEN LAKES BASIN YOSEMITE BACKPACKING Registration

SNOW CREEK TO YOSEMITE FALLS

Trip Length 4 Days

Snow Creek to Yosemite Falls is a great introduction to backpacking in Yosemite National Park and a trip you’ll be happy you embarked on. Throughout the weekend we’ll travel through some of the most breathtaking scenery Yosemite National Park has to offer via Snow Creek to Yosemite Falls along the northern rim of the Valley. We’ll pass in front of awe inspiring monoliths such as Half Dome and Clouds Rest, meander our way past Basket Dome and North Dome, eventually making our way to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls, the sixth tallest waterfall in the United States, and tallest in California, with a vertical relief of 2,425’ feet!
PRIVATE TRIP RATES (PER PERSON, PER DAY)
One Person $450
Two People $350
Three People $275
Four People $250
Five People $250
Six People $250
BACKPACKING RENTAL PROGRAM
The above private trip rates include commercial wilderness permits, a bear canister, and your professionally trained guide. Additional backpacking equipment may be rented for a small fee. Please see our Backpacking Rental Program for more info.
SUNDAY, JUNE 23RD
Arrive to Yosemite National Park and our pre trip campground (TBD). Set up camp, get settled in, and meet your new backpacking friends for the weekend! We’ll do an informal meet and greet and gear check before we hit the trail the following day.
MONDAY, JUNE 24TH
We’ll hit the trail bright and early and begin our trek back into Tenaya Canyon as we make our way towards Snow Creek. Along the way we’ll pass underneath the breathtaking Half Dome while we hug the trail along Mirror Lake, heading back towards Mount Watkins. Our toughest portion of the entire trip will be the ascent of Snow Creek, gaining 2,600’ feet, until we reach our first wilderness camping spot of the weekend, on the northern rim of Yosemite Valley and Tenaya Canyon. Once at camp we’ll have spectacular views of Half Dome and Clouds rest, the two largest monolithic faces in all of Yosemite, directly to our East.
TUESDAY, JUNE 25TH
We’ll once again rise early, make breakfast, and enjoy the sites Yosemite Valley has to offer during the early hours. After we pack up camp, we’ll head towards the top of Yosemite Falls, passing underneath Indian Rock while hugging Lehamite Creek with views of North Dome off in the distance. We’ll continue to traverse West, on North Dome Trail, which follows the northern rim of Yosemite until we make our way to our second wilderness campsite just above Yosemite Falls. Upon arrival to camp, you’ll have spectacular views of Yosemite Valley and Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, and Glacier Point.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26TH
Our final day! We’ll rise and enjoy the views one last time as we eat breakfast and break down camp. Our third and final day on the trail will find us descending alongside Yosemite Falls all the way until we reach the Valley. Breathtaking views will be abundant as you make your way down the Yosemite Falls trail and pass by Columbia Rock, a sought out destination for many visitors of Yosemite National Park. Upon our arrival to the Valley we’ll grab a bite to eat by Yosemite Lodge and debrief the trip.
All 2025 backpacking trips will be customized for our guests including the dates they want to book. Click here to inquire about your own personal trip today and we’ll get right back to you!
Trip Elevation Profile Graph
Topographical Map
Mileage - roughly 15 miles
Overall elevation gain - 4,700+
National Park Service Difficulty Rating:
Very Strenuous
Yosemite National Park Commercial Wilderness Permits
Professionally trained guide(s) operating in 6:1 ratios
Bear Canister
Please review our Minimum Minimum Equipment List to ensure you have the rest of the equipment needed for your trip. If rental gear is needed, please see our Backpacking Rental Program page for more info. All rentals fees are in addition to the prices listed above.

SNOW Creek to Yosemite FALLS Registration

Yosemite National Park CUSTOM BACKPACKING TRIPS

There are so many incredible options in the Yosemite National Park we can’t possibly list them all here. We’re happy to customize any backpacking trip you have in mind. Click here or the button below to inquire about your dream backpacking trip and we’ll get to work customizing a very special outing for you and your friends and family!
One Person $450
Two People $350
Three People $275
Four People $250
Five People $250
Six People $250
BACKPACKING RENTAL PROGRAM
The above private trip rates include commercial wilderness permits, a bear canister, and your professionally trained guide. Additional backpacking equipment may be rented for a small fee. Please see our Backpacking Rental Program for more info.
Yosemite National Park Commercial Wilderness Permits
Professionally trained guide(s) operating in 6:1 ratios
Shuttle service where applicable
Bear Canister
Please review our Minimum Minimum Equipment List to ensure you have the rest of the equipment needed for your trip. If rental gear is needed, please see our Backpacking Rental Program page for more info. All rentals fees are in addition to the prices listed above.