Yosemite Grand Traverse 8-Day Hike
Experience this unforgettable 8 day hike along the Yosemite Grand Traverse trail in the famed Yosemite national park in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California.
Sierra Nevada (California)
8 Days
Jul - Sep
High
Intermediate
Description
On this incredible 8-day hiking adventure in the renowned Yosemite National Park, we will guide you along the famous Pacific Crest trail. However, we're going to take you through the more remote parts of the trail, and give you a chance to admire and appreciate the unforgettable scenery without having to worry about crowds of people.
There is so much to see throughout the Yosemite National Park that it would be difficult to find anybody who can claim to have seen it all. It is a massive place, with an area of over 3,000 square kilometres, and the list of highlights within the park is absolutely staggering. There is everything in Yosemite from mountains to glaciers, giant sequoia tree forests, granite cliffs, waterfalls, rivers, lakes and streams.
The park is a dream come true for anybody who thinks of themselves as a nature lover. And even when you're on a set trail, you still feel like you're gloriously lost in some of the most stunning wilderness landscapes you've ever encountered. By the end of this trip, you will have hiked almost 100 kilometres! But I have no doubt you will have no regrets because every kilometre will feel like a new adventure.
However, because of the extensive hiking you will have endured, participants on this trip should be in excellent physical condition. Also, participants should have multi-day backpacking experience as well. A true wilderness trip on a true wilderness trail. This 8-day hike is the kind of adventure you reflect on years after it has ended. It is the kind of adventure you tell your grandchildren about while seated around an open fire.
That is because on this trip, on the Pacific Crest National Park trail in Yosemite National Park, you are not just seeing nature at its best, but you're immersing yourself within it. If you want to join us, all you have to do is send us a request.
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Transport during the trip
- Permit and entrance fees
- Tents
- Sleeping pad
- Cooking utensils
- Sleeping bag
- Trekking poles
- Snacks
- Clean drinkable water
Price details
- Along with the guiding fee, the price includes meals, any necessary equipment, as well as camping equipment.
- Included:
- Accommodations:
- 1st night’s lodging at Fairfield Inn & Suites in Fresno
- 6 nights of wilderness tent camping (permits included)
- Transportation
- Day 2 private shuttle from Fresno to starting trailhead
- Day 8 private shuttle from ending trailhead to Fresno
- Gear
- All group gear including stoves, cookware, water filters, group first aid kit, etc.
- Personal backpacking gear provided by request: backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, trekking poles, and tents
- Food
- Starting with breakfast on Day 2 and ending with lunch on Day 8
- Backcountry gourmet meals including trail snacks
- Hot tea or coffee served each morning
- not included:
- Personal clothing & footwear
- Dinner on the first night in Fresno
- Recommended 10%-20% gratuity for guides
- Trip Insurance (strongly recommended)
- Airfare
- Evacuations
Itinerary
Day 1: Meet your guide in fresno, CA
Your trip begins in Fresno, CA at the Fairfield Inn & Suites across from the Fresno airport. You can check in at the hotel anytime after 4 pm. At 6 pm you will meet your guides and group for a trip orientation, where you’ll do a final gear check and discuss the details of the trip. Dinner tonight is on your own at the hotel.
Day 2: Hike to knoblock meadow
After an early complimentary breakfast, our shuttle will meet us at 7 am to drive about 3 hours to the remote trailhead (7,100′). The hike to our first camp will be roughly 6 miles to Knoblock Meadow. This evening there may be time to explore while your guide(s) prepare dinner. We’ll end our day with astronomy and stargazing.
*6 miles, Elevation: +1800’/ -300’*7 am
Day 3: Climb isberg pass & camp at lake 10k
We’ll pack up camp early this morning with our sights set on Isberg Pass (11,100’). After passing through a high lake basin, we’ll surmount the pass itself, which marks the official border of Yosemite. In the evening, we’ll enjoy a lakeside camp at the headwaters of the Merced River, surrounded by picturesque 11-12,000-foot peaks.
*8 miles, Elevation: +2300’/ -800’*12,000-foot
Day 4: Descend along the merced river
Today’s hike is a grand downhill, through the creek drainages that eventually form the mighty “Wild and Scenic Merced River”. Views of the Clark Range are abundant and there are plenty of beautiful meadows, waterfalls and swimming holes to distract us. The day’s hike drops us 2,500′ over roughly 7 miles and we’ll camp along the Merced River.
6.8 miles, Elevation: +150’/ -2,300’
Day 5: Hike to sunrise creek
This morning we’ll continue following the Merced past the famous high camp and into Echo Valley. From there, we’ll regain our lost elevation as we traverse large granite ridges enjoying spectacular views of Little Yosemite Valley along the way. The trail eventually leads to the Sunrise Creek area.
10.5 miles, Elevation: +1565’/ -1385′
Day 6: Summit clouds rest
We’ll be up and out of camp early to begin making our way to the top of Cloud’s Rest (9,926). We’ll reach the summit by late morning, and will have plenty of time to enjoy the stunning views of our route and of Tenaya Canyon 4,000 feet below. The peak itself is a side trip off of the main trail, 3.6 miles round-trip, which we will complete without our full backpacks. In the afternoon we’ll continue on to our camp at Sunrise Lakes where we will have time to relax, clean up and enjoy camp.
8-8.5 miles, Elevation: +2746’/ -1591’
Day 7: Hike the John Muir trail to cathedral lake
Our second to last day we’ll connect with the famous John Muir Trail in the Tuolumne region of Yosemite. We’ll pass some stunning alpine meadows and otherworldly glaciated peaks on our way to what many guides call “the most beautiful spot in Yosemite,” Cathedral Lake (9,600′). We’ll have time in the afternoon to explore the area via one of several off-trail routes, or just relax and enjoy the swimming and stunning views from the lakeside camp.
6 miles, Elevation: +1322’/ -896′
Day 8: Exit backcountry via tuolumne meadows, return to fresno
After breakfast, we’ll pack up camp one last time and head out the remaining 4 miles to the trailhead at Tuolumne Meadows in Northern Yosemite. We’ll be meeting our shuttle here mid-morning for a scenic drive through the park back to Fresno. Expect a 5-6 pm return to Fresno.
*3.7 miles, Elevation: +230’/ -1293′*mid-morning
Details
Accommodation
- 1st night’s lodging at Fairfield Inn & Suites in Fresno.
- 6 nights of wilderness tent camping (permits included)
Meeting point
About the guide
SYMG
5.0
(2)
Guiding agency
Languages
English
Certificates
AMGA | PCGI
What people are saying about this trip
5
We had an absolutely spectacular trip with Nick. It was everything we were hoping for in experiencing the JMT. Nick was outstanding – he had us well organized, picked the best sites for camping, and kept us well fed!! Our thanks to you and to Nick for a great experience.
5
I went on the northbound John Muir Trail trip in 2023, and all I can say is that my first trip with SYMG greatly exceeded my expectations. Our guide Riley did an amazing job on the trip, and the logistics were taken care of so smoothly and seamlessly that it made it very easy to relax and really enjoy the amazing scenery around us.
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