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5 Day Yosemite Backpacking Adventure

5 Day Yosemite Backpacking Adventure

$2,100per person
Introductory 5 Days Yosemite National Park, CA
There’s no better way to experience Yosemite than on foot. Backpacking in Yosemite gets you off the busy roads and into the heart of the Sierra—granite domes, wild rivers, alpine meadows, and star-filled nights. Our guided trips are built to take you beyond the crowds and into Yosemite’s most scenic and remote terrain. Whether you’re looping from Glacier Point through quiet backcountry basins or descending deep into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, you’ll travel light, eat well, and sleep under the stars—with experienced guides handling logistics, safety, and permits. This year, we are offering the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. 
Aug 26, 2025 – Aug 30, 2025Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne
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Leave the crowds behind in the most-visited national park in the U.S. See Yosemite the way it used to be.

Backpacking in Yosemite means trading pavement for granite slabs, cell service for rivers and ridgelines, and crowds for quiet nights under the stars. With a backpack on and a few days of disconnect ahead of you, the park opens up in a whole new way—raw, remote, and unforgettable.

Our guided backpacking trips are designed to help you access Yosemite’s backcountry without worrying about logistics, permits, or getting lost. We provide the gear, food, and professional guidance—you show up ready to hike, learn, and soak it all in.

What You’ll Learn and Experience

Backcountry Travel Skills

Our guides teach fundamental backpacking techniques along the way—how to pack efficiently, treat water, travel safely, and manage a campsite. Whether you’re a beginner or brushing up for future solo trips, you’ll walk away more confident in your outdoor skills.

Natural History and Park Insight

Each day on trail is a deep dive into Yosemite’s geology, ecosystems, and history. Learn how glaciers carved the valleys, how the Tuolumne River shaped its canyon, and why this landscape continues to draw people from around the world.

Scenic Immersion

Backpacking lets you see the side of Yosemite that day hikers never reach. From high ridgelines to deep river valleys, you’ll camp in spots most visitors will never know exist—and wake up to granite walls and quiet forest all around you.

Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne

This 5-day point-to-point trek starts in the high country near White Wolf and drops into the dramatic granite gorge of the Tuolumne River. We follow the river past waterfalls, pools, and cascades—camping each night in stunning riverside spots.

It’s a long descent at the beginning, followed by several days of rolling travel along one of the most beautiful and underrated canyons in the Sierra. We finish in Tuolumne Meadows and shuttle back to the start.

This one’s for backpackers who want big views, wild terrain, and to move through Yosemite’s landscape in a meaningful, connected way.

Rental Gear

Need gear? We’ve got you covered. All camping gear including tents, cookware, backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pad, and bear canisters are built into the cost. Just let us know what you need!

Fitness
Excellent physical fitness is required. Backpackers must be able to hike for many hours at a time while carrying a heavy pack.
Day 1- Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne (GCT)
Meet at the White Wolf Trailhead

10:00 AM Meet your team at the White Wolf Trailhead for a gear shake out and pack check.

12:00 PM Lunch at Trailhead

1:00 PM Depart from Trailhead

5:00 PM Camp 1

6:30 PM Dinner

Elev. Gain: 171′
Elev. Loss: 3789′
Distance: 7.38 miles

Day 2
Continue Hiking

7:00 AM Wake Up and Breakfast – Guide overview of day

8:00 AM Pack up camp and finalize packs

9:00 AM On Trail

12:00 PM Break for lunch

1:00 PM Continue on trail

5:00 PM Camp 2

6:30 PM Dinner

Elev. Gain: 1244′
Elev. Loss: 277′
Distance: 5.9 miles

Day 3
Continue Hiking

7:00 AM Wake Up and Breakfast – Guide overview of day

8:00 AM Pack up camp and finalize packs

9:00 AM On trail

12:00 PM Break for lunch

1:00 PM Continue on trail

5:00 PM Camp 3

6:30 PM Dinner

Elev. Gain: 1,629′
Elev. Loss: 636′
Distance: 5.12 miles

Day 4
Continue Hiking

7:00 AM Wake Up and Breakfast – Guide overview of day

8:00 AM Pack up camp and finalize packs

9:00 AM On trail

12:00 PM Break for lunch

1:00 PM Continue on trail

5:00 PM Camp 4

6:30 PM Dinner

Elev. Gain: 1,748′
Elev. Loss: 741′
Distance: 3.98 miles

Day 5
Finish in Tuolumne Meadows

7:00 AM Wake Up and Breakfast – Guide overview of day

8:00 AM Pack up camp and finalize packs

9:00 AM On trail

12:00 PM Break for lunch

1:00 PM Continue on trail

4:00 PM Shuttle back to vehicles

Elev. Gain: 956′
Elev. Loss: 250′
Distance: 5.46 miles

Meet Your Yosemite Backpacking Guides.

Yosemite Backpacking Questions

The answers to our most commonly asked questions about Yosemite Backpacking
@AlpenglowExpeditions