Why go Backpacking? From Denali to Yosemite the Answer Remains the Same

Why Backpacking is an Adventure That Changed My Life

My name is Jake Johnson and I’m an employee here at Alpenglow Expeditions. Backpacking is an experience that changed me as a person, and an adventure that I strongly believe changes people in the best possible way. There’s something about carrying everything you need on your back, stepping away from cell service, and walking into the wilderness that resets your system. Backpacking strips things down to the essentials—food, water, shelter, movement—and in doing so, it creates space for change.

As I backpacked through the incredible tundra of Denali National Park, I was in a space where I could think and reflect, all while enjoying the present in one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. Surrounded by mountains, I was in awe, even more so when the 20,308 ft peak of Denali came out from behind the clouds. An adventure that made me realize there’s so much more to do and so much more to see. Backpacking is an experience that will change your life forever.

And few places offer that experience like Yosemite National Park.

You Relearn What You’re Capable Of

Backpacking isn’t always easy. You might be sore, hungry, dirty, or hiking in the rain—but you keep going. You find a rhythm. You problem-solve. Whether you’re climbing granite switchbacks in Yosemite or crossing a raging river in Denali with 75b lbs on your back, each challenge builds resilience. Backpacking in Yosemite’s rugged terrain—especially along trails like the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne or the Glacier Point loop—helps you discover what you’re truly capable of.

You Disconnect to Reconnect

While I was in Denali, with only one park road, no trails, and more wildlife around you than people, it’s easy to disconnect from everyday life. The hard part is the planning, permits, and logistics, which we’ve already taken care of for you. Put in the work on the trail and it will be worth it once you’re in camp. The Yosemite backcountry is a true escape from screens and schedule. No Wi-Fi. No cell towers. Just forest, granite, rivers, and sky. In the quiet, you notice the sound of wind through the pines and the rush of waterfalls. Without digital noise, your brain settles. Conversations deepen. You reconnect—with yourself, your hiking partners, and the natural world.

Yosemite Puts Things in Perspective

Like Denali, Yosemite’s scale is humbling. Backpacking beneath towering granite cliffs like El Capitan, or standing at a remote alpine lake beneath the High Sierra peaks, it’s impossible not to feel small in the best possible way. As I looked up at Denali I remember I had never seen something so massive. I felt humbled in a way that made me appreciate what I had even more than before. A multi-day Yosemite hiking trip shifts your focus away from daily stress and back to something simpler, and much larger.

You Learn to Be Present

Backpacking through Denali it was impossible to not be present. Wether I was watching a Grizzly bear chasing after birds, figuring out the unknown plan for the day, or enjoying the never-ending sunlight, I was living in the moment. No matter where you are wilderness areas slows you down. When you hike 6–10 miles a day with everything on your back, life becomes basic: walk, eat, sleep. Your thoughts stop racing. You start paying attention—to mule deer tracks on the trail, the changing color of the sky, the warmth of your morning coffee. That presence is rare—and powerful.

Why Yosemite?

Yosemite is one of the most iconic places in the United States to backpack for a reason. The variety of terrain—from deep river canyons to high alpine passes—makes it perfect for both beginner and experienced backpackers. Whether you’re on your first overnight or planning a longer backcountry loop, backpacking in Yosemite delivers solitude, beauty, and challenge in equal measure.

Looking for a way to start? Join our 5-Day Yosemite Backpacking Adventure. You’ll get expert guides, dialed logistics, and a chance to fully experience Yosemite’s backcountry without the stress of navigating permits, maps, or meal planning.

Backpacking changes your life not because it’s glamorous, but because it’s real. In Yosemite, the impact is amplified. You leave the trail a little stronger, a little clearer, and more connected to the world around you. And that’s a kind of change worth seeking out.