Program Overview: Spend a long weekend hiking and camping in the Yosemite Wilderness. On this backpacking trip from Tioga Road, you’ll get to pitch a tent near the top of one of the tallest waterfalls in the world: Yosemite Falls.
The trip kicks off with a Sunday evening get-together at Upper Pines Campground, where you’ll meet your guide and fellow adventurers and review the route, Leave No Trace ethics, and safety tips. On Monday morning, hit the trail! Spend the day hiking south from Tioga Road along Yosemite Creek, following the water as it flows toward Yosemite Valley, before finding a spot near the Valley’s north rim to camp for the next two nights. On Tuesday, take a day hike to Eagle Peak, the highest point of the Three Brothers formation (near El Capitan), where you can enjoy breathtaking views from more than 3,700 feet above the floor of the Valley.
Before you hike back out to Tioga Road on Wednesday, you’ll have plenty of chances to bask in the beauty of a summer weekend in the Sierra Nevada, to explore the creek, peak and surrounding terrain, and to learn about the natural history of the park’s famous waterfalls and rock features.
Know Before You Go
- When: Sunday, August 28 (orientation at 7:30 pm) to Wednesday, August 31. Depart for backpacking trip on August 29 (morning), return August 31 at around 4 pm.
- Where: Yosemite Creek/Eagle Peak (south of Tioga Road).
- Registration includes: Guided backpacking trip, park entry (as needed), bear-proof canister rental, Yosemite Wilderness permit, and two nights of tent camping at a shared campsite at Upper Pines Campground before and after the trip (August 28 and 31). There is no discount if you choose not to use the included gate pass or campsite.
- Lodging options: Tent camping (included), or upgrade to Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (night of August 28 only) for an additional fee. Camping dates cannot be adjusted. The upgrade option expires 30 days before the program. Lodging information will be sent immediately after registering.
- Experience level: No prior backpacking experience necessary, but participants must be physically fit and prepared to hike a total of 14 miles over two days.
View a suggested packing list.
COVID-19: We have implemented special safety measures to keep participants and instructors safe during the ongoing pandemic. Please review our COVID-19 procedures for details.
