On our six-day program we will assemble in Fresno and shuttle into Yosemite early morning of Day 1. We’ll take a break during the drive up Tioga road to hike to beautiful May Lake at the base of Mt. Hoffman, one of Muir’s first mountain ascents. We’ll spend our first of three nights on the shore of Mono Lake in Lee Vining and devote our next three hikes to the high neadows of the park.
On Day 2, we’ll hike from Dana Meadows to historic Mono Pass with its incredible views of the Sierra Crest and Blood Canyon as well as Mono Lake and the high desert of the Great Basin east of the Sierra Nevada. Dinner at the Whoa Nellie Deli at the Mobil gas station in Lee Vining on this evening is one for the ages – an essential ingredient of every Yosemite experience.
We’ll shuttle over Tioga Pass to Tuolumne Meadows along the Tuolumne River on Day 3 for a gentler hike to Dog Lake. This is a wonderful loop trail to beautiful Dog Lake which mirrors the surrounding mountains. After circumnavigating the lake, we continue on our loop around Lembert Dome to the summit trail. It’s only 1/2 mile climb on the exposed rock to reach the dome summit with views in all directions. After the descent, we end with a walk through the picturesque Tuolumne meadow back to the trialhead.
On Day 4, we’re off for what may well be the park’s most spectacular viewpoint as we challenge the Sunrise Trail that ultimately will lead to the Clouds Rest Summit, just shy of 10,000’. Clouds Rest is substantially higher than better-known Half Dome, safer to climb without the terrifying drop-offs for which Half Dome is famous, and, most importantly, far less crowded with significantly better views of the park. Following the Clouds Rest hike, we’re headed for El Portal, western gateway to the park, where we’ll spend our next two overnights.
Panorama to Mist Trail, considered to be among the park’s most scenic hikes, is our plan for Day 5. We’ll begin our hike from Glacier Point along the dramatic Panorama Trail with its countless breathtaking views of the massive domes – Half Dome, Liberty Cap and Clouds Rest – for which Yosemite is famous. We descend to Illilouette Falls and then climb a bit around to Panorama Point and its awesome view of Yosemite Falls in the distance. We continue our descent into the Yosemite Valley to the very brink of Nevada Fall. Soon we join the Mist Trail, as it descends along the face of Vernal Fall, with over 600 steps down the steep hillside. The route continues to follow the Merced River on the John Muir Trail to the Yosemite Valley floor at Happy Isles. We are now in the heart of Yosemite Village where you may want to explore the shops and sights before we have our final celebratory dinner at the famous Ahwahnee Dining Room looking acros the Yosemite Valley.
Our final Day 6 is spent in the Giant Sequoia grove of Mariposa. With gentle paths wandering through the towering trees, we will stop at the Grizzly Giant, the Tunnel Tree, the Mariposa Museum, the Guardians and many more. From this southern edge of Yosemite National Park, we shuttle back to Fresno for the conclusion of our Yosemite Tour.
