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Alpine Lakes and Summits

2 Summits, 3+ Alpine Lakes, Countless Adventures - Guided Yosemite Backpacking Trips

Trip Highlights:

Mount Hoffmann Summit

May Lake & Sunrise Lakes

Clouds Rest Summit

Tenaya Lake

Magical Sunsets

Tuolumne Meadows

Summit two of Yosemite’s most iconic peaks over the course of three nights in the backcountry, while camping and exploring the park’s stunning alpine lakes, one of our most popular guided Yosemite Backpacking Trips! Start your backcountry journey camping at the shore of May Lake at the base of Mount Hoffman, which is the geographical center of Yosemite. Summit Mt. Hoffman (10,850’) and enjoy one of John Muir's favorite views within the park. Return to camp and take in one of the best sunsets and alpenglow on the perch above May Lake. Cool off in Yosemite’s largest lake (Tenaya) before hiking up to the Sunrise Lakes area, where you will camp before tackling the Clouds Rest summit (9,926’). Leave the packs at camp for a light day hike to Clouds Rest on Day 4, where you’ll experience one of the best views in the park with Half Dome and the Valley below you! On the final day, retrace your steps for a downhill hike back to Tioga Road and Tenaya Lake, where we will end our trip. If you’re looking for a quintessential Yosemite high country experience, this adventure will not disappoint!

Mileage & Difficulty

25 Miles

Length

5 Days

Price

$2,000

Per Person

Check Availability

You will receive a full refund if you cancel within 48 hours of the original booking date.

Book with confidence knowing you can cancel for any reason up to 30 days before your trip date and receive a transferable lifetime credit that is good for use on any of our programs.

Not sure if your current trip dates work? Rest assured, you can change your trip date as many times as needed, provided you do so at least 30 days before the current and new trip dates.

All dates remain tentative until confirmed 23-24 weeks in advance.

We are now fully permitted through August 8, 2026 departures.

Yosemite 2025 Update: The National Park Service was given the green light for Yosemite to hire all needed seasonal employees for the summer 2025 season. We do expect to be able to run all our programs as planned. Should reservations be required, participation in Lasting Adventures programs, trips, and/or tours includes entry when reservations are needed

2026 Departure Dates by Month

    May Departure Dates  

  • Fri, May 15th – Tue, May 19th
  • Sun, May 31st – Thu, Jun 4th
  • June Departure Dates  

  • Sat, Jun 27th – Wed, Jul 1st

    July Departure Dates  

  • Wed, Jul 29th – Sun, Aug 2nd
  • August Departure Dates  

  • Sat, Aug 22nd – Wed, Aug 26th

    All dates remain tentative until permitted 23-24 weeks in advance. Please refrain from making travel arrangements outside of this timeline. We will contact you if we are unsuccessful in obtaining your dates. Feel free to contact us if you would like to confirm.

    Guided Yosemite Backpacking Trips – Alpine Lakes & Summits

    For a detailed map with an elevation profile of the tentative itinerary, click here: Map.

    Day 1

    Meet your guide at the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center at 4 p.m. Get acquainted with the group and with gear. If time allows before dinner, explore Tuolumne Meadows. Camping in the Tuolumne Meadows Backpackers Campsite.

    Today’s Mileage/Elevation: ~0.5 mi / 0′

    Day 2

    After breakfast and packing up the campsite, our group will return to the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center before relocating vehicles to the trailhead near Tenaya Lake. Catch your first glimpse of the high country while hiking 2.6 moderate miles up to May Lake (9,329′). After setting up camp along the lake’s shore, hike the four miles round-trip to the top of Mount Hoffmann (10,850′). Mount Hoffmann is the geographical center of Yosemite National Park and was also John Muir’s favorite summit view. Also at this location: swimming, relaxing, and taking in an amazing sunset on the secret bluff, which looks east across the Yosemite high country.

    Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 2.6 mi / +1093′, -6′ (Optional additional 3.2 mi/1535′ of elevation if hiking Mount Hoffmann)

    Day 3

    Hike back down to Tioga Road and then up to Sunrise Lakes, stopping off for lunch and a dip in Tenaya Lake along the way. After the day’s biggest uphill hike, cool off in the cold alpine water before catching another spectacular sunset.

    Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 6.6 mi / +1349′-1405′

    Day 4

    After a hearty breakfast, leave the packs at camp for a light day hike, approximately 3.5 miles to the summit of Clouds Rest at 9,926′. Enjoy lunch at the top while soaking in panoramic views of Yosemite’s wilderness. An easy, mostly downhill hike takes us back to camp at Sunrise Lakes to end the day

    Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 9.2 mi / +2148′, -2148′

    Day 5

    Enjoy a leisurely wake-up time on the last morning, followed by the final breakfast of the trip. After packing up camp, take in the views as you descend 3 miles down the Sunrise Trail back to Tenaya Lake, where we will end the trip. Generally, our goal is to finish between 11am to 1pm, but this can be later due to the human factors within the group

    Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 3.5 mi / +218′, -1335′

    Other: When going this route, there are options. For example, there is a trail that goes around the summit of Clouds Rest for anyone who does not want to summit. Also, in the early season, before Tioga Rd/Hwy 120 opens, we may relocate this trip to another lake area off Glacier Point Rd and meet in Yosemite Valley instead of Tuolumne Meadows. 

    • Our trips are all-inclusive. We provide all meals, and we can provide high-quality gear, including Gregory backpacks, Big Agnes tents, sleeping bags and pads, LEKI trekking poles, and eating gear, free of charge. Group gear, including all kitchen supplies, first aid, and water purification, is also included. See the Guide Service Backpacking Equipment List for more information.
    • See our Frequently Asked Questions, Yosemite Transportation Options, and/or Yosemite Lodging Options. 
    • Parking will be available adjacent to the first day’s meeting location.
    • All trips include the required permits and are pending permit availability, which we gain 23-24 weeks in advance. Please refrain from making travel arrangements until we have confirmed dates. If we cannot acquire permits for this exact itinerary on your chosen dates, you will be contacted with options to choose different dates and/or cancel/refund.
    • Should weather, fire, and/or delayed seasonal openings affect the chosen itinerary, a different itinerary will be offered. Lasting Adventures is recognized for its commitment to safety and risk management. In this regard, the summit of peaks will not be attempted when clouds are in close proximity.
    • Should reservations be necessary to enter Yosemite, your booking confirmation with us will serve as your entry reservation for the days booked with us. This should not be confused with entry fees, which still may be required.

    Your participation helps sustain our non-profit mission of supporting youth, families, and disadvantaged communities with positive experiences in America’s National Parks and natural spaces.

    Yes, our backpack trips are perfect for both those who are new to backpacking and those who have backpacked before and are looking to explore new areas.

    Yes, overall, most of our clients travel solo, and everyone always leaves with new friends. Often these new friendships return and join us in different parks and/or on different itineraries. Solo participants will be offered single-person tents.

    On backpacking trips, our average group size is 8-10 people with at least two guides, however, often groups are much smaller. We strive for a 1:5 guide to client ratio at most on all trips. We also appreciate small group sizes to maximize your experience.

    On all multiday trips, and unlike most other outfitters, our trips are all–inclusive, with free use of quality gear from partners such as Gregory (backpacks), Big Agnes (tents, sleeping bags, and pads), Leki (trekking poles), and more. See here for Gear We Use. Lasting Adventures also provides all group gear (bear cans, cooking gear, first-aid supplies, water treatment, toilet paper, soap, hand sanitizer, bug repellent, suntan lotion, etc).

    Unfortunately no. Lasting Adventures provides our gear free of charge through longstanding partnerships with our gear partners. Thus, we neither charge more to use our gear nor charge less if you use your own. You can also request to use our gear, and also bring your own, and then decide what stays or goes when packing up with the guide(s) and group on the first day.  

    You can expect to carry anywhere from 30-50 pounds, but no more than â…“ of your body weight. You will carry all your personal gear and, if possible, a share of the group gear. Within the group, bigger people carry more and smaller people less. For over 30 years now, this process has worked to everyone’s advantage.

    Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We have a long history of meeting the needs of most all dietary restrictions and even some very complicated ones. When registering, you will complete a questionnaire to give us a brief picture of your needs. Later, you will complete a more detailed Medical Form, which you can use to include additional information. The staff guiding your trip will call you the day prior and, when packing the food/gear for the trip, will go over your needs and modifications in more detail. Although we have many options in stock, we respect it if you ultimately decide to bring your preferred substitutions.

    We operate traditional wilderness backpacking trips, and you should prepare yourself for not having access to bathrooms/showers. Guides will provide instructions on how to best use the wilderness when conducting your business while also following the Leave No Trace Principles. There will also be time to rinse off, as we camp near rivers, streams, and/or lakes daily. Less often, we may stay in campgrounds with toilets or outhouses.  

    Yes, parking is always available close to our first day’s meeting point, and your vehicle can remain there throughout the trip. Although parking is free, remember to expect a vehicle fee when entering the park.

    Although past clients have said they were glad they rented a vehicle, there are limited public transportation options for most of the trips we offer in Yosemite. See here for additional information: Yosemite Transportation Options.

    You can store your valuables and/or extra gear/luggage either locked in your vehicle or our guide’s vehicle for the duration of the trip.

    To avoid the processing fees associated with online registration, you can pay by check, Zelle, or bank transfer. See more information here: Payment Options. 

    Lasting Adventures offers a very forgiving and structured Cancellation Policy, with lifetime transferable credit always an option up to 30 days prior to the trip. For a full description, visit our Terms and Conditions page.

    • Our trips are all-inclusive. We provide all meals, and we can provide high-quality gear, including Gregory backpacks, Big Agnes tents, sleeping bags and pads, LEKI trekking poles, and eating gear, free of charge. Group gear, including all kitchen supplies, first aid, and water purification, is also included. See the Guide Service Backpacking Equipment List for more information.
    • See our Frequently Asked Questions, Yosemite Transportation Options, and/or Yosemite Lodging Options. 
    • Parking will be available adjacent to the first day’s meeting location.
    • All trips include the required permits and are pending permit availability, which we gain 23-24 weeks in advance. Please refrain from making travel arrangements until we have confirmed dates. If we cannot acquire permits for this exact itinerary on your chosen dates, you will be contacted with options to choose different dates and/or cancel/refund.
    • Should weather, fire, and/or delayed seasonal openings affect the chosen itinerary, a different itinerary will be offered. Lasting Adventures is recognized for its commitment to safety and risk management. In this regard, the summit of peaks will not be attempted when clouds are in close proximity.
    • Should reservations be necessary to enter Yosemite, your booking confirmation with us will serve as your entry reservation for the days booked with us. This should not be confused with entry fees, which still may be required.

    Your participation helps sustain our non-profit mission of supporting youth, families, and disadvantaged communities with positive experiences in America’s National Parks and natural spaces.

    What Our Clients Say

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    All Lasting Adventures Backpacking trips require trailhead permits, which we gain 23-24 weeks in advance through a lottery process.

    We are now fully permitted through August 8, 2026 departures.

    If you register for a date after August 8, 2026, and we can’t get the necessary permits, we will work with you to select alternative dates or trips. A complete cancellation or refund is always the final option.