Trip Highlights:
When most people think of Yosemite, they think of the popular Yosemite Valley, the scenic, heavenly, glacier-carved valley with granite monoliths such as El Capitan and Half Dome, and epic-sized waterfalls on both sides. Our Yosemite Valley Guided Hike highlights a variety of iconic and popular features in Yosemite Valley, as well as some lesser-known gems. Along the way, your professional and knowledgeable guide will share the history of Yosemite, trail tales, and information about the area's geology, flora, and fauna. This is a great Yosemite guided tour that caters to families and hikers of all skill levels. This is also a top choice for first-timers to Yosemite and/or those who want an easy-to-moderate walking-based tour of the famed and popular valley. All tours are private, and you can customize the day’s itinerary when you meet with the guide in the morning.
Offered: April -November. For Dec.-April, see our Yosemite Valley Winter Tour.
All Tours Are Private
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 30 days before your trip date and receive a full, lifetime, transferable credit.
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 30 days before both the current and the new trip dates, subject to our guide’s availability.
Meeting Location: Curry Village Tour Kiosk 4,035′
High Point: Various Yosemite Valley Locations
Mileage and Elevation Gain/Loss: Varies
If it’s your first time in Yosemite and/or you’re looking to see all of the iconic landmarks Yosemite Valley has to offer, look no further than the Yosemite Valley Hiking Tour. Over the course of the day, your guide will hike with you to a variety of iconic Yosemite Valley destinations often including features like Vernal Fall, Mirror Lake, Happy Isles, Lower Yosemite Fall, and/or Swinging Bridge as well as some of the more “hidden gems” of Yosemite like the little-known Sequoia trees growing in the valley or the secret Spider and/or Indian caves. The tour can be broken up with visits to the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center and Museum, Ansel Adams Photo Gallery, Ahwahneechee Indian Village, Pioneer Cemetery, and/or Old Chapel, based on the group’s interests. Prominent geological features such as Half Dome, El Capitan, North Dome, Royal Arches, Sentinel Rock, and Glacier Point will be pointed out along the way, with the best photo opportunities as they arise. A visit to El Capitan Meadow and a walk to and touch of the base of the world’s largest granite monolith can also be incorporated into your day. This is an easy-to-moderate hiking tour that is great for families and hikers of all skill levels. Since there is so much to see in Yosemite Valley, this trip can also be booked for two different days to make sure you see it all.
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, we book all of our Day Hikes as private and do not have an option to join a group. The only exception is our Half Dome in a Day hike in Yosemite, which allows up to 5 guests and 1 guide per trip.
Unfortunately, no, we do not schedule half-day tours. However, as every Day Hike is private, you can modify and customize your day with the guide as needed upon meeting and/or throughout the tour. For example, if you need (or prefer) to end at a specific time, just let the guide know when you meet, and they can make that happen.
Yes, and lucky you, as you will have a private guide for that day.
Yes, see here for our Day Hike Equipment List.
Our Guides will supply trekking poles, the gloves for Half Dome cables, and will also carry first-aid supplies and water purification devices for water along the way. They also carry bathroom supplies (toilet paper, trowel, hand sanitizer), bug repellent, suntan lotion, and they are always armed with fun, natural facts and stories from the park.
No, and we suggest you bring your own trail lunch, snacks, and full water bottles.
Yes, parking is always available at our meeting point, and your vehicle can remain there throughout the day.
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.
See our Day Hike Cancellation Policy on our Terms and Conditions Page, which is summarized below:
Availability
