Yosemite Grand Traverse Tour with Horsepack Support

Welcome to California! Find your own transportation to the hotel in Fresno to check-in after 4pm. Your guide will meet you and the rest of the group in the lobby at 6pm for an orientation on the adventure ahead. Have dinner at the hotel and get some sleep to prepare for this grand traverse.

Meet a private shuttle at 7am in the lobby to head to the trailhead about 3 hours away. Start the first leg of this journey entering the wilderness towards Knoblock Meadow. Once you reach the camp, your guide will prepare dinner, and you can sink into camp life under the stars.

You have a challenging day ahead, so fill up on breakfast prepared by your guide. In the morning, you’ll begin the ascent to Isberg Pass, reaching 3,200 m / 10,500 ft, and cross into Yosemite National Park. From the top of this pass, your efforts will be rewarded with mountain views extending to the horizon. Descend towards Merced River, where you’ll set up camp next to the lake marking the river’s headwaters. Huddle around the campfire admiring the lake and the several peaks surrounding it.

Rise early and watch the sunrise over the glorious peaks around you. Enjoy breakfast, and begin today’s journey, which will be mostly downhill—a nice break from the uphill battle yesterday. Pass by several creeks, waterfalls, and inviting swimming holes all branching off of the Merced River. Walk among fragrant alpine meadows, eventually leading down to set up camp next to the river.

After breakfast, you’ll continue hiking along the Merced River into Echo Valley. This will be the longest hiking effort of the tour with equal amounts of elevation gain as loss. Hike along stunning granite ridges that offer an expansive view of Little Yosemite Valley. Set up camp for the night near Sunrise Creek, which is adjacent to tomorrow’s route to summit Cloud’s Rest.

Get an early start today for a big climb right off the bat. Just off the main trail, you’ll head to the top of Cloud’s Rest at 3,025 m / 9,926 ft, where epic panoramic views await. Descend onto the primary trail hiking through Tenaya Canyon during the afternoon. Reach Sunrise Lakes, a sparkling alpine pool surrounded by pines and rocky peaks. After a few nights in the wilderness, you’ll feel right at home as you have dinner around and watch the alpine glow of sunset illuminate nature’s magic.

Have breakfast with your group, then join up with the John Muir Trail, named after the naturalist known as the “Father of the National Parks.” Follow this trail through incredible wildflower meadows and alongside treed peaks to reach the idyllic Cathedral Lake. This high alpine lake has had millions of photos taken of it, so what’s a couple more? You’ll arrive at the lake in the afternoon with plenty of time to explore, relax, swim, or just admire the view before setting up camp and watching an epic sunset before bed.

Enjoy your last morning in the mountains, and begin the descent to the trailhead. You’ll walk through the picturesque Tuolumne Meadows, where you’ll feel like you’re walking through a Yosemite National Park postcard. At the trailhead in Northern Yosemite, a private transfer will meet you to bring you back to Fresno around 5–6pm. Say goodbye to your Grand Traverse crew. On to the next leg of your journey!