2026 Yosemite Backpacking Trips
Every trip below is built around a wilderness permit already secured. Dates are fixed, not tentative. Prices include your permit, tent, all meals, cooking gear, and pre-trip planning. Trips range from $950 to $2,100 per person depending on route and duration.
Looking specifically for Half Dome? View all guided Half Dome backpacking trips →
| Trip | Half Dome | Length | Difficulty | Highlights | Size | Dates | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
High Sierra Lakes Traverse → Half Dome
Signature
|
✓ Included | 8d / 7n | Advanced | Lake basins, off-trail alpine, Half Dome finish, one-way traverse | 2 | Jun 28 – Jul 5 | $2,100 pp | |
Half Dome Backcountry (Memorial Day) |
✓ Included | 5d / 4n | Intermediate | Half Dome with extra time, potential Clouds Rest / Echo Valley loop | 2 | May 21 – 25 | $1,550 pp | |
Private Half Dome Expedition |
✓ Included | 4d / 3n | Flexible | 1:1 guiding, Half Dome, custom route and pace | 1 | Jun 19 – 22 | $1,500 total | |
Late Summer Half Dome |
✓ Included | 4d / 3n | Intermediate | Prime-weather Half Dome, wildflowers, Illilouette / LYV camping | 5 | Aug 14 – 17 | $1,250 pp | |
Alpine Lakes Loop |
— | 3d / 2n | Moderate | High-country lake basins, alpine terrain, loop route from Tuolumne | 5 | Aug 22 – 24 | $950 pp | |
Half Dome Weekend (Aug) |
✓ Included | 3d / 2n | Intermediate | LYV base camp, Half Dome summit, established trails, best entry point | 4 | Aug 28 – 30 | $1,050 pp | |
Half Dome Weekend (Labor Day) |
✓ Included | 4d / 3n | Intermediate | Half Dome summit, LYV base camp, optional Clouds Rest or Echo Valley extension | 2 | Sep 4 – 7 | $1,250 pp | |
Half Dome Weekend (Sept) |
✓ Included | 3d / 2n | Intermediate | LYV base camp, Half Dome summit, established trails, most direct backpacking route | 5 | Sep 19 – 21 | $1,050 pp | |
Half Dome + Clouds Rest |
✓ Included | 4d / 3n | Intermediate | Half Dome summit via cables (last weekend cables are up), Clouds Rest summit, JMT base camp at 7,000ft | 5 | Oct 9 – 12 | $1,250 pp |
Additional dates will be added as Yosemite continues to release permits.
⭐ June 28 - July 5: High Sierra Lakes Traverse → Half Dome
SIGNATURE EXPEDITION
8 days / 7 nights
Start: Rafferty Creek Trailhead → Finish: Happy Isles
$2,100 per person
Recommended experience: Prior multi-night backpacking at elevation; comfortable with 8–12 mile days and 2,000–3,000 ft of gain with a full pack.
We start at Rafferty Creek Trailhead in the Tuolumne Meadows area and spend eight days moving through a chain of high-country lake basins, finishing with a Half Dome summit before descending into Yosemite Valley. One-way journey, not an out-and-back.
There’s no rigid daily itinerary. I handle navigation, provide options, and we adjust the route to match conditions and how the group is feeling. We’ll spend most of the trip in terrain very few visitors ever reach.
What to expect:
- 8-12 miles/day (some days more, some less)
- Elevation ~8,000-9,000+ ft for most of the route
- Some off-trail travel
- Lake-to-lake traverse ending near Half Dome
- Half Dome summit via cables (permit included)
- Physically demanding — you need multi-day backpacking experience
- Review the gear list and pack weight guidance → before your planning call.
- Trip ends in Yosemite Valley (YARTS shuttle from Valley to Tuolumne included)
What's different about this trip:
- This is the only time I'm offering this route in 2026
- True multi-day alpine traverse, not a single-destination out-and-back
- Designed to showcase the range of Yosemite’s backcountry in one trip
- Includes one-way YARTS shuttle bus ticket (Valley → Tuolumne on Day 1)
May 21-25: Half Dome Backcountry (Memorial Day Weekend)
5 days / 4 nights
Trailhead: Happy Isles
$1,550 per person
Recommended experience: Prior backpacking experience, comfortable hiking 8–12 miles/day with ~3,000ft of gain carrying a full pack.
Half Dome over Memorial Day weekend. This is more immersive than a standard 3-day Half Dome trip—extra time means less rushing, more flexibility in pacing, and the ability to explore beyond just Half Dome. We may add Clouds Rest or loop around Echo Valley depending on group vibe and conditions.
What to expect:
- 8-12 miles/day
- Half Dome summit via cables (permit included)
- Potential for Clouds Rest or Echo Valley loop depending on conditions
- Small group (2 clients) for easier decision-making on a busy holiday weekend
June 19-22: Private Half Dome Expedition
4 days / 3 nights
Trailhead: Happy Isles
$1,500 total
Recommended experience: Comfortable hiking full days with a pack; prior backpacking helpful but not required if you’ve done strenuous day hikes.
This is a fully private trip. One-on-one. No group dynamics, no shared decision-making. Just you, me, and the route.
We'll summit Half Dome and spend the rest of the time exploring nearby terrain — Clouds Rest, quieter viewpoints, whatever makes sense given your interests and the conditions.
June is ideal—long days, stable weather, strong conditions for moving through the High Sierra.
What to expect:
- Completely flexible itinerary built around your goals
- Roughly 6 miles to reach the first camping zone on Day 1; everything else is flexible
- Half Dome summit via cables (permit included)
- Opportunity to explore beyond standard routes and camp away from crowds
- Full attention on your pacing, skills, and experience — true 1:1 guiding
August 14-17: Late Summer Half Dome
4 days / 3 nights
Trailhead: Mono Meadow
$1,250 per person
Recommended experience: Comfortable with 8–12 mile days and extended climbs with a full pack.
Late-season Half Dome. By mid-August, the weather is stable, the wildflowers are peaking at higher elevations, and the summit conditions are as good as they get.
This trip is capped at 5 clients to keep it manageable and maintain a premium experience. You're not moving through the backcountry with a tour group—this is a small team working together.
What to expect:
- 8-12 miles/day
- Half Dome summit via cables (permit included)
- Late-season stability (one of the best weather windows of the year)
- Wilderness camping in Illilouette Basin / Little Yosemite Valley area
August 22-24: Alpine Lakes Loop
3 days / 2 nights
Start: Rafferty Creek Trailhead → Finish: Lyell Canyon
$950 per person
Recommended experience: Comfortable hiking 6–10 miles/day with elevation gain carrying a full pack.
Tuolumne Meadows as a launching point into genuine alpine terrain. This trip moves through high-country lake basins above 9,000 feet — the part of Yosemite most visitors never reach. Two nights, two different lakes, a loop route that keeps the scenery changing.
Day 2 is intentionally lower mileage. This isn't a death march — it's a chance to actually be somewhere instead of just passing through it.
If you've been wanting to experience Yosemite's high country without committing to a Half Dome summit or a multi-week expedition, this is the right trip.
What to expect:
- 6–10 miles/day (lower mileage on Day 2)
- Elevation 9,000+ ft throughout
- Loop route — you won't retrace your steps
- Two nights at two separate alpine lakes
- Tuolumne Meadows start
August 28-30: Half Dome Weekend
3 days / 2 nights
Trailhead: Happy Isles
$1,050 per person
Recommended experience: Comfortable hiking full days with sustained elevation gain; no prior backpacking required.
Little Yosemite Valley as a base camp, Half Dome as the objective. Two nights in one of Yosemite's most iconic wilderness camping areas, with a full summit day on Half Dome in between.
This is the most direct path to Half Dome via backpacking — no complex logistics, no remote terrain, established trails the whole way. If you've thought about backpacking to Half Dome but weren't sure you were ready for a longer expedition, this is where you start.
The Half Dome permit is included. The cables will be up. Late August conditions are as stable as the season gets.
What to expect:
- Happy Isles trailhead start
- Two nights camping in Little Yosemite Valley
- Half Dome summit via cables (permit included)
- Established trails throughout
- 8–10 miles/day
September 4-7: Half Dome Weekend (Labor Day)
4 days / 3 nights
Trailhead: Happy Isles
$1,250 per person
Recommended experience: Comfortable hiking full days with sustained elevation gain; no prior backpacking required.
Little Yosemite Valley as base camp, Half Dome as the primary objective — with room to push further. Four days gives us time to do more than just check off Half Dome. Depending on group fitness and conditions, we will add Clouds Rest or hike the Lost Valley towards Merced Lake and loop back around to LYV.
Labor Day weekend in Yosemite is one of the last windows of stable summer conditions before the season shifts. The cables are still up. The days are long enough.
This is 2 clients maximum — great trip for a couple or someone looking for a small group trip.
What to expect:
- Happy Isles trailhead start
- Three nights camping in Little Yosemite Valley area
- Half Dome summit via cables (permit included)
- Optional secondary objective: Clouds Rest or Echo Valley depending on group and conditions
- Established trails throughout
- 8–10 miles/day
September 19–21: Half Dome Weekend (Sept)
3 days / 2 nights
Trailhead: Happy Isles
$1,050 per person
Recommended experience: Comfortable hiking full days with sustained elevation gain; no prior backpacking required.
Little Yosemite Valley as a base camp, Half Dome as the objective. Two nights in one of Yosemite's most iconic wilderness camping areas, with a full summit day on Half Dome in between.
This is the most direct path to Half Dome via backpacking. No complex logistics, no remote terrain, established trails the whole way. If you've thought about backpacking to Half Dome but weren't sure you were ready for a longer expedition, this is where you start.
What to expect:
- Happy Isles trailhead start
- Two nights camping in Little Yosemite Valley
- Half Dome summit via cables (permit included)
- Established trails throughout
- 8–10 miles/day
October 9-12: Half Dome + Clouds Rest
4 days / 3 nights
Trailhead: Happy Isles
$1,250 per person
Recommended experience: Comfortable hiking full days with sustained elevation gain; no prior backpacking required.
Base camp along the John Muir Trail at 7,000ft between Half Dome and Clouds Rest trail junctions. Half Dome as the primary objective and we will add Clouds Rest as secondary. Sequence of summit day will depend on weather and the group.
This is the last weekend for accessing Half Dome summit while the cables are UP.
What to expect:
- Happy Isles trailhead start
- Half Dome summit via cables (permit included)
- Clouds Rest summit
- Established trails throughout
- 8–10 miles/day
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the wilderness permits already secured for these trips? Yes. Every trip on this page is built around a wilderness permit already in hand. The dates are fixed because the permits are fixed — that's what makes booking straightforward. No lottery anxiety on your end.
What's included in the trip price? The wilderness permit, all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), a lightweight 2-person tent, bear canister, cooking equipment, backcountry water treatment, first aid and emergency gear, and pre-trip video calls. Park entrance fees, transportation to trailheads, and personal backpacking gear are not included.
Do I need my own backpacking gear? Yes — you'll need your own pack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and clothing. Yosemite Life provides a lightweight 2-person tent, bear canister, all meals, cooking equipment, and backcountry water treatment. What's yours is the personal kit you wear and sleep in. Yosemite Life doesn't maintain a rental fleet but can point you to rental sources nearby. The trip-specific gear list is reviewed during your planning call. View the full Backpacking Gear List
How physically demanding are these trips? It varies by trip. Each listing includes a recommended experience level and daily mileage range. The shortest trips cover 6–10 miles per day on established trails. The signature 8-day traverse involves 8–12 mile days at elevation with some off-trail travel and requires prior multi-day backpacking experience.
Is the Half Dome permit included on Half Dome trips? Yes. For every trip marked "✓ Included" in the Half Dome column, the permit is already secured for those dates. Max group size for Half Dome is 6 people including the guide, per NPS regulations.
What's the payment structure? A 50% deposit holds your spot at booking. The remaining 50% is charged automatically 30 days before the trip start date. Full payment at booking is also available if preferred.
Who leads these trips? Every trip is led by Eric Kufrin, owner of Yosemite Life. Eric operates under a National Park Service Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) for guided day hiking and overnight backpacking in Yosemite National Park and is Wilderness First Aid certified, CPR certified, and Leave No Trace certified.
Have more questions? View my Guided Backpacking Trips page or see the full FAQ page — covering fitness, gear, cancellations, safety, wildlife, and logistics.