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Backpacking camp at sunset with Half Dome in the distance, Yosemite backcountry
2026 season · permits secured ★★★★★ 5 · 3 reviews Google Reviews

Yosemite backpacking trips with permits already secured.

7 trips from $950 per person. Tent, meals, cook gear, and bear canisters included. Eric guides every trip personally.

Upcoming backpacking trips 3 trips · permits secured
High Sierra Lakes Traverse → Half Dome Jun 28–Jul 5 · 8 days Signature 1 spot remaining
$2,100 /person
Late Summer Half Dome Aug 14–Aug 17 · 4 days Half Dome ✓
$1,250 /person
Alpine Lakes Loop Aug 22–Aug 24 · 3 days High Country
$950 /person
All trips below → Half Dome trips →
NPS Authorized
YOSE-2026-7d667608
WFA Certified
Wilderness First Aid
Leave No Trace
LNT Certified
Fully Insured
$1M Liability
Yosemite Backcountry · High Sierra

Permits already secured.

Every trip has a confirmed wilderness permit. No lottery gamble.

One guide. Always Eric.

I lead every trip personally. No subcontractors, no strangers.

Real-time booking.

If you see an open spot, it's actually open. Book and it's yours.

Showing 7 trips · June – October 2026

Guided backpacking group at a granite campsite during sunset in the Yosemite High Sierra
Signature Half Dome ✓ 8 day · point-to-point

High Sierra Lakes Traverse → Half Dome

Jun 28 – Jul 5, 2026 8 days / 7 nights

A one-way traverse from Tuolumne Meadows through the High Sierra's alpine lake basins, with off-trail granite sections and a Half Dome summit finish via the Mist Trail descent. The most ambitious trip on the calendar.

Difficulty Advanced
Group size 2 max
Mileage ~65 mi
Permit ✓ Secured
$2,100/ pp 1 of 2 spots remaining Book Now
Smiling hiker on the Half Dome summit with High Sierra panorama behind her
Half Dome ✓

Late Summer Half Dome

Aug 14 – 17, 2026 4 days / 3 nights

Illilouette basin and Little Yosemite Valley camps, Half Dome summit, mid-August weather, long daylight hours.

Difficulty Intermediate
Group size 5 max
Permit ✓ Secured
$1,250/ pp 5 of 5 spots open Book Now
Sunset over Cathedral Lake in Yosemite high country during a guided alpine backpacking trip
Alpine Lakes High Country

Alpine Lakes Loop

Aug 22 – 24, 2026 3 days / 2 nights

High-country lake basins, alpine terrain, and a loop route out of Tuolumne Meadows. The accessible introduction to Yosemite backpacking. Moderate mileage, no cables, big landscapes.

Difficulty Moderate
Group size 5 max
Permit ✓ Secured
$950/ pp 5 of 5 spots open Book Now
Half Dome viewed from Yosemite Point during a guided backpacking trip
Half Dome ✓ Weekend

Half Dome Weekend (Aug)

Aug 28 – 30, 2026 3 days / 2 nights

LYV base camp, Half Dome summit, established trails. The most direct, most accessible Half Dome backpacking route. Perfect long weekend.

Difficulty Intermediate
Group size 4 max
Mileage ~17 mi
Elevation ~4,800 ft gain
Permit ✓ Secured
$1,050/ pp 4 of 4 spots open Book Now
Backcountry campsite on granite at sunset during a Labor Day guided backpacking trip in Yosemite
Half Dome ✓ Labor Day

Half Dome Weekend (Labor Day)

Sep 4 – 7, 2026 4 days / 3 nights

Half Dome summit + LYV base camp, with an optional Clouds Rest or Echo Valley extension on Day 3 depending on the group. Long weekend, prime conditions.

Difficulty Intermediate
Group size 2 max
Mileage ~22 mi
Elevation ~5,400 ft gain
Permit ✓ Secured
$1,250/ pp 2 of 2 spots open Book Now
Autumn colors on the trail during a September guided Half Dome backpacking trip in Yosemite
Half Dome ✓ September

Half Dome Weekend (Sept)

Sep 19 – 21, 2026 3 days / 2 nights

LYV base camp, Half Dome summit, established trails. Same direct route as the August trip. September weather, cooler temperatures, lighter foot traffic.

Difficulty Intermediate
Group size 5 max
Mileage ~17 mi
Elevation ~4,800 ft gain
Permit ✓ Secured
$1,050/ pp 5 of 5 spots open Book Now
Guided backpacking group on the Half Dome summit with Yosemite High Sierra behind them
Half Dome ✓ Clouds Rest Last cables weekend

Half Dome + Clouds Rest

Oct 9 – 12, 2026 4 days / 3 nights

Half Dome summit + LYV base camp, with an optional Clouds Rest or Echo Valley extension on Day 3 depending on the group. Long weekend, prime conditions.

Difficulty Intermediate
Group size 5 max
Mileage ~22 mi
Elevation ~5,400 ft gain
Permit ✓ Secured
$1,250/ pp 5 of 5 spots open Book Now
Not sure which trip is right?

A 15-minute Zoom with me usually answers it.

We'll talk fitness, dates, and what you actually want from a Yosemite trip. No upsell, no pressure. Sometimes the answer is a different trip than you thought, sometimes it's no trip yet. Either way, you'll know.

Schedule a free Zoom Or just call +1-414-334-0025 →
Permits, simplified

Why "permits already secured" actually matters.

The standard guide-service model

Most guide services list a wide trip catalog, take your contact info, and tell you they'll "apply for permits on your behalf." That means: you pay a deposit, then wait while they try to win the lottery, and if they don't, you reshuffle your vacation. Sometimes it works. Often it doesn't.

How Yosemite Life does it

Every trip you see on this page has its wilderness permit already in hand. I apply for permits 24 weeks before each trip, in my own name, against the specific dates you see listed. The permit is the trip. When you book, you're booking that specific permit. No lottery, no waiting, no "we'll try."

What that means for you

Your vacation calendar stays planned. Your flights get booked with confidence. The only thing between you and Half Dome is the deposit, and after that, the cables.

What's included

  • Wilderness permit (already secured)
  • Half Dome cable permit where applicable
  • Lightweight 2-person tent for each client
  • All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, trail snacks
  • Cooking equipment (stoves, pots, utensils, fuel)
  • Bear canister (BearVault BV500)
  • Backcountry water treatment
  • Group first-aid and emergency equipment
  • Pre-trip video calls covering route, gear, food, and conditions

What's not included

  • Park entrance fees
  • Transportation to and from trailheads
  • Personal backpacking gear (backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, clothing)
  • Rental gear (I can recommend rental sources)
  • Coffee, tea, and drink mixes
  • Guide gratuity, appreciated but never expected
Common Questions

Backpacking questions, answered.

The questions that come up most often on pre-trip Zooms. Everything else lives on the full FAQ page.

Full FAQ
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 a guided backpacking trip?

The wilderness permit, all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner; coffee, tea, and drink mixes are not included), 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.

Do I need prior backpacking experience?

Not necessarily. Some trips are designed for strong hikers stepping into multi-day travel for the first time, while others require prior backpacking experience. Each trip listing notes the recommended experience level. If you're unsure, a free planning call is the place to figure that out.

How physically demanding are these backpacking 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 with Half Dome Included, the permit is already secured for those dates. Max group size for Half Dome is 6 people including the guide, per NPS regulations.

What trips are available in 2026?

All available dates, routes, pricing, and capacity are listed on the 2026 Backpacking Trips page. Every trip is built around a wilderness permit already secured; dates are fixed, not tentative. Additional dates may be added as Yosemite releases more permits.

Is the guide permitted to lead trips in Yosemite?

Yes. Yosemite Life operates under a National Park Service Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) for guided day hiking and overnight backpacking in Yosemite National Park. Eric Kufrin is Wilderness First Aid certified, CPR certified, and Leave No Trace certified.

What is the payment structure for backpacking trips?

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.

What happens before the trip starts?

Shortly after booking, you'll schedule a private video call to discuss experience, fitness, gear, and health considerations. Group trips include a second call so everyone meets beforehand. The day before the trip, we meet in person in Yosemite for a final gear check and conditions briefing.

Who leads these trips?

Every trip is led by Eric Kufrin, founder 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.

Three ways to start

Ready when you are.

The same person answers all three. That's the whole pitch.

Face to face

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The fastest way to figure out which trip is right for you. We'll talk fitness, dates, and goals. No commitment, no upsell.

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