+1-414-334-0025 eric@yosemite.life
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Backpacking camp at sunset with Half Dome in the distance, Yosemite backcountry
Now booking · 2026 season 5.0 · 4 Google Reviews

The Yosemite most people never reach.

6 multi-day trips from $950 per person. The High Sierra at its best, alpine basins, granite domes, and nights under a sky full of stars.

Upcoming backpacking trips 3 trips · June through October
Late Summer Half Dome Aug 14–17, 2026 · 4 days
$1,250 /person
Alpine Lakes Loop Aug 22–24, 2026 · 3 days
$950 /person
Half Dome Weekend (Aug) Aug 28–30, 2026 · 3 days
$1,050 /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.

2026 Season

Find your trip.

Showing 6 trips · June – October 2026

Smiling hiker on the Half Dome summit with High Sierra panorama behind her

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
$1,250/person Book Now
Sunset over Cathedral Lake in Yosemite high country during a guided alpine backpacking trip

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
$950/person Book Now
Half Dome viewed from Yosemite Point during a guided backpacking trip

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
$1,050/person Book Now
Backcountry campsite on granite at sunset during a Labor Day guided backpacking trip in Yosemite

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
$1,250/person Book Now
Autumn colors on the trail during a September guided Half Dome backpacking trip in Yosemite

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
$1,050/person Book Now
Guided backpacking group on the Half Dome summit with Yosemite High Sierra behind them

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
$1,250/person Book Now
Trips That Have Run

A real track record.

Guided backpacking group at a granite campsite during sunset in the Yosemite High Sierra

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
$2,100/person Past trip
Not sure which trip is right?

A 15-minute planning call 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 planning call 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
  • 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 planning calls. Everything else lives on the full FAQ page.

Full FAQ
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.

What trips are available in 2026?

All available dates, routes, pricing, and capacity are listed on the 2026 Backpacking Trips page. Dates are fixed, not tentative, and 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. I'm 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. I operate under a National Park Service Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) for guided day hiking and overnight backpacking in Yosemite National Park and am Wilderness First Aid certified, CPR certified, and Leave No Trace certified.

5.0 on Google 4 verified reviews
★★★★★

“Eric handled everything. Permits, route planning, meals, tent, bear canister, cooking gear. I never would have found those campsites or built this route on my own. Worth every penny.”

Backpacking Trip Verified Google Review
★★★★★

“Eric was a fantastic guide. The trip was really well thought out and he used his experience to show me parts of Yosemite few see. Would recommend Eric 100%.”

Backpacking Trip Verified Google Review
Read all reviews on Google
Three ways to start

Ready when you are.

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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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