Enjoy the solitude of the Yosemite's backcountry on our private and fully customizable multi-day guided backpacking trips. Arranged for Yosemite National Park visitors 10 years old and older with our knowledgable and experienced member guides. Let us know a bit about your hopes, dreams, and expectations by filling out this request form, so we can send you available backpacking itineraries based on your preferences! Transportation from Fresno, Sacramento or the Bay Area available for an additional charge on all backpacking adventures!

Join us on a 5-mile adventure through the glacier-carved Hetch Hetchy Valley, home of the notorious O'Shaughnessy Dam, to the 1200 foot thundering Wapama Falls. Considered by many to be the hidden sister valley of the Yosemite Valley, Hetch Hetchy is the best way to experience classic Yosemite landscapes without the crowds!

Our guides have chosen the best hikes for you based on the season you are visiting, including the iconic Dewey Point in January to the lesser known Smith Peak in October. Follow our guides for the best views in Yosemite National Park!

Enjoy expansive views of Yosemite National Park's high country on one of these four private vista hikes! Available for hiker's 8 and older!

MONO PASS VISTA | 8 MILES | EASY - MODERATE

Day hike to Mono Pass from Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park's high country.
Enjoy summit views of the eastern and western Sierra as well as subalpine lakes and meadows without summiting anything! This trail only gains a modest 900 feet of elevation on its way to spectacular views of Mono Lake and the Owens River Valley from 10,599 feet! All of this, plus the wildflowers, swimming and relative solitude make this a Guide's Choice Hike!

GAYLOR LAKES & YOSEMITE'S HIGH COUNTRY | 4 MILES | MOD - STRENUOUS

Day hike to Gaylor Lakes from Tioga Road with a bonus tour of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park's high country.
This incredible 4-mile round trip alpine hike begins at 9950 feet and climbs quickly to nearly 10500 feet! At the pass, you will be treated to sweeping 360-degree views of Dana Meadows, distant high country peaks, and the glacier-carved Gaylor Lakes Valley! The rest of the trail is easy to moderate hiking and exploring Gaylor and Granite Lakes. After our trail hike, we’ll take time for sightseeing in Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, and Olmstead Point!

GLACIER POINT VIA THE 4 MILE TRAIL | 9.4 MILES | STRENUOUS

Day hike up to the southern rim of Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park to see Glacier Point.
The famous 4-mile trail, which is actual 4.7 miles one way, is one of the only ways to see the famed views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point in 2022. The first mile is a beautiful walk through the woods before you turn a switch back and see Yosemite Falls with all of its glory! The views get even better as we make our way up the canyon wall to Glacier Point for a well deserved hiker’s lunch at the pavilion.

YOSEMITE VALLEY & VERNAL FALLS LOOP | 4.5 MILES | STRENUOUS

Day hike on the Vernal Falls Loop on the eastern rim of Yosemite Valley a bonus tour of the most iconic sites in Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park.
This twist on the classic Mist Trail starts in Yosemite Valley and climbs 1500 feet high above the Valley floor, past the iconic Vernal Falls to Clark Point, before a slow and scenic decent along the first 1.5 miles of the famed John Muir Trail. Afterward, we'll enjoy a tour of the most iconic sites in Yosemite Valley!

Choose between a Backcountry Hike 'n' Wade or High Country Float Tube Adventure on this amazing day spent above 8000 feet in Yosemite's pristine high country. We'll take you far away from the crowds for a classic fly fishing experience untouched, high alpine lakes and streams in search of wild trout and unprecedented views of Yosemite's tallest peaks.

Enjoy the best of the Yosemite area on our full day fly fishing adventure for intermediate and advanced anglers. Whether you want to learn to fly fish in Yosemite's high country or spend your day in the iconic splendor of Yosemite Valley, our private guide can help you achieve all of your fishing goals! Note: There is 1-3 miles of hiking on this trip, some is off trail.

Already know the basics!? Join our local guides and gain access to the best waters in the Sierra for native rainbow trout, wild brook trout and trophy brown trout. We can help sharpen your cast, share tips and techniques or just provide the right fly for the right fish. Note: There is 1-2 miles of off trail hiking on this trip.

Day 1: We'll pick you up from the Bay Area, Sacramento or Fresno Area and have lunch before heading to your Lodge. That evening you'll be treated to an incredible meal and wine/beer tasting at the Pine Mountain Lake Grill. Day 2: We'll pick you up after breakfast at your accommodations bright and early at 6 am for a full day of fly fishing and sightseeing in the famed Yosemite Valley complete with a hiker's lunch and casual dinner at the new Rush Creek Lodge. Day 3: Another amazing day in Yosemite begins after breakfast at 6 am with a hike into Yosemite's backcountry for fishing on pristine alpine lakes and rivers for Golden and Brook Trout. We'll provide a hardy picnic lunch and end the day with pizza and beer at the famed Two Guys Pizza Pies! Day 4: No fishing package is complete without hitting our local Tuolumne River Canyon for Rainbow and Brown Trout before heading back to the Bay Area, Sacramento or Fresno.

- Saturday, July 20, 2019 - Meet your fly fishing guide, Bryant Burnette, after breakfast around 7 AM at a convenient prearranged meet up location to pack gear and talk safety. We'll immediately head into the Hetch Hetchy region of Yosemite National Park and begin our 7 mile day at the O’Shaughnessy Dam. We'll warm up with a few level miles before slowly ascending 2400 feet to set up camp in Beehive Meadow. We'll fish the historical Frog Creek fishery for brown and rainbows that evening. Custom Hiker's Lunch and a Gourmet Camp Dinner provided. - Sunday, July 21, 2019 - We'll wake with the sun and enjoy coffee and a hearty mountain breakfast before heading over Moraine Ridge at 8120 feet of elevation and down into Jack Main Canyon before camping at 7650 feet. Although there is no fishing before lunch, you will be awed by the prehistoric and glacier-carved landscapes you'll see from Moraine Ridge, and once in Jack Main Canyon, we'll enjoy fly fishing for rainbows, brookies, and hybrids in Falls Creek and several unnamed lakes. Snacks, charcuterie-style trail lunch, and BBQ brook trout dinner also included. - Monday, July 22, 2019 - Another amazing morning in Yosemite's High Country begins with a mild uphill walk for lunch and more fishing for brook trout and rainbows in Wilma Lake. Then we'll head up the famed Pacific Crest Trail for two miles before turning and making the strenuous push up the Chittenden Peak saddle. Although we'll be pushing 750 feet in under 1.5 miles we'll be well rewarded with classic high country vistas and golden trout near our Tilden Lake camp. Hearty mountain breakfast, hot trail lunch, and a classic camp dinner also included. - Tuesday, July 23, 2019 - This is the day you have dreamt of your whole life, the day that all backpacking trips strive to be! This incredible day begins with fishing for more golden trout at 9000 feet above sea level at Tilden Lake, Tilden Creek and maybe even Mary Lake, before slowly fishing our way into the pristine and untouched Tilden Canyon. We'll only hike 4 trail miles that day before setting camp at the base of Bailey Ridge. We'll enjoy another hearty mountain breakfast, hot trail lunch, and classic trail dinner! - Wednesday, July 24, 2019 - After a deep and restful night under the Sierra stars we will enjoy a light, lakeside breakfast before a short, but strenuous, hike out of Tilden Canyon. After that half mile push, we'll enjoy a slow and steady descent along the Tilltill Mountain Trail into Tilltill Valley. There won't be much fishing throughout the day, but we'll have the opportunity to fish that evening in Rancheria Creek if we are able to complete the full 10.5 miles to the Rancheria Falls campground. We'll enjoy another hearty mountain breakfast, hot trail lunch, and classic trail dinner! - Thursday, July 25th, 2018 - Our last morning on the trail will be celebrated with fishing for rainbows in Rancheria Creek above the falls before packing up and completing the last 5.5 miles along the glacier-polished reservoir in Hetch Hetchy Valley. Along the way, we'll pass Tilltill Falls, Rancheria Falls, and Tueeulala Falls before walking back over O’Shaughnessy Dam and into civilization.

Join Zephyr Whitewater Expeditions on a beautiful beginner 1/2 day whitewater rafting trip in the Sierra foothills just 40 minutes from Yosemite Valley! This 11 mile section of the Merced River hosts consistent class III rapids, even a few class IVs in the early season!

The extreme solitude and nonstop action of the Tuolumne River make this one of the best rafting destinations in California! Join ARTA River Trips or Sierra Mac River Trips for 18 miles of continuous rapids in the untouched wilderness of the Tuolumne River Canyon perfect for both adventurous newbies and experienced rafters.

We offer trips from both ARTA River Trips or Zephyr Whitewater Expeditions on this incredibly fun, free-flowing, roller-coaster adventure down the Merced River! With continuous rapids and paddle/oar combination rafts available, this 16 - 20-mile rafting trip is perfect for beginners and raftoholics alike!

Join Sierra Mac River Trips for the mother of California rafting on the class V Cherry Creek! This 9 mile, action-packed, whitewater adventure is not for beginners or the faint of heart and requires a mandatory orientation and test that includes training in swift water swimming, navigation and safety techniques! This intense and demanding stretch of river is comprised of long, nearly continuous whitewater and only short pools. Her rapids are legendary. Among “The Creek’s” unparalleled array of chutes, holes, ledges and gigantic boulders lie Jawbone, Mushroom, Miracle Mile, Lewis’ Leap and Flat Rock Falls. Names you won’t soon forget. With a phenomenally steep gradient averaging 110 feet per mile, the Cherry Creek/Upper Tuolumne run is one of the most challenging (and fun) rafting trips in the U.S. and the standard by which Class V runs are measured. This once in a lifetime experience is just a click away...

Fancy a fun family rafting trip with warm temperatures, exciting lower water class 2-3 rapids, and scenic floating? How about jumping off rocks and swimming through rapids!? Yes! Then join Zephyr on this low water trip covering a fun 5.5-mile narrow gorge section of the Merced River! Fun for good swimmers 7 and up!

Join Sierra Mac River Trips for 27 miles of incredible California whitewater on the class V Cherry Creek followed by 1 or 2 days on the Tuolumne River! The 9 mile stretch of Cherry Creek, action-packed, whitewater adventure is not for beginners or the faint of heart and requires a mandatory orientation and test that includes training in swift water swimming, navigation and safety techniques! This intense and demanding stretch of river is comprised of long, nearly continuous whitewater and only short pools. Her rapids are legendary. Among “The Creek’s” unparalleled array of chutes, holes, ledges and gigantic boulders lie Jawbone, Mushroom, Miracle Mile, Lewis’ Leap and Flat Rock Falls. Names you won’t soon forget. With a phenomenally steep gradient averaging 110 feet per mile, the Cherry Creek/Upper Tuolumne run is one of the most challenging (and fun) rafting trips in the U.S. and the standard by which Class V runs are measured. This once in a lifetime experience is just a click away...

Need a break from pavement and schedules!? This 3-day, 2-night rafting adventure with ARTA River Trips and Sierra Mac River Trips is precisely what you need to relax! Seriously, it has 18 miles of extreme solitude, continuous rapids, hiking, waterfalls, sandy beaches, starry nights and camp cookouts! Note: Meals included. Camp gear available for rent.

The extreme solitude and nonstop action of the Tuolumne River make this one of the best rafting destinations in California! Join ARTA River Trips or Sierra Mac River Trips for 18 miles of continuous rapids over 2 days in the untouched wilderness of the Tuolumne River Canyon perfect for both adventurous newbies and experienced rafters.

The extreme solitude and nonstop action that makes the Tuolumne River a premier rafting destination is one of the many reasons it's incredible for fly fishing! Have your own personal fly fishing guide and all the equipment you need for walk & wade trips in the afternoons and mornings!

The extreme solitude and nonstop action that makes the Tuolumne River a premier rafting destination is one of the many reasons it's incredible for fly fishing! Have your own personal fly fishing guide and all the equipment you need for walk & wade trips in the afternoons and mornings!

Get up close and personal with Giant Sequoias, the largest trees on earth on this incredible introductory snowshoe hike along a historic stagecoach coach road! We'll snowshoe in the shadows of trees 1000’s of years old, walk through a tunnel tree and crawl through a fallen giant while learning the history and ecology of this incredible species! Note: This may be a hike depending on snow depth. Points of Interest: Giant Sequoias