All Trips > California > Yosemite National Park Hiking Tour Yosemite National Park Hiking Tour Choose Your Dates AT A GLANCE California 9 Explorer Chicks Locally Unique Hiking, National Park, US-Based, Weekend 4 Days 3 - Active Physical demand level for this trip Photos Itinerary Logistics Activity Level What's Included Choose Your Dates Share Yosemite’s Greatest Hiking Hits This life-changing, 4-day women’s Yosemite hiking adventure will give you jaw-dropping views of granite mountains, wide-open meadows, and ancient Sequoia trees. Maybe this trip is what your boss means when they demand leaving no stone unturned? Set that out of office and buy the hiking leggings with the deep pockets because your girl gang is WAITING FOR YOU. With your new besties beside you and our professional guides showing you the good pee spots, we’ll explore the best Yosemite peaks and valleys in this crazy-beautiful playground. By day, we’ll clamber up towering domes and stroll through lush valleys. By nightfall, we’ll laugh until we can’t breathe and fall asleep smiling, snuggled up in our cozy cabins. Enjoy a Google Earth view of Yosemite Valley from the top of Taft Point. Hike through a grove of forever-old Jeffrey Pines to summit Sentinel Dome. Feast on the panoramic majesty of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Glacier Point. Seriously, this is your life right now, and you are HERE! Hiking the famous Mist Trail will lead us through pristine wilderness to the deafening roar of Vernal and Nevada Falls. You’ll forget an entire household depends on you as you dash through the heart of Yosemite’s High Sierra meadows, taking a lunch break by a diamond-clear lake, surrounded by the towering granite peaks of the Cathedral Range. We’ll cross wooden footbridges and babbling streams to stand inside a cathedral of trees, where sequoias stand like ancient sentinels. These living legends have names, personalities, and GOSSIP. You’ll meet Grizzly Giant, The Bachelor, Three Graces, and The Faithful Couple. (Or so they claim…) Your only mission after the day’s Yosemite hike – eating, sleeping, and cackling with your new friends. No, you can’t help us with dishes. Yes, you can have seconds. Enjoy the feral highs of traveling with adult women who love and accept you just as you are. Photos Itinerary Expand All Days Day 1 - Taft Point and Sentinel Dome Summit But first, BREAKFAST. After we chow down at the Rendezvous Hotel, we’ll board the SHE-nanigan Shuttle for a 2.5-hour ride to Yosemite National Park. Sit back, relax, and savor not needing to plan your every move. Our first stop: Glacier Point. Oh, hi Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls! Glacier Point is not just a Yosemite must-see, it’s the launching point for our adventure. From here, we’ll hike to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point, two ridiculous Yosemite viewpoints. Peer over the edge of Taft Point like a snarling gargoyle. Enjoy an instant adrenaline rush with unobstructed views of Bridalveil Falls and Cathedral Rocks. We’ll break here for a homemade picnic lunch before continuing on the loop trail. Next, we’ll pass the iconic fallen Jeffrey Pine, once made famous by our boy Ansel Adams. Standing tall at 8,100 feet on Sentinel Dome, you’ll get another eye-popping panoramic view of Yosemite Valley. After our hike, we’ll head into Yosemite Valley for a Welcome Dinner at the renowned Mountain Room, with views of Yosemite Falls directly outside. Then, we’ll check into our comfy cabins in an historic mountain resort for the next three nights. Enjoy onsite dining, a heated pool, dark skies for star-gazing, and plenty of cozy campfires. While this adventure is challenging, “roughing it” ain’t on the itinerary. Distance: 5 miles Elevation Gain: 1,100’ Highest Elevation: 8,100’ Time: 4-5 hours Transfer: 2.5 hours Accommodation: Cabins at an Historic Mountain Resort Meals: L-D Day 2 - Hiking the Mist Trail After another hearty breakfast, we’ll return to Yosemite to hike one of the most famed trails in the park. The Mist Trail is a journey through iconic landscapes past the thunderous Vernal and Nevada Trails. Every Explorer Chick on this adventure will get baptized with the trail’s signature, sacred mist. Keep watch for spontaneous rainbows as we hike up stone steps through the natural “air conditioning” created by the waterfall. How is it possible you were cleaning your car’s cup holders just 2 days ago? We’ll support one another on the tricky parts of the trail and enjoy a well-deserved lunch before heading back to the trailhead via the John Muir Trail. We’ll get one more dramatic photo opp as we make our return to our comfy lodge. Tunnel View proves Yosemite is a total dreamboat who can’t take a bad pic. You can change your Facebook profile pic on the ride back to the cabins. Hiking Distance: 6.4 miles Elevation Gain: 2,208’ Highest Elevation: 6,800’ Time: 7 hours Transfer: 90 minutes Accommodation: Cabins at an Historic Mountain Resort Meals: B-L-D Day 3 - Cathedral Lakes Trail and Tenaya Lake Swimming Hope your eyeballs are hungry. The Cathedral Lakes Trail hike promises not one, but TWO stunning mountain lakes nestled in the heart of Yosemite’s wilderness. After breakfast, we’ll lace up our hiking boots, hop in the SHE-nanigan Shuttle, and prepare to double up on some serious alpine enchantment. We’ll begin our ascent with a moderate climb that leads to a “Choose Your Own Adventure” moment––the trail junction of Lower and Upper Cathedral Lakes. Spoiler: Because we’re Explorer Chicks, we’re gonna rock the hard trek first. We’ll conquer most of the elevation gain on our hike on the route to Upper Cathedral Lakes. Our reward: some of the best views of Cathedral Peak that Yosemite has to offer. We’ll rest up, enjoy lunch, and even have some time to enjoy a cooling dip in the crystal-clear waters. Following the trail’s descent, we’ll hike past Lower Cathedral Lake, the bigger sister of the two lakes. On our return to the lodge, we’ll make a stop at Tenaya Lake. Yet another gorgeous alpine lake cradled in the High Sierra surrounded by sandy beaches and lush meadows. Float on your beautiful back while peering up at majestic granite domes and peaks soaring above. We’ll make one last stop along the way at Olmstead Point for close-up views of Clouds Rest. Here we’ll watch the light and shadows dance over Tenaya Canyon while stealing glances of Half Dome. Not to be all emo, but today will be a serious contender for one of the best days of your life. Hiking Distance: 8 miles Elevation Gain: 1,200’ Highest Elevation: 9,600’ Time: 6-7 hours Transfer: 70 minutes Accommodation: Cabins at an Historic Mountain Resort Meals: B-L-D Day 4 - Exploring Mariposa Grove Our final day together isn’t just scrambled eggs and tears. After breakfast, we’ll take one last journey into the heart of Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove, the largest grove of sequoias in the national park. Mariposa is a totally different vibe than the bustle of Yosemite Valley and the expansive and pristine Tuolumne Meadows. Here, you will immerse yourself in a serene forest and meet some of the oldest trees on Earth. Ready for your Middle Earth moment? We’ll start our morning meandering through Mariposa Grove, the home to 500 giant sequoia trees. We’ll stop for a photo with Grizzly Giant, a 3,000 year old colossus. Continuing our hike back in time through the Grove, we’ll stop at Wawona Point for a last overlook vista view and yummy picnic together before returning to our SHE-nanigan Shuttle. Then, it’s back to Fresno with sniffly farewells, the squeeze-iest hugs, and urgent plans to do this all again in another stunning corner of the world. Hiking Distance: 6.7 miles Elevation Gain: 1,200’ Highest Elevation: 6,370’ Time: 6 hours Transfer: 90 mins Meals: B-L Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your adventure leader as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, safety, or other unforeseen incidents. If an activity must be cancelled due to conditions and cannot be rescheduled, your Explorer Chick guide will work to find alternatives or modifications to ensure the best value for your trip. Logistics Arrival Airport City: Fresno (FAT) Pick Up Location: Rendezvous Hotel Meeting Time: 7:00am Departure Airport City: Fresno (FAT) Drop Off Location: Airport and Rendezvous Hotel Return Time: 4pm. Fly out of Fresno after 7pm on Day 4. You will receive a Travel Guide with the rendezvous hotel, packing list, and any additional information you’ll need to prepare for your epic trip. We require a minimum of 5 Explorer Chicks for this trip. Please confirm your trip is confirmed before booking airfare. Activity Level Rated 3 – ACTIVE This trip is rated Active because of the length and frequency of hiking for all 4 days as detailed below. You will be hiking at altitudes between 6,400’ – 9,600 feet. Daily Hikes: Day 1: 5 miles hiking, 1’100’ elevation gain. Day 2: 6.4 miles hiking, 2,208’ elevation gain. Day 3: 8 miles hiking, 1,200’ elevation gain. Day 4: 6.7 miles hiking, 1,200’ elevation gain. Please consider your ability to meet the physical demands very seriously. It is for the safety of both you and our group. All Explorer Chicks will be required to sign an Acknowledgement of Physical Demands as part of their waiver upon booking. Read more about our Activity Levels. What's Included Lodging 4 days / 3 nights in an Historic Mountain Resort Cabin bordering Yosemite National Park. Shared 3 Explorer Chicks per cabin. Each Explorer Chick will have her own twin or king-sized bed. Beds are selected at random. Each cabin has a living room and private deck, full bathroom, refrigerator, coffee maker, Earth-friendly toiletries, hair dryer, heat and A/C. Resort has a pool, restaurant and bar, general store, and classic mountain resort vibes with modern amenities. Optional Single Room Upgrade: Upgrade to the King-sized room in your shared Cabin at booking. Availability is limited. Activities Entrance and commercial permit fees to all National Parks and public lands All activities as outlined in the itinerary Meals All meals as indicated in itinerary: B-3, L-4, D-3 Gratuities for included meals Practical Professional leadership team with 2 Explorer Chick Guides A detailed Travel Guide with everything you need to know for your trip The freedom to enjoy your vacation and mindlessly wander! Not Included Rendezvous or Departure hotels Airfare Airport Transportation Alcoholic beverages Travel Insurance Meals exclusive of itineraries Costs for additional activities Gratuity for your Explorer Chick Guides Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, or other unforeseen incidents. More From Yosemite 🤑Get $400 OFF Yosemite Hiking through Sunday 4/7/24👉Use code YOSEMITE400Have any questions? Drop em in the comments👇#ExplorerChickYosemiteHiking #YosemiteNationalPark #HikeYosemite #Solofemaletravel #WomenHiking Open 🤩 Here’s why Yosemite is the ultimate adventure playground...(🤑 Psssst, this new Yosemite trip is $400 off through Sunday!)🤯Yosemite is totally unique! Yosemite Valley was carved by glaciers millions of years ago, creating its iconic U-shaped valley and dramatic cliffs (Get ready to geek out with your guides because every day they’ll spill juicy deets about Yosemite’s mind-blowing geological wonders!)🌲You’ll meet some of the LARGEST living trees by volume, the Giant Sequoias in the Mariposa Grove.🥾Hike the iconic trails to explore Taft Point, Sentinel Dome and the Mist Trail. 💧Take the trail less traveled to explore Cathedral Lakes, where you’ll swim crystal-clear alpine lakes🏆Get to see the TALLEST waterfall in North America, Yosemite Falls, (We’ll have front row seats to her during our dinner at the the renowned Mountain Room restaurant) ⭐️ After each epic adventure, kick back and relax in the hot tub at our adorable cabins. 💬Comment “Yosemite,” and I’ll send you the trip deets!🚨Use code: YOSEMITE400 to snag your $400 savings before Sunday, 4/7. 🗓 July 21-24🗓 August 8 - 11🗓 August 12-15🗓 August 18-21🗓 Sept 5-8🗓 Sept 12-15🗓 Sept 19-22🗓 Sept 26-29#ExplorerChickYosemiteHiking #YosemiteNationalPark #ExplorerChick #Nationalparksgeek #Solofemaletravel #Womenwhohike #Bucketlist Open 🚨Dream hiking trip alert! 💰Save $400 on our epic Yosemite adventure, but only until Sunday 4/7! 💬Comment ‘Yosemite’ and I’ll send you all the juicy trip details. #Womenwhohike #ExplorerChickYosemiteHiking #ExplorerChick #Hikingtrip #Yosemite #hikingmeme Open 🎉We’re going to Yosemite National Park! (sorry, Nebraska) 🎉🤑 AND this brand new trip is on sale right now with $400 OFF until Sunday, April 7th.🥾You’ll tackle iconic hikes like the infamous Mist Trail, Taft Point and Sentinal Dome. Then ditch the crowds to discover hidden alpine oases on the Cathedral Lakes Trail and switch up the vibe by exploring Mariposa Grove😍 Hot Tub Alert! You’ll enjoy the coziest cabins ever - big comfy beds, a saltwater pool, and a luxurious hot tub waiting to soothe your tired muscles each night. 💦 Dive into the crystal-clear waters of Cathedral Lakes and Tenaya Lake for a refreshing alpine swim.🌲 Discover the giants of Mariposa Grove, home to 500 giant sequoia trees, including the iconic Grizzly Giant, standing tall for over 3,000 years!😍 Enjoy stress-free exploration with exclusive dinner reservations boasting front-row views of Yosemite Falls, hassle-free park entry, and chauffeur services by your expert guides!📸 Picture-Perfect Views! Snap stunning photos at Olmstead Point, iconic Tunnel View, and Glacier Point, featuring breathtaking sights like Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls!💬Comment “Yosemite” for trip details.🤑Use code YOSEMITE400 to save $400—offer ends Sunday!🗓Trip Dates: July, August & September!🥾 Activity Level 3 - Active#ExplorerChick #ExplorerChickYosemiteHiking #Solofemaletravel #womenwhohike #Yosemitenationalpark #Misttrail #Yosemitetrip #Sentinal Dome Open Load More Follow on Instagram Let's Do This Starting from $2999 Book Now Save $200 with our Early Bird Discounts! Just book at least 6 Months in Advance! Discount is automatically applied. Non-Refundable Deposit: $200 due at booking to secure your spot Book with Confidence Your wanderlust doesn’t have to wait. Our payment plans make booking your dream trip easier than ever. The best part? Zero additional fees. Payment Plans We want nothing more than for you join us. However, we understand emergencies do occur that may cause you to cancel your reservation. Cancellation Policy To protect your travel investment and your hide, we recommend purchasing travel insurance. Receive a no-hassle, online quote in less than 2 minutes. Trip Insurance Questions about Yosemite? Name(Required) First Name Last Name Email(Required) Enter Email Confirm Email Send us your Yosemite hiking questions!(Required)NameThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Wanna hear all about this trip straight from the mouth of our CEO and Destination Manager? Watch the replay of our Launch Party Webinar where we spill allllllll the beans and dish out insider info about this incredible Yosemite journey! In Her Words Adelia K. ★★★★★ I can only speak in superlatives when describing this trip! I came home with an empowerment afterglow that would scare both bears and men. Per usual, I was worried I would be problematic, holding back the group, dragging everyone behind, and causing the rest of the group to mumble under their breath about this woman who "shouldn't be here." In my terror, I trained by walking two miles five days a week with ankle weights. I added in stair running the last month (just ten stairs up and down ten times.) While I am relieved I trained (it came in REAL handy) I couldn't have been more wrong about group dynamics. Our guides Christina and Katie created a sense of camaraderie among us, supported each of us in incredible ways that produced an experience that I suspect will not be forgotten by any of us. Our group included women in their 30's to "almost* 70 and all body types. We laughed and snorted and sang and encouraged and overcame and we all probably thought we were going to die at one point or another- BUT WE DIDN'T. If you are considering travel with Explorer Chick, just do it. Train, know what you're getting into, but push yourself to do it. You won't regret it.damara M. ★★★★★ I recently returned home from my first EC trip-Zion and Bryce Canyon. As I expected it was a FANTASTIC time! The weather wasn't the greatest- but I lived! And I used every piece of clothing/equipment that I brought! Kirstie and Christina did a great job of leading our group and pivoting when we couldn't do the narrows. They found a less traveled trail that challenged us but was do-able for all. Food was good-trail lunches and food by EC was yummy, went to 2 restaurants that were pretty good too. When I go on my next trip I will definitely take less personal snacks. You should be fine as long as you are not a picky eater. I plan on traveling 1-2 times in 2025 with EC. They make it soooo easy-show up with some base training, a good attitude, and be ready for a FANTASTIC TIME!!!Christine C. ★★★★★ My first trip with Explorer Chicks was the Virginia Wilderness Survival 101. I went solo and it was an amazing experience. This is the first time I've ever done anything like this and I'm so glad I did. Our guide, Kara, was absolutely wonderful. She was knowledgeable, well organized, and made the trip organization so easy. I loved spending time with other women who were out for an adventure. We shared stories and enjoyed being outdoors together. I can't recommend Explorer Chicks enough and can't wait for my next adventure (hopefully Yosemite Backpacking!).Jennifer L ★★★★★ This was a transformative experience. The Explorer Chick had the itinerary planned beautifully and my guides, Kirstie and Christina were also a pivotal part of the success of my trip. They both were confident and humble and had a wealth of knowledge and training that helped me trust the process and take healthy risks that I'd never taken before. They were always prepared, patient and flexible and knew exactly how to kindly manage the various personalities (and wonderful!) on our trip. The description of the trip matched the experience so there were no surprises (except for all of us having to be flexible regarding Mother Nature's weather plans). The food was excellent - no frills but exactly what we all needed and everyone on the trip expressed happiness with our meals. Before I'd decided to go on this trip I read mostly good reviews but some mediocre but non-specific ones. For a moment, they gave me pause but I decided to try it out anyway - I am so glad I did. This was a fabulous company and the trip was one I will never forget. I went knowing no one and the women on that trip, like me, were looking to explore, try new things and laugh. We had a GREAT time. I would definitely do it again.Laura H. ★★★★★ I went on the VA Wilderness Survival/Triple Crown weekend. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect and was a little nervous but it exceeded every expectation I had. Our guide, Kara O’Dea was exceptional. She was sweet, knowledgeable and such a calming presence. If any of us got nervous about what we were going to do, she talked us through it and encouraged us in the best way. We slayed our Triple Crown, built fires and shelters, practiced knots, brushed up on our wilderness first aid, learned elbow strikes and how to get out of choke holds, played with Sunny the amazing guide dog, developed a girl crush on Dina (the woman who runs the school) and met/ hiked with some incredible women. All while retreating at the end of the night to a cozy lodge in the woods.. It was fun, hard, exhausting and inspiring. Thank you Explorer Chick Adventure Co.!Carolina S. ★★★★★ Red River Gorge Backpacking Workshop:I was looking for a trip to experience and learn more about backpacking. I can do research all day but nothing beats real life hands-on experience! Our guide was Amy, and she did an amazing job at answering all of our questions and teaching us. She made the experience feel effortless to plan, easy to arrive and have fun. The hike itself is moderate, achievable with some preparation and determination. Bonding with women of all ages who share a passion for travel and nature is always a plus! I would recommend this trip to anyone looking to get into backpacking.The views are stunning too, did not know this gem was in KY.Amanda ★★★★★ Cannot say enough wonderful things about my trip to Belize with Explorer Chick!! Wonderful activities that make you push your limits, the sense of pride in yourself is so strong. Our wonderful fearless leader Guide Jayme had our back throughout the trip & was so well organized & flexible with details. And last but definitely not least the group of fearless women that I met, adore & continue to keep in contact with! If your thinking of booking with EC, don’t wait, go for it!Jen R. ★★★★★ Take the trip! It’s an amazing time surrounded by a community of women. I’m already planning my next adventure!Robin R. ★★★★★ There are no words to really explain the outstanding trip to Uganda!There was everything from seamless planning of accommodations to transport both in air and ground. More than this, was the camaraderie that this group displayed! We supported each other , and had a complete blast!! Nicki our guide is passionate about what she does and it shows, she was fun, and is a total package leader! The hikes and trekking for the animals especially the chimpanzees and gorillas was so DAMN amazing! Had to pinch myself so many times! I was in Africa! Not just in Africa, but having my dreams come to life about seeing the beauty and all the creatures! If you are hesitating about this trip STOP. Book it. Hike in the jungle, get wet, be a dirty girl!! Live life!!Accommodations and food were unreal!Lisa B. ★★★★★ If you prefer to work really hard and spend lots of time and energy planning a trip and dealing with the headache of navigating, finding good places to eat and fun things to do all on your own then this is not for you. Now if you prefer to show up and have amazing people guide you and cover every detail so you don't have to and love every minute of it, then this is definitely for you! As a solo traveler I was warmly welcomed (with a margarita!), met some amazing women and had the adventure of a lifetime. It would not have been possible without our brilliant guides Lauren & Amanda on the Smoky Mountain Boots & Roots Hiking Trip. This being my first time I would not hesitate to book another trip. Amazing experience!!Dawn Julian M. ★★★★★ I just got back from the Moab/Arches trip, and wow, what a fantastic adventure! Kayla and Jess were incredible, making every moment super enjoyable. It was such a treat to just relax and soak in the experience without worrying about the details. I’m definitely booking with Explorer Chick again!Kitty F. ★★★★★ 2 day 1 night - Red River Gorge, with the best group ever! Thank you so much Jody, wonderful, knowledgeable, guide. As well as a big thank you to the amazing group of "chicks". Thank you! 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