Lead Naturalist Hiking Guide
Yosemite Nature Tours
David Lukas has been a professional naturalist and writer for almost 25 years. Over this time he conducted hundreds of nature tours and classes in places as far away as Central America, but he has been focusing on natural history programs and walks in the Sierra Nevada for the past 15 years. Currently he divides his time between studying and writing about nature, and teaching people about all aspects of the natural world.
David is the author of Wild Birds of California and the newly revised Sierra Nevada Natural History guidebook, the classic hiker’s handbook to plants and animals of the Sierra Nevada. He also wrote the environment chapter for the Lonely Planet travel guide to Yosemite National Park, and has written two books on birds in addition to several hundred newspaper and magazine articles on numerous nature topics. He is now wrapping up work on a complete field guide to birds of the Sierra Nevada.
David is an accomplished tour leader, with a huge body of knowledge about the natural world and an easy-going style. On his walks he loves to weave together stories about the intriguing lives of plants and animals and how they fit into the landscape. With David you might learn about “theoretical immortality” in quaking aspens, or about the ways that trees “talk” with each other through their roots. You’ll be as likely to learn about the blue colors in a jay feather, as learn about how bees shake pollen out of shooting star flowers or about the inner structures of granite rocks. A day in the field with David Lukas is a day you’ll never forget!
NATURE EXCURSIONS IN YOSEMITE
Enroll in our Nature Excursions Series as David Lukas shares knowledge of his favorite places with individuals eager to explore the natural history of Yosemite. Hiking Tours will last approximately five hours while the Naturalist Transect will be an all day event. Each excursion requires a minimum of two participants.
- Yosemite Naturalist Hikes
- Yosemite Half & Full Day Naturalist Hikes & Transects
- Birding Tours in Yosemite
- Specialty & Transect Birding Tours
- Wildflower Tours in Yosemite
- Wildflower Walks & Transect Tours
Outings with David are offered throughout the year. Please call 800-886-8009 for his availability.
You may also wish to visit David at: www.sierranaturalist.com


