Menu
Enjoy a pleasant half-day hike on a relatively gentle trail in Yosemite Valley or the High Country that will allow for excellent photo opportunities and a chance to picnic perched atop a magnificent vista point or alongside a meadow, lake, or stream. These introductory hiking tours are perfect for beginners. Expect to hike four to five miles with minimal elevation gains. Tours will last approximately four to five hours.
Journey through Yosemite Valley to Yosemite Falls and/or Mirror Lake. Learn about the unique natural and cultural history of the land called Ahwahnee. Be sure to bring your camera as this hike will offer unique photographic opportunities of majestic landscapes and possible wildlife encounters.
Distance: 4-6 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: Minimal (start at 4000 feet)
Time: 4 hours
Water Requirements: 32 ounces
Best time to visit: October-June
Discover the quieter side of Yosemite Valley while hiking below 3000 foot cliffs and leaping waterfalls while we discuss the natural history of wondrous Yosemite National Park. Hike along the Merced River and listen to the stories of this remarkable valley and its people while meandering down tree lined paths with breathtaking views.
Distance: 3-4 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: Minimal (start at 4000 feet)
Time: 4 hours
Water Requirements: 32 ounces
Best time to visit: October-June
Enjoy a pleasant half-day hike on a gentle path in one of Yosemite’s Giant Sequoia groves while we visit some of the largest living organisms in the world. The trail follows the Big Oak Flat Road (one of the first historic roads that led to Yosemite Valley) and was in use for over a century. We will discuss the unique ecological roles of these trees as well as the history and natural world of Yosemite National Park. This activity is perfect for beginners and families. Interpretive Tours will travel approximately 3 miles and last 4 hours.
Distance: 3 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: ~ 500 feet (start at 6200 feet at trailhead and descend to 5700 feet in Grove)
Time: 4 hours
Water Requirements: 32 ounces
Best time to visit: October-April
Explore Yosemite’s least visited grove of Giant Sequoias with an opportunity to photograph a classic cabin nestled in the Sierra redwoods. This relatively easy half-day hike on a gentle path leads us to 20 mature trees which are some of the largest in the world. We will discuss the unique ecological roles of these trees as well as the history and natural world of Yosemite National Park. This activity is perfect for beginners and families. Interpretive Tours will travel approximately 4 miles and last 4 hours.
Distance: ~4 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: >500 feet (start at ~6000 feet at trailhead and descend to 5469 feet in Grove)
Time: 4 hours
Water Requirements: 32 ounces
Best time to visit: October-April
The exciting day begins with relatively short access to one of Yosemite’s 8000+ foot peaks while learning about some of the natural features of the park along the way. From the summit of Sentinel Dome, we will have breathtaking panoramic views of all of Yosemite. We will then travel to discover some of Yosemite’s geological wonders, the Taft Point Fissures. The Taft Point overlook presents us with one last spectacular vista before we return. This versatile hike can be customized to be a Gentle, Moderate, or Intermediate Hiking Tour based on your group’s needs.
Distance: 4.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: ~<700 feet (7720′ at trailhead-8122 feet at Sentinel Dome-7503 feet at Taft Point)
Time: ~4 hours
Water Requirements: 32 ounces
Best time to visit: June-October
Discover the beauty of a pristine subalpine lake in the center of Yosemite National Park. The trail gradually leads to May Lake which sits directly below Mt. Hoffman’s summit. From the the lake, we will take a couple of side trips to gain sweeping vistas of the Cathedral Range amidst unique geological features. This hike is 3.5 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 650 feet and should last about 4 hours. Swimming opportunities will present themselves at May Lake on the return.
Distance: 3.5 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 650 feet (8900-9450 feet)
Time: 4 hours
Water Requirements: 40 ounces
Best time to visit: June-October
Follow the Tuolumne River on a gentle trail through a meadow system contained in a basin about 2.5 miles long and explore Yosemite’s high country throughout the summer months. Sitting below the Cathedral Range, Tuolumne Meadows is the largest subalpine meadow system in the Sierra Nevada and is home to some different species of animals not found in Yosemite Valley. We will search for Belding squirrels and elusive pikas as we learn about the natural history of Yosemite on this pleasant half day hike. Be sure to bring your camera as this hike will offer unique photographic opportunities of majestic landscapes and possible wildlife encounters.
Distance: ~4 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: Minimal (start at 8600 feet)
Time: 4 hours
Water Requirements: 32 ounces
Best time to visit: June-October
