Red Peak Pass Loop 

This epic Yosemite hiking tour will start with the group meeting Curry Village at a predetermined time. After getting organized, we will catch a shuttle to the trailhead Glacier Point, well-known for its dramatic views of Half Dome, Tenaya Canyon and Nevada Falls. We’ll soon leave the crowds behind as we follow Illilouette Creek southeast into the Yosemite wilderness. Our first night’s camp will be along the creek. Your guide will set up camp and cook the first of many delicious meals.

Distance & Elevation: 7 miles, 1000 foot descent/1200 foot ascent

Lunch, Dinner

We will start our morning with some hot coffee and a filling breakfast prepared by your guide. Shortly after that, we will pack up camp and continue on with our journey. Today we head up towards Lower Ottoway Lake. The hike is considerably more uphill than the first day but the views are no less rewarding. You’ll see Red Peak in the distance as you pass by Lower Merced Pass and turn up towards Ottoway Creek and our camp by the beautiful lake, deep in the heart of the Yosemite backcountry.

Distance & Elevation: 9 miles, 2500 foot ascent

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is a big day as we head for Red Peak Pass, the high point of the journey at 11,150 feet. As always, these steep, strenuous climbs make the summit all the more rewarding. Red Peak Pass is the highest point reached by any trail in Yosemite National Park and we’ll spend some time soaking up the endless views of the High Sierra before starting our descent down the other side. We’ll pass numerous lakes along the way and maybe stop for a swim. Our goal for tonight’s camp is the Triple Peak Fork of the Merced River, about 2500 feet below the pass.

Distance & Elevation: 9 miles, 1500 foot ascent/ 2100 foot descent

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we head towards Merced Lake. We’ll be heading generally downhill along the Merced River as it carves a beautiful canyon between towering granite cliffs. There are many tempting pools and waterfalls along the way that beckon us to stop for a refreshing dip. If we don’t make it all the way to Merced Lake, there are plenty of excellent places to camp along the way.

Distance/Elevation: 8-10 miles, 1800 foot descent

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After another night under the star filled sky, we will enjoy another tasty breakfast before packing up camp. We continue to follow the Merced River as it flows out from Merced Lake and begins its majestic descent through Echo and Lost Valleys. The smooth granite walls surround us and the river rushes over endless chutes and waterfalls and into delightful pools. This is one of the most scenic stretches of trail in the park and we’ll take our time to revel in the surroundings. Our final night’s camp is in Little Yosemite Valley.

Distance/Elevation: 7 to 8 miles, 1000 foot descent

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our final day offers a shorter hike as we head back to Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley. The hike out will follow the historic John Muir Trail back to the valley. This route winds through beautiful forest along the Merced River, affording stunning views of Nevada and Vernal Falls. We will arrive back at the parking area to sort through our gear before heading back to Curry Village for a final lunch and fond farewells.

Distance/Elevation: 5.5 miles, 2000-foot descent

Breakfast, Lunch

• A professional, licensed and medically trained guide
• All necessary gear: backpack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, trekking poles
• All cooking/eating gear: bowls, cups, utensils (your guide will prepare all meals)
• All meals from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on the last day + trail snacks
• Backcountry permits and fees
• 5% NPS Commercial Fee (a required fee that passes through to Yosemite National Park)

• Transportation to/from Yosemite National Park
• Lodging the night before/after the trip
• Clothing, raingear, and footwear
• Personal toiletries, sunscreen
• Water bottles/hydration bladder
• Headlamp or flashlight
• Guide gratuity (suggested 10-20% of trip cost)

*Upon booking you will receive a detailed trip information packet

Most trips in Yosemite will accommodate 5 people plus one guide. On occasion, a group may be as large as 12 people plus 2 guides.

Children under the age of 13 are generally not permitted on regularly scheduled trips. This restriction may be negotiable on private tours. Please contact us with any questions regarding this policy.

In order to confirm a reservation, we require an initial deposit of $250 per person, with the final balance due 90 days prior to the trip’s departure. If you book a trip within 90 days of the trip’s scheduled departure, then full payment is due at the time of booking.

Once we confirm availability, you will be provided with an online registration link. Your deposit is payable online by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or ACH transfer.

This trip will begin/end in in Yosemite National Park. You will want to fly into San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Fresno, or Reno. You will need to arrange your own transportation from airports to the park. In most cases, renting a car is your easiest and best option.

We will hold a pre-trip orientation at 5:00pm the evening prior to your trip’s departure at the at a pre-arranged location inside the park. Departure times and logistics for the following morning will be discussed at the orientation. Most trips will depart between 7am and 9am.

On the first morning of your trip, you will follow your guide to the long-term parking area where you can leave your car and personal belongings for the duration of the hike. You can also check with your hotel to see if they are willing to store your luggage for you while you hike.

Most trips end at lunchtime on the last day of the trip. If you are considering flying home on the last day of the trip, you should be finished up around 2pm. Since each trip has slightly different logistics, feel free to contact us with specific questions related to the expected return time for your trip.