Yosemite Hiker

On the morning of your trip, meet up with your trip leader and fellow travelers at Rush Creek Lodge, which will be our base for the duration of the trip.

After quick intros, we’ll board our van for the short drive into Yosemite and make our way to the Merced Grove trail. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch at the trailhead before walking among giants. The Merced Grove is the smallest of the park’s three giant sequoia groves, but a much quieter trail that affords us some level of solitude in this majestic setting.

After this moderate 4.2-mile hike, we’ll return to our van and head back to the lodge to check in to our rooms and settle into our accommodations. Explore the property, go for a swim in the scenic saltwater pool, or grab a cold beverage and enjoy the outdoor lounge areas. This evening, we’ll meet back up for dinner at the lodge’s California-centric restaurant before retiring to our rooms for a good night’s rest in anticipation of an early start tomorrow. 

Breakfast will be on the go today, so we can get on the road early for the drive into Yosemite Valley. After we pass through the park entrance, the views get more and more impressive until finally, the entire granite wonderland comes into view all at once. It’s a sight that never fails to impress, and the excitement builds for our hike to come.

From the comfort of our van, we’ll enjoy the full Valley tour, catching glimpses of famed sights like El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome in the distance as we continue to the trailhead for our hike. 

Today, we’ll tackle the hike to the top of Yosemite Falls, North America’s tallest waterfall. This iconic 6.6-mile roundtrip hike is strenuous but rewarding. Climbing 3,000 vertical feet, the switchbacks are seemingly endless, but the panoramic views and photo ops at the top are well worth this leg-burning endeavor. 

Our trailside lunches will taste extra delicious when we take a break at the top to rest our legs and marvel at the roar of Upper Yosemite Falls in the background. Of course, what goes up must come down, and the descent is no less challenging. If you’re scared of heights, this is not the hike for you, as some stretches of the trail peer straight down to the Valley Floor and can be dizzying.

After our hike, we’ll return to the lodge with plenty of time to shower and rest before meeting up for dinner to celebrate the group’s impressive accomplishment. 

After a leisurely breakfast this morning, we’ll visit Hetch Hetchy, the quieter and often-overlooked region of the park. 

We’ll make our way to the Wapama Falls trailhead at O’Shaughnessy Dam. This moderate 5-mile out-and-back hike offers views of soaring granite walls, wildflowers, and the cerulean waters of the 8-mile-long Hetch Hetchy reservoir, which supplies water to San Francisco Bay Area residents. As we traverse the lip of the reservoir en route to the falls, it’s hard not to consider what’s hidden beneath its water. John Muir once described Hetch Hetchy Valley as “a grand landscape garden, one of Nature’s rarest and most precious mountain temples.” 

Despite its hydroelectric fate, this tucked-away corner of Yosemite is vibrant, and wildlife abounds away from the crowds. We eventually reach a wooden bridge and an up-close view of Wapama Falls as it spills into the lake below us. The mist from the falls will provide a welcome cool-down before the return hike to the shuttle.

Depending on the group and timing, we may opt to do the short, 3-mile Carlon Falls hike near Rush Creek Lodge before returning for dinner and relaxing.

Today, we make our final drive into the Valley and up to Glacier Point for what is, arguably, the best Yosemite hike for waterfall views—the Panorama Trail*.  

From the trailhead at Glacier Point, we’ll leave our van and begin the 8.5-mile, mostly downhill trek back to the Valley, where our van will meet us later. 

As we get going, our hike takes us past the lesser-known gem of Illilouette Falls before traversing Panorama Cliff. All the while, the trail affords us some of the most jaw-dropping valley views, including Yosemite Falls in the distance and up-close views of Half Dome. Our hike continues to the top of Nevada Falls, where we’ll likely rest for a trailside lunch before continuing down the legendary Mist Trail and the famed granite stairs alongside Vernal Falls. The sights and views on this trail are incomparable. It’s a four-waterfalls-in-one experience and a true “best of Yosemite” experience.  

At the end of this challenging but delightful hike, our van will be waiting to shuttle us to our next destination. Time permitting, we’ll visit the John Muir Gallery and Yosemite Museum before enjoying dinner together at one of the park’s several restaurants located in the valley.

Returning to Rush Creek later in the evening, we’ll say our goodbyes to each other, perhaps over a nightcap in the tavern.  

*Glacier Point Road access is subject to seasonal closures. If it’s not yet open at the time of your departure, we may opt to hike the Mist Trail.

You’re welcome to enjoy the resort and its modern amenities however you wish this morning, departing in time for check-out at 11 AM.