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Seasonal Summit Hikes in Yosemite National Park
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Overview
Experience the best views Yosemite has to offer!
Duration: Varies
Meeting Point: Select Locations Along Highway 120
Min Age: 13
Max Age: 99
Group Size: 13
Accessibility: Not accessible for strollers or wheelchairs.
Description: Experience Yosemite's best summit hike based on season you are visiting with one of these seasonal summit hikes!
- Recommended for hiker's 12 and older!
- Private hikes available!
JANUARY & FEBRUARY | DEWEY POINT | 7.5 MILES | STRENUOUS
This Guide's Choice adventure boasts one of the most beautiful winter vistas in Yosemite.
This snowshoe comes with birds-eye views of Yosemite Valley and Yosemite Falls, as well as panoramic views of Yosemite high country after a 3.5 mile snowshoe adventure through Yosemite’s old growth forests.
Points of Interest
Half Dome, Tunnel view, Badger Pass, Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and Dewey Point.
MARCH & APRIL | CLARKS POINT VIA THE VERNAL FALLS LOOP | 7 MILES | STRENUOUS
Day hike on the Vernal Falls Loop on the eastern rim of Yosemite Valley a bonus tour of the most iconic sites in Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park.
This twist on the classic Mist Trail starts in Yosemite Valley and climbs 1500 feet high above the Valley floor, past the iconic Vernal Falls to Clark Point, before a slow and scenic decent along the first 1.5 miles of the famed John Muir Trail. Afterward, we'll enjoy a tour of the most iconic sites in Yosemite Valley!
Points of Interest
Half Dome, Tunnel view, Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Vernal Falls & Nevada Falls.
MAY | YOSEMITE POINT VIA YOSEMITE FALLS TRAIL | 9.5 MILES | STRENUOUS
Hiking to the top of tallest waterfall in the United States during peak flow is one of the best experiences Yosemite has to offer! This 7.5 - 9.5 mile day hike to the northern rim of Yosemite Valley was one of John Muirs favorite hikes and has unprecedented views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley.
Points of Interest
Half Dome, Tunnel view, Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls.
JUNE | NORTH DOME | 9 MILES | MODERATE
This classic Yosemite Hike has old growth, vistas, an amazing view of Half Dome and a natural arch
This hike is one of our easiest summit and includes a beautiful hike through old growth forests before reaching unprecedented views of Half Dome from North Dome on Yosemite's Valley's northern rim! On our return, we'll stop at Yosemite's only natural arch for even more incredible views!
Points of Interest
Tioga Road, North Dome, Tenaya Canyon, Quarter Domes, North Dome, Half Dome, Yosemite Valley.
JULY | MONO PASS VISTA | 8 MILES | EASY - MODERATE
Not technically a summit, but the views of the Mono Lake and the eastern Sierra are the best around!
Enjoy summit-esque views of the eastern Sierra as well as subalpine lakes and meadows without summiting anything! This trail only gains a modest 900 feet of elevation on its way to spectacular views of Mono Lake and the Owens River Valley from 10,599 feet! All of this, plus the wildflowers, swimming and relative solitude make this a Guide's Choice Hike!
Points of Interest
Tioga Road, Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, Dana Peak, Tioga Pass, Mono Lake and Owens River Valley.
AUGUST | DANA PEAK | 6 MILES | X STRENUOUS
Summit the 2nd highest peak in Yosemite National Park!
This short but challenging hike begins at 10,000 feet near Tioga Pass and travels through the wildflowers of Dana Meadows before ascending high above alpine to 13,601 feet giving you breathtaking views of Mono Lake and the Eastern Sierra!
Points of Interest
Tioga Road, Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, Dana Peak, Tioga Pass, Mono Lake and Owens River Valley
SEPTEMBER | MT HOFFMANN SUMMIT | 6 MILES | STRENUOUS
Looking down on both Clouds Rest and Half Dome from the 10,854-foot summit of Mt. Hoffmann is not even the best part of this incredibly scenic cross country day hike.
In addition to the 360-degree panoramic views of the high country from Yosemite's geographic center, you get high alpine lakes, marmots galore, wildflowers, and tons of history and geology, making this a definite Guide's Choice Hike!
Points of Interest
Tioga Road, Clouds Rest, Half Dome, High Country Vistas, and Tenaya Lake.
OCTOBER | HALF DOME SUMMIT | 17 MILES | EXTREMELY STRENUOUS
Summit the most iconic peak in North America without the lines!
This adventure requires an additional permit and trips dates are limited, but it's worth the extra work! This 17 mile round trip adventure has waterfalls, peaks, vistas, old growth forests, class 4 climbing and more! You'll never forget this adventure!
Points of Interest
Half Dome, Tunnel view, Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls.
NOVEMBER | SMITH PEAK | 14 MILES | STRENUOUS
The summit hike to Smith Peak in the Hetch Hetchy Region of Yosemite National Park comes with the rare promise of solitude!
This trail is rarely recommended by rangers both because of its distance and cross country feel of the hike making this a true adventure! From the summit you’ll epic views of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Wapama Falls, Pate Valley and Yosemite’s high Country!
Points of Interest
Hetch Hetchy, O’Shaunessy Dam, Wapama Falls, Hetchy Dome, Pate Valley, and the Clark Range.
DECEMBER | DEVILS DANCE FLOOR | 6.5 MILE | STRENUOUS |
A rare gem off of an unmarked trail!
We'll begin this 7 mile round trip hike at the historic town of Foresta nestled in below the Big Oak Flat Road just before reaching Yosemite Valley. This cross country hike takes us through many burn scars and along Wildcat Creek before the granite slab summit spanning several footballs fields. We’ll have exceptional views of the Merced River Canyon, Yosemite Valley and the Clark Range before having lunch and heading back!
Points of Interest
Foresta, Half Dome, El Capitan, Clarks Range
What is Included: - Local and experienced guide and Wilderness First Responder.
- Transportation from several locations along Highway 120
- National Park Entrance Fee, If applicable
- Echo Water Bottle
- Filtered Water
- First Aid & Emergency Equipment available throughout the adventure.
What is not Included: Lunch is not included, so please purchase a Custom Hiker's Lunch or bring a picnic lunch with you the day of the adventure!
What to Bring: - Layered Clothing
- Trainers, Hiking Boots or Hiking Sandals
- Liter of Water per Person
- Brimmed Hat & Sunglasses
- Sun Block & Insect Repellent
- Camera & Binoculars
- Lunch
Restrictions: - Recommended for hiker's 12 and older!
- Private hikes available!
Extras: - Hiker's Lunch Custom Sandwich with 2 sides and drink made to order!
- Echo Trail Pack A bespoke trail kit perfectly paired to keep you moving in the harshest Yosemite elements!
Faqs: Lunch is not included, so please purchase a Custom Hiker's Lunch or bring a picnic lunch with you the day of the adventure!
Can we buy lunch on the tour?
- No, not usually. We encourage you to buy a Custom Hiker’s Lunch or bring a bag lunch, so we can spend as much time as possible enjoying the National Park.
Can I cancel if it’s raining?
- Our philosophy is there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing! That being said, we will cancel and refund tours if it is dangerous to operate - which is incredibly rare. For those fair weather hikers, we recommend the Easy Cancelation Rate! You can also double check that your travel insurance will cover guest cancelations.
Will you pick us up at our hotel?
- Maybe! We pick up at many hotels along Highway 120 into Yosemite Valley. You can see a list of options on our booking page.
Can we come back early?
- Yes, if you book a private adventure then you can come back anytime you like!
Do we need a reservation?
- Nope! We will cover your reservation and entrance fee into Yosemite on the day you are with us. If you want to go in on your own, then make sure you know the rules!
What do we wear?
- Layers! It is almost always colder in the morning than it is in the afternoon, so wear layers that you can shed as it gets warmer. We also recommend that you avoid denim or other cotton clothing as it retains moisture and can discomfort throughout the day.
What’s the weather going to be?
- Your guess is as good as ours, but click here for some basic guidelines. Https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/weather.htm. You can also call us a few days before your adventure and we can check the weather for you!
Meeting And Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Meeting point
Street: 11892 Ponderosa Lane
City: Groveland
Country: US
Postal Code: 95321
Province: CA
Health and safety policy
Guides have the following certifications:
- Minimum of Wilderness First Responder
- CPR
- Leave No Trace
- California Food Handlers
Additional Info
What's Included
- Local and experienced guide and Wilderness First Responder.
- Transportation from several locations along Highway 120
- National Park Entrance Fee, If applicable
- Echo Water Bottle
- Filtered Water
- First Aid & Emergency Equipment available throughout the adventure.
What to Bring
- Layered Clothing
- Trainers, Hiking Boots or Hiking Sandals
- Liter of Water per Person
- Brimmed Hat & Sunglasses
- Sun Block & Insect Repellent
- Camera & Binoculars
- Lunch
Be Prepared
Vacationing in the mountains is amazing if you plan well! We provide almost everything you need during your trip, but there are a few things you will need to make sure you have during your visit:
Layered Clothing
Brimmed Hat & Sunglasses
Sun Block & Insect Repellent
Camera & Binoculars
Hiking boots or shoes
Also, be prepared for unexpected storms or adverse road conditions by checking the weather forecast.
CLICK HERE to see the Weather Forecast for Yosemite Valley
Again, thank you for choosing Echo Adventure Cooperative for your Yosemite hiking adventure! We are so excited for your visit and helping you make the most of your time in Yosemite, so please don't hesitate to call or email if you have questions about your visit!
Cancellation Policy
Please contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation.
Easy Cancelations Rate
- When available, our easy cancelations rate allows you to cancel your adventure or package up to 24 hours in advance for just a $25.00 processing fee.
- Cancelations within 24 hours will be refunded 50% of the listed price.
Non-Refundable Rate:
- Cancelations made at least 48 hours before scheduled adventure will be refunded 50% of the excursion price.
- Guests cancelling within 48 hours of scheduled adventure and no shows will not be refunded.
Adventure Add-Ons:
- Full refund on any cancellations 24 hours in advance of excursion start time.
- Cancellations within 24 hours will be handled on a case by case basis.
Gear & Bike Rentals
- Full refund on any cancellations 24 hours in advance of excursion start time.
- Cancelations within 24 hours will be refunded 50% of the listed price.
Exceptions:
- You will not be charged a cancellation fee if your trip is cancelled by Echo Adventure Cooperative due to weather, fire, road closures, or guide unavailability.
- You may reschedule your adventure or convert your balance into a gift card free of charge if done within 72 hours of your adventure start time.
- Your Adventure Coordinator will always work with Member-Guides as well as lodging & recreation partners to provide the largest possible refund based on your circumstances; however, we are rarely able to secure a larger refund than is stated above.
- Yelling, disrespecting or threatening your Adventure Coordinator will not result in a larger refund, so we HIGHLY recommend purchasing the easy cancelations rate, buying traveler's insurance, or using a credit card with travel protection to help take the pressure off.
- Review extortion (defined as threatening a negative review or promising a positive review in exchange for refunds or freebies) will not be tolerated and will void all refund eligibility.