Tuolumne County Trip Overview
Many believe that the northern portion of Yosemite National Park is the last true wilderness of the Sierra Nevada. This trip will take you through the less visited portion of the park that is home to deep canyons, dense old-growth forests, and stunning alpine peaks and ridges. On this adventure you will camp besides rivers, and backcountry lakes that provide a dramatic landscape of the Northern Yosemite terrain including camping in upper Slide Canyon beneath the Sawtooth Ridge. If you’re looking to push yourself and have an authentic wilderness experience, this is the adventure for you!
Cancellations are governed by our standard cancellation policy. See our website for details.
Additional Info
Duration: 6 days
Starts: Tuolumne County, United States
Trip Category: Outdoor Activities >> Hiking & Camping
Explore Tuolumne County Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Tuolumne County, California, United States
Many believe that the northern portion of Yosemite National Park is the last true wilderness of the Sierra Nevada. This trip will take you through the less visited portion of the park that is home to deep canyons, dense old-growth forests, and stunning alpine peaks and ridges. On this adventure you will camp besides rivers, and backcountry lakes that provide a dramatic landscape of the Northern Yosemite terrain including camping in upper Slide Canyon beneath the Sawtooth Ridge. If you’re looking to push yourself and have an authentic wilderness experience, this is the adventure for you!
Cancellations are governed by our standard cancellation policy. See our website for details.
Itinerary
Day 1: Day 1
Stop At: Tuolumne Meadows, East Highway 120, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Meet your guide in front of the Tuolumne Meadows Store at 3:00 PM. Get acquainted with the group and with your gear. If time allows before dinner, explore some of Tuolumne’s iconic features. Grab dinner at the Tuolumne Grill before camping for the night in the Tuolumne Meadows Backpacker’s Camp at approx.
Duration: 9 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tuolumne Meadows Backpacker’s Camp
Day 2: Day 2
Stop At: Tuolumne River, California
Hike six easy miles out of Tuolumne Meadows and north towards the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River—a dramatic glacier cut river canyon. This is mostly a gradual downhill hike that meanders through alpine meadows and across massive granite slabs. Set up camp at the Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp (7980′) next to a pristine swimming hole. Total mileage today is approximately six miles.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Glen Aulin Backpacking Campground
Day 3: Day 3
Stop At: Pacific Crest Trail – Southern Terminus, California
We will get an early start as we continue along the Pacific Crest Trail. The start of the day will take us seven miles through Cold Canyon before we reach an amazing vista peeking into Virginia Canyon and beyond. We will then descend and pass over Return Creek and into Spiller Canyon where we will camp by a backcountry waterfall. Total mileage today is approximately ten miles.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Backcountry camping by Spiller Creek
Day 4: Day 4
Stop At: Pacific Crest Trail – Southern Terminus, California
We will rise and begin the day by ascending out of Spiller Canyon and past Miller Lake at 9,446′ before dropping into Matterhorn Canyon. At this point we will leave the Pacific Crest Trail as we continue deep into Matterhorn Canyon where we will make camp surrounded by the beauty of spectacular geological formations such as: the Fingers, Matterhorn Peak, Whorl Mountain, and the famous Sawtooth Ridge. Total mileage today is approximately ten miles.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Backcountry camping in the spectacular Matterhorn Canyon
Day 5: Day 5
Stop At: Pacific Crest Trail – Southern Terminus, California
After a hearty breakfast we will climb over Burro Pass at 10,600 before descending into Slide Canyon. We will then climb out of Slide Canyon and over Mule Pass (10,440′) as we exit Yosemite. We will proceed about another 1.5 miles past some extraordinary eastern sierra pinnacles as we head to camp along the shore of Crown Lake (9450′). Total mileage today is approximately 8.5 miles.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Backcountry camping at Crown Lake
Day 6: Day 6
Stop At: Tuolumne Meadows, East Highway 120, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
On our final day we will continue our descent through the Eastern Sierras passing many other lakes, rivers, streams, and small waterfalls as we proceed to the Mono Village Resort on the east side of Twin Lakes at 7,092′. Our total hike will be 7.5-miles today. Reward yourself with lunch at the Mono Village Resort followed by an ice cream before our return by shuttle to Tuolumne Meadows.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
