Yosemite Family Vacation & Tour

Begin your adventure with a Sunday morning pick up in Fresno • Shuttle north toward the famous Nelder Grove of Giant Sequoias where we’ll take a short, peaceful hike amongst these gentle giants • Following lunch we will trek to Lower Yosemite Falls and on to El Capitan • El Capitan, Spanish for The Chief, is a vertical rock formation extending about 3,000 feet from base to summit along its tallest face and is one of the world’s favorite challenges for rock climbers • It is composed almost entirely of El Capitan Granite, a pale, coarse-grained granite emplaced approx. 100 million years ago • Late afternoon, check into Rush Creek Lodge, your home for the next two nights

About the Evergreen Lodge
Nestled in the woods bordering Yosemite National Park, Evergreen Lodge offers a timeless Yosemite experience, including fully-furnished cabins, delicious food, a classic all-wood tavern and a warm, welcoming environment.The cabins provide perfect accommodations for couples and families alike. Escape the crowds and enjoy the serenity and mountain charm of this Yosemite hideaway.

After breakfast, shuttle to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir for our trek to Wapama Falls • Along this fascinating trek, listen as your guides tell you stories of John Muir’s time in Yosemite • He claims the Hetch Hetchy Valley was every bit as beautiful as Yosemite Valley until the 1920s; then the Tuolomne River was dammed to create a water supply for San Francisco • After lunch we will head out for another pleasant hike to a nearby waterfall with a beautiful pool at its base perfect for swimming • Return back to the lodge for relaxation and then dinner

Arrive early to Yosemite Valley where we’ll explore on bikes • Using a dedicated bike path, our trip through the valley will include stops at Mirror Lake, El Capitan, the Happy Isles and Vernal Falls, as well as opportunities to swim and jump from a rope swing into the Merced River! • Explore the Valley Visitor Center and enjoy a wonderful lunch on Sentinel Beach • After, we’ll transfer to Tenaya Lodge, your home for the next three nights • Continue your exploration of this amazing area tonight as you spend dinner and the rest of the evening on your own

About Tenaya Lodge
Named after the legendary Chief Tenaya, the lodge is located near the Park's south gate. Settle in next to the "incense cedars" and towering sugar pines. Amenities include inviting fireplaces and private outdoor seating areas. The lodge is a year-round destination offering recreational activities to suit the season.

Fuel up with a warm, fresh meal before we head out to Curry Village, where we'll grab some climbing shoes for a fantastic day of rock climbing and rappelling - no trip to Yosemite would be complete without it! • Classes are designed for climbers of all levels, so everyone from beginners to experts will take away a new skill-set • You'll spend the better part of the day learning everything there is to know about rock climbing - from tying knots to rapelling, and everything in between • After a pizza lunch at your climbing site, we'll continue our uphill ascent through early afternoon • Tonight we enjoy a BBQ dinner before hopping aboard a logger steam train for a neat, historic tour of Yosemite Mountain's Sugar Pine Railroad

Today, embark on an all-day hike to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point • Choose your level of activity - your hikes can be short, long, steep, gradual - it's all up to you! • Explore a wide variety of geography and learn how the valley was formed • After a full day of exploring, it's back to Tenaya Lodge for a delicious last night's dinner at Sierra Restaurant, featuring a wonderful combination of fresh, local produce, meats, seafood and pastas

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge • This morning you can opt to head out on a guided bike ride or you can take advantage of some last minute pool or spa time • Reluctantly we say good bye to the park and start our way back to Fresno • Hotel and airport drop offs in the early afternoon (no flights before 3 pm)

** Trip itineraries are subject to change without notice due to road, weather and other factors outside of our control, for the safety and enjoyment of our guests, as deemed necessary and appropriate by Austin Adventures.