California | Yosemite National Park | Family

Sunday morning pick up in Fresno. Shuttle north toward the famous Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias where we’ll take a short, peaceful hike amongst these gentle giants. Following lunch we drive into the park, stopping for a picnic lunch and photo ops at Tunnel View, Lower Yosemite Falls and 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 Rush Creek Lodge

Recently opened in 2016, The Rush Creek Lodge is the first new resort in Yosemite National Park in over 25 years! These brand new accommodations feature two queen beds, private bathroom, and a private deck with scenic views of the forest at sunset. Keeping in the spirit of an authentic, rewarding mountain experience, you won’t find televisions or other electronic distractions in room. Instead, you’ll find radio streaming, games, and the option of renting a portable DVD player and movies. Hoping to catch the big game? The Tavern offers a selection of local craft brews and sports broadcasts, along with live music or karaoke. And don’t forget the pool! The lodge hosts a salt water pool, hot tubs, The Pool Bar, and cozy fire pit lounge. All in all, the pristine luxury of the Rush Creek Lodge is the perfect way to begin our trek through Yosemite.

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.

This morning, we shuttle to the trailhead of the Mist Trail. A 3.3 mile hike takes us to the top of Vernal Fall, tackling 1,000 feet of elevation gain that includes an unforgettable stretch of steep stone steps in the midst of a waterfall. If the group feels up to it, we’ll continue on to Nevada Fall and hike back to where we started along the John Muir Trail. Later, 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 Half Dome 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 rappelling, 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 hike 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.