TEN
LAKES
BASIN
TEN LAKES BASIN
- BACKPACK REMOTE YOSEMITE -
EXPLORE A RUGGED VALLEY
FILLED WITH REMOTE LAKES
We’ll bring the permit, meals, gear, and expert guide
Backpack over a remote mountain pass into Yosemite’s high country. Find a valley of lakes so isolated they have never been named. At your lakeside basecamp, you feel the awe of discovering an untouched place few have ever seen. This is the most beautiful trip in the park!
- 4 Days
- 18 Miles
- Moderate
Got questions? Contact us!
Price: $1,640
Just a $400 deposit to book!
2026 DATES
Aug 19-22 fully booked
Sep 25-28 1 spot left
Yosemite grants permits five months in advance.
Dates may slightly shift until permit is granted.
INTO THE WILD
Leave everyday life behind and step into a true adventure. Backpack deep into Yosemite’s Ten Lakes Basin, a high-country valley dotted with clear lakes carved by ancient glaciers.
From your lakeside basecamp, you’ll jump into alpine lakes, climb to sweeping views on rugged ridgelines, and follow your guide off-trail to explore hidden corners of a remote landscape. In the evening, you’ll swim beneath pink sunsets, warm up by glowing campfires, and lie beneath a sky filled with stars.
With an expert local guide, hearty backcountry meals, and the camaraderie of fellow adventurers, you’ll explore Yosemite at its most untamed. Every mountain pass, craggy peak, and winding trail brims with adventure.
The wild is waiting…
ADVENTURE ITINERARY
DAY ONE
Camp on the shore of a backcountry lake
Arrive at the Ten Lakes trailhead in Yosemite’s high country. With a warm welcome, you’ll meet your new trail friends as your guide checks over your gear. With everyone ready for the adventure ahead, we’ll set off into one of the park’s most remote corners.
Climb through a dense forest before arriving at peaceful Half Moon Meadow, the perfect spot for lunch. Keep an eye out for deer or a meandering bear! As the ascent steepens toward Ten Lakes Pass, the challenge sets in, but so does the reward. At the top, you’ll see an endless sea of wild peaks without a trace of civilization more miles. Below you lies the Ten Lakes Basin, scattered with sapphire lakes, some so remote, they’ve never been named.
One shimmering lake, dotted with tiny islands, will be your home tonight. We’ll descend into the valley, set up camp on the lakeshore, and swim out to the islands. As your guide prepares a hot dinner, the sun sets across the water. You’ll share the moment with your new adventure pals before slipping into your tent and dreaming of tomorrow’s discoveries.
6.5 miles +2,100 ft | -700 ft
DAY TWO
Hike off-trail to hidden lake and swim
Today, we leave basecamp in place. Carrying packs with only snacks and water, you’ll be light and free to explore the valley’s secrets.
Our first stop is a lake nestled at the base of a towering granite wall, its sheer face carved long ago by ancient glaciers. The deep blue water invites you to swim, float under drifting clouds, or sway in a hammock strung between pines.
After lunch, follow your guide deeper into the forest, venturing off-trail to a hidden lake that few hikers ever find. Here, in complete solitude, we’ll enjoy a still and serene corner of Yosemite all to ourselves.
Back at camp, we’ll have dinner, but the day isn’t over yet. Your guide has one more surprise. Just around the bend from our site lies another secret lake, tucked out of sight until now. As the sun sinks low, we’ll watch the sky light up with color over the water before returning by twilight to a crackling campfire.
2-5 miles +500 ft | -500 ft
DAY THREE
Discover a viewpoint on the edge of a cliff
After breakfast and coffee, we’ll set out on one more mission. We need to explore the remaining section of the valley and uncover more secrets, if she will reveal them to us!
Follow your guide and enjoy testing your navigational skills as we hike deep into the wilderness. We’ll come upon a lake so far from any trail that you might be the only hikers in years to reach its shore.
Beyond the lake, your guide leads you further into the woods to a stunning surprise. As the trees thin, a rocky cliff emerges, dropping nearly 4,000 feet. This is the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River, a window into the deepest reaches of Yosemite’s wilderness. We’ll stand on the cliff’s edge, taking in the immense, inspiring view, letting the scale of the landscape sink in.
Back at camp, swim and enjoy some games with your hiking partners, who you now know well. Perhaps your guide will catch a fish for dinner! Spend one last night around the campfire, reflecting on all the beauty you’ve seen in this remote place. Tomorrow, we’ll return triumphantly to civilization.
3-6 miles +500 ft | -500 ft
DAY FOUR
Hike home over Ten Lakes Pass
You wake up this morning feeling refreshed after your time in the backcountry. After breakfast, we pack up camp and begin the hike back, making our way toward Ten Lakes Pass.
From this side, the climb feels surprisingly manageable, and before long, you’re standing back on top. We pause to take in the view, looking out over the valley you’ve just spent days exploring.
From here, it’s all downhill. The trail carries you steadily back toward the trailhead, giving you time to reflect on everything you’ve experienced along the way.
Back at your car, you return to civilization with memories from a truly special trip. We say goodbye, already dreaming about our next adventure together.
6.5 miles +700 ft | -2,150 ft
What kind of person is this trip for?
People who want to experience wild Yosemite, swim in alpine lakes, and spend time in the remote, peaceful backcountry. The first day of this trek offers a challenging climb over Ten Lakes pass, suitable for people who have trained for the trip and enjoy working out.
You should enjoy camping in isolated places and exploring off trail. Many guests are first time or relatively new backpackers looking for a real wilderness experience, not just a quick trip to see the highlights of the park.
If you’re drawn to alpine lakes, quiet valleys that few people visit, and the feeling of being far from everything, you’ll feel right at home here.
How challenging is this trip?
This is a moderate backpacking trip suitable for people who are comfortable with sustained physical activity.
On the first day, expect a steep 5 mile climb while carrying a 30-40 lb pack. This day will certainly challenge those who do not train for the trip. The following days are more moderate, as we’ll set up a basecamp, and you won’t need to carry your full pack again.
If you can regularly jog three miles without stopping, you’ll likely enjoy this trip.
Training is required. You can prepare with 5 mile hikes that include 2,000 feet of elevation gain. Jogging, using a stairmaster, or treadmill at high incline is also effective.
What's included?
Accommodations
• 3 nights camping in tents
Meals and Snacks
• All meals from the first day’s lunch to the last day’s lunch
• All snacks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and desserts!
Group Camping Gear
• Bear canisters, water filters, stove, cookware, first aid kit
• Individual tent for each client
• See Gear List
Wilderness Guide
• Professional local wilderness guide with a wilderness first responder certification
Wilderness Permit
• Permit to camp in Yosemite’s backcountry
What's not included?
Transportation to Yosemite
• Adventurers take own car to reach meeting point
Personal Gear & Clothing
• Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack
• Personal clothing
• Gear rental available
Gratuity for Guides
• Most people tip 10% – 20% of the trip cost
Trip Insurance
• “Cancel for any reason” trip insurance recommended
Backcountry Evacuation
• Read Terms & Conditions for full evacuation policy
What gear do I need? Do you provide it?
Here is a link to the gear list. We also offer a gear rental option.
We want to make it easy for you to join the trip. If you don’t own backpacking gear, or prefer not to travel with it, you can choose our rental option and we’ll provide everything you need.
How do I get there? (Airport, car, parking...)
Fresno is the closest airport to Yosemite. Most people stay the night before and after the trip in Yosemite Valley, Mariposa or Groveland. You must fly in the day before your trip starts and fly out the day after it ends. We do not guarantee exact return times to the trailhead.
A car is required to reach the meeting point. Public transportation and taxis are not available in this area. Once inside Yosemite, parking is free for the duration of your trip, and no special parking pass is needed.
What dates are available?
Aug 19-22 fully booked
Sep 25-28 1 spot left
What is your cancellation policy?
A $400 non-refundable deposit is due at booking. The remaining amount is due 90 days in advance of your trip start date.
• If you cancel your trip 61 or more days prior to trip departure, you will receive a full refund, excluding the non-refundable deposit, booking platform fee, and credit card processing fee.
• If you cancel your trip 31-60 days prior to trip departure, you will receive a 50% refund, excluding the non-refundable deposit, booking platform fee, and credit card processing fee.
• If you cancel your trip 0-30 days prior to trip departure, no refund is given.
• No refund is given for any unused portions of a trip.
Please make sure you read and understand the Terms & Conditions.
When are trip dates confirmed?
Yosemite releases permits about five months in advance. If you book more than five months ahead, your exact permit dates may still be pending. In that case, we’ll confirm final dates before you make any non-refundable travel plans (flights, lodging, etc.).
How do I contact you?
I’d be happy to answer your questions!
• Email: LamplightersAdventures@gmail.com
• Phone: (209) 336-3147
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