NORTH RIM &
YOSEMITE FALLS
NORTH RIM &
YOSEMITE FALLS
EARN THE BEST
VIEWS IN YOSEMITE
We’ll bring the permit, meals, gear, and expert guide
High above the valley floor, you enter a rugged place most visitors to Yosemite never reach. As sunrise strikes Half Dome, it feels like you’re on the edge of the whole park. Each mile earns you greater views. When you’re standing above Yosemite Falls, you realize these sights have been worth every step.
- 4 Days
- 20 Miles
- Strenuous
Got questions? Contact us!
Price: $1,640
Just a $400 deposit to book!
2026 DATES
Oct 9-12 available
Yosemite grants permits five months in advance.
Dates may slightly shift until permit is granted.
YOSEMITE’S MOST INCREDIBLE VIEWS
Embark on a four-day backpacking odyssey along Yosemite Valley’s untamed North Rim. Discover sunsets that torch the sky, cliffs plunging thousands of feet, and viewpoints so mind-blowing you’ll need proof. Bring a camera!
You’ll camp on a granite ledge eyeball-to-eyeball with Half Dome, so close you can cheer on the climbers inching up the wall. Ford through rushing creeks, discover a rare granite arch hidden in the forest, and summit North Dome for a 360° panorama your friends will swear is Photoshopped. For the grand finale, cross the brink of Upper Yosemite Falls with mist exploding beside you.
This is Yosemite’s most jaw-dropping, hard-earned spectacle, with views so rewarding they’re reserved only for those adventurous enough to climb for them.
ADVENTURE ITINERARY
DAY ONE
Explore Yosemite & Meet Your Guide
Spend the day roaming Yosemite’s frontcountry on your own. Meet your guide in the early evening, and shake hands with strangers who’ll feel like old friends before the week is out. Your guide goes over the map and all the gear.
After setting up tents at the backpackers campground, your guide gets dinner simmering on the stove. Meanwhile, you wade into the cool waters of a nearby creek and swim. The sky darkens and the stars begin to shine. You gather with the group to eat a hot dinner before settling into your cozy tent. Tonight you are too excited to sleep, as tomorrow we head into the wilderness!
1 mile
DAY TWO
Climb the North Rim. Camp on a cliff.
Awaken to the aroma of hot coffee and a sizzling breakfast cooked by your guide.
Follow Tenaya Creek straight into the wilderness. Stop at Mirror Lake and sit at the base of Half Dome. It’s granite face towers overhead, with a perfect reflection in the water at your feet.
Looking at the surrounding canyon walls, you wonder how you’ll make it up, but your guide points the way. Little by little, you rise above the treetops. The group stops to catch their breath, but the views are so pretty, you can’t wait to continue! Higher you climb until we reach a broad granite shelf beside Snow Creek.
You pitch your tent on the edge of the cliff right across the valley from Half Dome. When you unzip the door, all of Yosemite valley spills out before you. Incredible!
Before dinner, your guide hands you binoculars, and you spot tiny hikers inching towards Half Dome’s summit. Lower on the face, climbers settle in for the night. Distant campfires spark to life across the wilderness like a constellation of adventures unfolding around you.
As the sun drops, Half Dome ignites orange, and you gather around a crackling campfire to eat dinner under the stars.
4 miles +2,750 ft
DAY THREE
Visit Indian Arch. Summit North Dome.
Follow a rushing creek deeper into the woods, boots splashing beside cascading water. You’re remote now. The peaceful wind blows through pine and fir, carrying the sweet, dusty scent of sap.
Proud above the treeline stands Indian Arch: a rare granite formation carved by millennia of wind and ice. Climb atop it and peer all the way over Half Dome’s shoulder and across the vastness of the entire park.
Excitement crackles as you push toward North Dome. The trail opens onto a wide, rounded summit smack in the middle of the North Rim. Views explode in every direction. To the east, you spot Clouds Rest and the jagged High Sierra. To the west, El Capitan guards the valley floor 4,000 feet below your feet. You spin slowly, drinking in every detail. It takes time to see it all.
A little farther down the trail, a quiet creek gurgles through the woods. You settle into camp among the pines. After a day this big, you collapse into your tent as owls hoot and pine cones thud softly under a sky full of stars.
7.5 miles +1,760 ft | -800 ft
DAY FOUR
Cross Upper Yosemite Falls
Keep your eyes peeled. You’re deep in bear country now! At the first creek, you tightrope walk across a giant log. At the second, you change into water shoes and ford the icy river. This trip is for the hardy!
You make one final climb to Yosemite Point, one of the most famous views in the park. Your guide grins, “No more uphill, ever.” You spot tiny tourists thousands of feet below, who have no idea what adventure lies above their heads.
At the grand finale, you cross a bridge over the top of Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in North America. Your guide shows you a hidden staircase which leads to the edge. You dare to lean over the brink and watch the water rocket into the void. As you descend on switchbacks next to the falling water, the roaring stream crashes against rocks and explodes into a mist.
Finally back on the valley floor, tourists gawk and ask where you’ve been. You just smile. You’ve seen Yosemite from angles they’ll never reach! After catching the shuttle back to the cars, goodbyes come with talk of next year’s trip. Like a true adventurer, you’re already scheming.
7.5 miles +350 ft | -3,900 ft
What kind of person is this trip for?
People who want to earn some of the most dramatic views in Yosemite.
Most guests are looking for a rugged backcountry adventure that takes them to places most visitors would never see. If you want to experience Yosemite’s North Rim and reach incredible viewpoints above the valley, this trip is for you.
How challenging is this trip?
This is a strenuous backpacking trip suitable for people who exercise regularly and enjoy challenging themselves. Expect steep elevation gain (2,750 feet) while carrying a 30-40 lb pack.
If you can jog four miles, you’ll likely enjoy this trip.
Training is strongly recommended. You can prepare with 6 mile hikes with 2,000+ feet of elevation gain while carrying a weighted pack. Jogging, using a stairmaster, or treadmill at high incline is also effective.
What's included?
Accommodations
• 3 nights camping in tents
Yosemite Shuttle
• Scenic shuttle trailhead to treailhead
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, Oakhurst, or Fresno. 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?
Oct 9-12 available
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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5 days | strenuous
Summit both Clouds Rest and Half Dome in a traverse across Yosemite. You’ll camp at an alpine lake in the vast backcountry and tackle the two most jaw-dropping icons of Yosemite. This is the park’s ultimate adventure with views that you’ll never forget!
Backpack to Half Dome
4 days | strenuous
Yosemite’s classic backpacking trek. This is a bucket list adventure and a lifetime achievement! You’ll climb the Half Dome cables, hike past towering waterfalls, and swim in a wild river next to camp. This trip is as beautiful as it is thrilling!
Backpack to Half Dome & Clouds Rest
5 days | strenuous
Summit both Clouds Rest and Half Dome in a traverse across Yosemite. You’ll camp at an alpine lake in the vast backcountry and tackle the two most jaw-dropping icons of Yosemite. This is the park’s ultimate adventure with views that you’ll never forget!
Yosemite’s Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River
6 days | moderate
Follow the Tuolumne River as it courses through a beautiful gorge. Dive into swimming holes and splash under waterfalls right next to camp! Perfect for fun-lovers and free spirits, this is Yosemite’s most all-around fun trek!
