GRAND CANYON
OF THE
TUOLUMNE RIVER
- YOSEMITE -
GRAND CANYON OF THE
TUOLUMNE RIVER
- YOSEMITE -
EXPLORE A CANYON FULL OF
FALLS & SWIMMIN' HOLES
We’ll bring the permit, meals, gear, and expert guide
A wild river rushes past you and the roar of waterfalls echoes off canyon walls. You’re in a world of adventure. Spot a swimming hole? Let’s take a break and jump in! For six days, you’ll hike along the river, slide down cascades, and camp on riverbanks under the stars. This is Yosemite’s most fun trek!
- 6 Days
- 36 Miles
- Moderate
Got questions? Contact us!
Price: $2,195
Just a $400 deposit to book!
2026 DATES
Aug 14-19 fully booked
Sep 1-6 available
Sep 17-22 5 spots left
Yosemite grants permits five months in advance.
Dates may slightly shift until permit is granted.
FOR FUN LOVERS ONLY!
Backpack through Yosemite’s Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River. Deep in the wilderness, surrounded by towering cliffs, cascades, and sparkling pools, you’ll see why John Muir called this canyon “even more grandiose than Yosemite Valley!”
Start camped high on a cliff overlooking the canyon, your tent perched on the edge as you watch the sunset light up the route ahead. Descend between the dramatic canyon walls and trek along the river as it winds through a vast wilderness.
Each day, take a refreshing dip in the river at lunch, then set your tents beside waterfalls and jump into brilliant blue swimming holes before dinner. Venturing further into the canyon, you’ll encounter famous spots like Waterwheel Falls, where the water does a full 360° when the wind is right!
On day six, as you stroll through the flower-filled Tuolumne Meadows, spotting bears and deer, you’ll realize just how at home you’ve become in Yosemite’s backcountry. With new friends, unforgettable scenery, and nonstop adventure every day, you won’t want the trip to end!
ADVENTURE ITINERARY
DAY ONE
Explore Yosemite & Meet Your Guide
Spend the day exploring Yosemite’s frontcountry at your own pace. In the evening, meet your guide and fellow hikers at the backpackers campground. Your guide will go over gear and make sure everyone is ready for the adventure ahead.
After setting up tents together, your guide will prepare dinner while you get to know your new trail friends around a campfire. As the stars appear overhead, you drift to sleep in your tent, dreaming of tomorrow’s adventure!
1 mile
DAY TWO
Enter the Canyon. Camp on a cliff.
Wake up to the smell of fresh coffee and a sizzling breakfast. Hop on a scenic shuttle that winds across Yosemite’s high country.
At the trailhead, begin hiking beneath tall pines and blooming wildflowers. The forest suddenly rips open to an outrageous view. The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne stretches for miles beneath your boots.
The trail drops steeply, and late afternoon delivers you to a campsite on the edge of the park’s most breathtaking cliff. Tents go up fast. A small cascade tumbles nearby, and we strip down, jump in, and cool off!
Perched high on the cliff, you watch the sun sink and turn the canyon walls orange. From here, you can trace the route ahead, snaking for miles through the granite wilderness.
You eat dinner, play games, and share stories with your group as the stars come out. Tomorrow, we’ll drop all the way down to the river, where the canyon’s waterfalls and swimming holes await!
6.5 miles -2,100 ft
DAY THREE
Trek along the river. Camp at a cascade.
When you finally hike down to the bottom of the canyon, you’re surprised by how cool and peaceful it is to be surrounded by towering granite walls. The Tuolumne River rushes beside the trail, and after crossing a wooden bridge, we stop for our first swim.
As we follow the river downstream, the scenery only gets better. The trail hugs the water’s edge, winding past shimmering cascades and deep green pools. Around one last bend, your guide announces that we’re done hiking for the day.
You can hardly believe your eyes. Our campsite lies beside a massive swimming hole with a roaring cascade spilling right into it! We jump in and swim out to a giant boulder in the center. Your guide shows you how to ride down the cascade like a natural waterslide, and the current carries you back to the boulder where you lie in the sun.
As you sit on the rock in the middle of the swimming hole, you realize there’s nowhere else in the world you’d rather be than here. This is a wild, beautiful adventure.
8 miles +500 ft | -1,400 ft
DAY FOUR
Deeper into the canyon
After breakfast, we follow the river farther into the canyon. We pause at an alcove filled with water and colorful rocks. You wade into the clear pool and watch the water trickle down the granite walls, green moss clinging to every crevice.
Continuing onward, we reach a spot too stunning to pass by. The river funnels through a narrow chute before bursting into a sparkling turquoise pool. It’s perfect for a swim! You leap from boulders into the water and watch the river twist through the pine trees during lunch.
By evening, we arrive at a jaw-dropping campsite beside a series of natural pools. Lounging in the water, you look up at the towering canyon walls surrounding you. The view is too immense to fully take in!
As the canyon settles into a gentle hush, the setting sun illuminates the river in a warm glow. With stars overhead and water rushing past your tent, you drift to sleep completely in tune with Yosemite’s wilderness.
6.5 miles +1,100 ft
DAY FIVE
Waterfalls, waterfalls, waterfalls!
The trail pulls you away from the river, climbing over rocky passes with views that reveal just how far you’ve come. With each summit, you pause to catch your breath, knowing the path will soon lead you back to the cool river once more.
As you tackle the biggest climb of the day, three majestic waterfalls keep you moving. You stop to admire the famous Waterwheel Falls. If the wind is right, the water slides down a slab, launches off a rock, and twirls in a backflip! By the time you reach the top of California Falls, the hardest part of the trail is behind you, and the world shifts. You’ve arrived at Glen Aulin.
Here, the river spreads into calm, turquoise lagoons. Ancient pines cast long shadows over mossy rocks and wildflowers. Small waterfalls crash into pools. Keep your eyes peeled. A bear might stroll quietly through the valley!
As evening falls, your guide leads you to a hidden campsite tucked far from the main trail. A secret waterfall tumbles into our own personal swimming hole next to our tents. You jump in with your fellow hikers, who are now close friends. Reflecting on the last night of your journey, you are grateful that one more magical day awaits.
6 miles +2,100 ft
DAY SIX
Explore Tuolumne Meadows. Say goodbye!
As you follow your guide out of Glen Aulin, the canyon opens into expansive terrain. Tuolumne Falls crashes nearby, sending up a sparkling mist, and the scent of sap fills the air. Now fully out of the canyon, the river becomes rapid, racing over rocks, and you traverse a wild western landscape of dusty red peaks.
Soon, you cross paths with the famed Pacific Crest Trail. You greet hikers striding past, a glimpse into the epic journeys happening all around the Sierra. You hike onward through the flower filled Tuolumne Meadows, the largest high-elevation meadow in the entire range. At Soda Springs, bubbles gurgle from an orange mud pool, and you stop to inspect the strange sight!
Granite domes rise above the trees, signaling that the trailhead is close. Finally, the cars appear in the distance, and you say farewell to the Tuolumne River, your companion for nearly a week.
Exhilarated, and maybe a little exhausted, you arrive back at the trailhead with a heart full of memories and new friends you’ll never forget. What an adventure! We say goodbye, looking forward to a future full of more wild journeys.
9 miles +800 ft
What kind of person is this trip for?
Free spirited people who like having fun, stopping at swimming holes, and getting splashed by waterfalls. If you enjoy working out and challenging yourself, you will also enjoy this trip.
Most guests are active people who like making new friends and spending the day in nature without rushing from place to place. If you like the idea of hiking through a canyon, stopping to swim, and socializing with other hikers, this trip is perfect for you.
How challenging is this trip?
This is a moderate backpacking trip suitable for people who enjoy a physical challenge. Expect to hike up to 9 miles in a day with up to 2,100 feet of elevation gain while carrying a 30-40 lb pack. Some days will be undulating or downhill, while others will have challenging climbs, but we take plenty of breaks to rest and swim along the way.
If you can regularly jog three to four miles, you’ll likely enjoy this trip.
Training is required. You can prepare by hiking 6 miles with 2,000 feet of elevation gain. Jogging, using a stairmaster, or treadmill at high incline is also effective.
What's included?
Accommodations
• 5 nights camping in tents
Yosemite Shuttle
• Scenic shuttle from parking lot to trailhead
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 14-19 fully booked
Sep 1-6 available
Sep 17-22 5 spots 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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