Overview
Available languages
4 days
Mobile ticket
Our 4-day Half Dome guided backpacking tours are specially designed to make your journey to the summit as spectacular as possible! This guided tour kicks off in Yosemite Valley. From there we’ll hit the trail and guests will hike and camp alongside fabled waters like Sunrise Lakes or the Merced River. Our expert guides make your experience 5-star with delicious camp-cooked cuisine and comfort provisions around camp, while on-trail pointing out the lesser-known factual gems that surround you. The magic climaxes either on the final evening or the final morning, when you’ll climb the cables up Half Dome’s summit for a truly spectacular sunrise or sunset.
As the calendar is confusing:
2026 Dates are:
5/29-6/1
6/7-6/10
6/21-6/24
7/3-7/6
7/13-7/16
7/24-7/27
8/6-8/9
8/21-8/24
9/5-9/8
9/20-6/23
10/2-10/5
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
2026 Dates: 5/29-6/1, 6/7-6/10, 6/21-6/24, 7/3-7/6, 7/13-7/16, 7/24-7/27, 8/6-8/9, 8/21-8/24, 9/5-9/8, 9/20-6/23, 10/2-10/5
What To Expect
Meeting Day
Accommodations
Overnight at the Yosemite Valley Backpackers Campground
Food and Drinks
DINNER
Dinner
Yosemite Valley
Meet your guide in Half Dome Village at 3:00 PM. Get acquainted with the group and with gear. If time allows before dinner, visit some of the Valley’s walkable destinations. Grab dinner at one of park’s numerous restaurants. (Food is not provided while in the front-country.) End the day by camping in the Yosemite Valley Backpacker’s Camp.
Happy Isles -OR- Sunrise Lakes -OR- Mono Meadow
Accommodations
Camping (tents) in Little Yosemite Valley -OR- Sunrise Lakes -OR- Illilouette Creek
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Yosemite National Park
Set out via the Happy Isles trailhead for a 4-mile hike up the Mist Trail. Soak in the rainbows and scenery as you hike past the pluming basin of Vernal Fall, where you’ll experience the trail’s namesake up close and personal (note: you will get wet!) Continue hiking to the top of Nevada Fall, with a breathtaking view of Yosemite Valley, before hiking the remaining mile to your campsite at Little Yosemite Valley. Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 4.5 mi / -300′, +2,440′ -OR- Catch your first glimpse of the high country while refreshing yourself in the stunning waters of Tenaya Lake (8,150′). After a 4.2-mile hike up the Sunrise Trail with portions of strenuous uphill, you’ll be rewarded with jaw-dropping views of Half Dome and Tenaya Canyon, and one of our favorite campsites in Yosemite on the shore of Sunrise Lake (9,166′)! Enjoy the sunset while playing and fishing in one of our guides’ favorite high country destinations. Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 4.2 mi / +1,616′, -,500′
Little Yosemite Valley -OR- Sunrise Creek
Accommodations
Camping (tents) in Little Yosemite Valley -OR- Sunrise Creek
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Yosemite National Park
Wake at a leisurely hour and enjoy a restful day of relaxing and exploring the Merced River Canyon. You pick the itinerary this morning. Sunbathing, hiking, fishing, and birding are all fair game, or set out for a mini-adventure before communing at camp for lunch and preparing for your Half Dome ascent! Today’s Mileage/Elevation (not including Half Dome): Varies -OR- After a hearty breakfast hike approximately 3.5 miles to the summit of Clouds Rest at 9,926′. Enjoy lunch at the top while soaking in panoramic views of Yosemite’s wilderness. From the summit, hike down 5 miles to Sunrise Creek for the final night of camping. Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 7.3 mi / +800′, -2,800′
Half Dome
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
Optional. Many customers choose to purchase food in the valley instead.
Half Dome
Half Dome Half Dome will be completed either in the afternoon on Day 3 to catch the sunset, or the following morning with an alpine start to catch the sunrise. This is a strenuous uphill of 3.5 miles to the summit at 8,836′. Roundtrip mileage: 7.0 Day 4 We will descend to the Yosemite Valley Floor (4,000′) via the Mist Trail which parallels the Merced River and both Nevada and Vernal Falls. Total mileage: 4.5 Typically, our goal is to finish between 2-4 PM.
Options
4-Day Half Dome Backpacking Adventure
What‘s Included
Entry into Yosemite National Park
Guide Gratuities
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
Reviews
64 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
100% Recommend going with Lasting Adventures for Half Dome 4 Day trip
MikeS-Seattle,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We did the 4 day half dome trip and it totally exceeded our expectations. We usually prefer to take a DYI approach to travel but decided to go with Lasting Adventures in order to simplify the logistics of the trip, especially permitting for both the climb and camping. Super glad we did - we got so much more out of the trip than if we'd done it ourselves. Our guides, Maggie and Haley, were exactly what you hope for in guides - capable, competent, enthusiastic and really good at creating a supportive team environment across a disparate group of people. The pacing of the trip and variety of exposure to the park was also excellent. Overall, It was a blast and we have already recommended this trip (and these guides) to our friends.
Half Dome Backpacking
847gerganag,Jun 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My backpacking trip with Lasting Adventures was absolutely amazing! Absolutely perfect planning. Our guides Hailey and Maggie made sure to reach us the day before our trip to confirm everything was OK. Thay met us on day one and had even set our camp! Meals were delicious and nutritious, the gear provided was high quality and the hike routs were well planned. Our guides gave us guidance and support all the way through, made sure everyone felt comfortable. Unfortunately we had an emergency, but they handled it so professionally. We summited Half Dome successfully and even enjoyed dinner on top! Absolutely recommend this experience, couldn't express enough how much I enjoyed it!
Know your abilities, don’t slow down a group
pauldB4886KE,Jun 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I swim 3 miles a day and hike 5miles a day 6x a week in Chicagoland, so I had no problem with a 30-40lb pack, 10 mile days, averaging over 2mph with 3000 ft elevation gain. Please be in shape for the rest of the group. Please realize this is not a stroll over nice paved or crushed limestone forest preserve trails. Creek crossing with water to your knees, and 5-15 miles a day over rugged terrain, plus vertical steepness of half dome. So our two guides split, one took 1/3rd of the group out for saftey/medical, the other guide took the rest of us to Half Dome….private sunset dinner at the top! I’m 48, 200lbs and was the 2nd youngest of us that finished the trip, so age is no limit if you are in shape. A little more isolation at camp would have been nice, as two nights were in official campgrounds and only one was in the back country. Food was amazing, tortellini with pesto sauce, olives, shredded parm, olives, and turkey sausage at sunset at the top of half dome! We did 26 miles in 3 days, 5-14-7….wouldn’t call it hard as the guide “forced” shade and water/snack breaks more often than I personally needed, but others in the group definitely needed them.
happy
gamersg2026,May 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00very good experience and activity with friends and family
4-Day Half-Dome Backpacking. AMAZING!
jayeD968QC,Oct 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An AMAZING trip. Well organized, professional and kind. Highly recommend. From their detailed pre-trip planning, to the knowledgeable and kind guide (Dyson) this trip was FAR BETTER than I ever could have imagined. All around fantastic organization and experience.
Freedom to Immerse Ourselves in Nature
alissab934,Oct 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We loved our experience with Lasting Adventures! Our guides were top notch! Their expert guidance freed us from all logistical stress and allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the majestic beauty of Yosemite. We saw so much in such a short time. The double rainbow after a light rainfall was particularly beautiful. Our guides went above and beyond to make sure everyone was comfortable and well-fed. We all appreciated their endless patience and deep knowledge of Yosemite — it made the experience truly unforgettable. We’re so grateful for all the care and attention they put into every detail and for all they did to make our Yosemite dreams come true. Additionally, many in our group utilized Lasting Adventure's gear and all were extremely happy with everything including backpacks, trekking poles, sleeping bags, tents, etc.
Awesome Experience
X6204EXseanc,Sep 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an incredible inspiring experience on this trip. The guides, Chloe and Isaac, did an excellent job explaining, leading, educating, cooking, encouraging (especially going up the cables), and even nursing a minor wound. And they were fun to hike with. Everything was planned out and executed well. The food was plentiful and delicious, given that we were on the trail and carrying supplies. No complaints about the equipment. Half Dome at Sunset was a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Fantastic Half Dome trip
turf16,Sep 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We did the 4 day Lasting Adventures backpack trip to Half Dome and were impressed with everything from the detailed packing list to the bucket list summit of Half Dome at sunset on day 3 to the great meals and information provided throughout by our amazing guide Dyson. Highly recommend!
Must do hike!
Jean C,Jun 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Maggie and Alex were great guides, very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Their cooking and recipe choices were varied and tasty. I utilized all Lasting Adventures’ equipment which was nearly new and top notch. The Glacier Point to Half Dome was a trip I won’t forget!
Awesome Experience!
davidbE1530ZX,Jun 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a great time doing the Glacier Point to Half Dome trek. The guides (Maggie and Alex) were excellent; knowledgeable, well prepared and great cooks! Highly recommended for solo travellers.
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