Yosemite National Park
An adventurous journey with 10+ mile hikes
Ideal for first-timers
Trek into the wilderness and sleep in the backcountry
Trip · 3-day backpacking trip
For · Friends and beginner backpackers
Vibe · Challenging and hard
Distance · 11.8 miles round-trip with 2,959 feet of elevation gain
Permits · Yep! Reserve a $15 Ten Lakes wilderness permit at least a week at 7 am PDT before your trip. Additional campers are $5 each.
Drive · 4 hours from SF
Ideal dates · July to September (after the snow melts!)
Pets · Not allowed on trails
Yosemite National Park (YNP) is one of California's crown natural gems, featuring 750,000+ acres, 800+ hiking trails, and nearly 95% of the park designated as wilderness. From Yosemite Valley to Half Dome, the park draws about four million visitors a year(!) and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1984. You'll encounter crowds and occasionally bears in YNP, but you'll never leave disappointed.
Official National Park Website
Main image credit: Hike Arizona
The word "Yosemite" means killer in Miwok, and is the name the Miwok gave to the Awahneechee people, who were driven out of Yosemite Valley by the Mariposa Battalion.
President Roosevelt's visit to Yosemite in 1903 inspired him to sign inspired him to establish five national parks, 18 national monuments, 55 national bird sanctuaries and wildlife refuges, and 150 national forests.
There are about 40 species within Yosemite that are protected under California's endangered species law
This was GCI's first rocker and it remains their most popular. It's easy to open and close, and comes with a handle to carry around.
Shared Gear
A dreamy, colorful sweater to sport around camp and on chillier day hikes.
Clothes
Light as a feather and versatile enough to use for running, camping, and other nighttime activities.
Essential Items
Imagine a sleeping pad, bag, and blanket all in one. It takes some getting used to, but people love it.
Essential Items
It's not the lightest cot available, but it's comfortable, easy to set up, and break down.
Essential Items
Sturdy, reliable, well-designed, and more expensive than most camp chairs, but it'll last for awhile.
Shared Gear
They're expensive, but you can lean on these bad boys for river crossings and navigating all kinds of terrain.
Essential Items
This mineral-based sunscreen is good for the envrionment and your skin. It's water resistant too.
Personal Stuff
When a campground is short of sinks, bring your own. Clean your dirty dishes in this expandable bin.
Kitchen
This backpacking stove weighs a couple of ounces and has a built-in igniter. It stands out in windy weather.
Kitchen
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.
