I was lucky to grow up with nature-loving parents and spent at least one weekend a month escaping the Arizona suburbs with my family to camp down some dirt road with our old fifth-wheel trailer.
Fast forward 30-some years later and I’m doing more of the same. My husband and I live in the Phoenix metro area and keep up that monthly camping tradition. In between camping and backpacking trips, we hike or mountain bike.
Because I’m usually the one planning our adventures, this summer I wanted a trip that didn’t require me to do any prework; something that allowed us to just show up and have a good time. I heard about the recent REI Co-op and Intrepid Travel partnership, so we decided to try something new and booked a guided hiking trip through Yosemite National Park.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I handed over control of our summer vacation, but it was well worth it. Even as a seasoned adventurer, I learned a lot. Here are my takeaways from my first guided hiking trip.
You don’t have to plan anything
I go on a lot of multiday backpacking trips and camping and road trips, so I know how much work goes into planning something like a week of exploring Yosemite National Park. Researching where to stay and hike, booking accommodations and permits, planning day-to-day activities to maximize your time in the park, figuring out gear, negotiating driving and parking, and investigating where to eat—it’s a lot.
With an organized trip, however, you just have to show up and enjoy the adventure. I didn’t have to worry about trail closures, figure out where to park or spend hours researching the best uncrowded trails. Our guide handled all the logistics.
Guided trips are great for new and seasoned explorers
This trip showed me that guided hiking trips are great for three types of people: those new to hiking, those visiting a bucket-list destination for the first time and those seeking new experiences in a place they already love.
New Hikers
With all the outdoor activities I’ve tried, I’ve learned the best and safest way to start a new outdoor hobby is to go with someone who knows their stuff. This could be a class, like the introduction to mountain biking class I took a couple of years ago.
While I believe hiking is one of the more accessible outdoor activities, it still takes research, prep and knowledge to have a safe and successful outing. Having a guide who teaches you exactly what to pack, how to navigate tough sections of the trail and which local wildlife to watch out for is invaluable—even for someone more seasoned, like me. (If it weren’t for our guide, for example, I wouldn’t have known to look out for the rattlesnakes that live in the High Sierra.)
Bucket List Hikers
Here’s the secret sauce: Exploring with a guide is like exploring with a local. Say you’re a veteran hiker, but you’re planning to visit a bucket list destination like Yosemite National Park for the first time. While researching your visit, you learn Yosemite covers 748,542 acres and has over 800 miles of hiking trails to explore. Then you have to account for the season, the crowds, trail closures and ensure your plan lets you see the iconic view of your dreams. And don’t forget the lodging, food, gas stations, parking and permits.
Instead of wandering around and wondering what to do as your eyes glaze over while looking at the park map, you could book a guided trip.The guides help you get the most out of your adventure while managing all the logistics. All you have to do is show up and enjoy.
Repeat Visitors
Though this wasn’t my first visit to Yosemite, everything I did on this guided trip was a new experience. I hiked several new trails, one of which became a favorite hike. Our itinerary was the perfect mix of group activities and solo downtime, leaving us with lazy afternoons to swim and lounge in the mid-August sun. I even swam in an alpine lake for the first time! We also spent an afternoon on a guided walk led by naturalist Paola Arboleda from the Yosemite Conservancy. Learning about the org’s current conservation efforts and the park’s geology and history deepened my love for and connection to my favorite national park.
Local guides bring the place to life
For the most authentic experience, choose a trip organizer who uses local guides. Intrepid Travel, for example, taps local experts, which made the experience better than I imagined. Not only was our guide, Hannah, a lifelong expert in all things related to outdoor recreation, but she also had deep knowledge and passion for the land we were exploring. She taught us about Yosemite’s history throughout our trip, including the tribes who have occupied and stewarded the land for 5,500 years, such as the Southern Sierra Miwok. We also learned various fun facts about the area’s flora and fauna, as well as insider tips, such as the best roadside fruit stand.
Hannah helped us develop a deeper relationship with a place we’ve visited multiple times, all while managing the trip’s logistics. So impressive.
Making new friends is part of the adventure
If you’re going on a group trip, you will be traveling, sharing meals and adventuring with strangers. From being on a couple of group trips now, I’ve found that guided outings attract people who are adventurous, open-minded and kind.
Our 12-person group immediately clicked. Some of us traveled in pairs; others arrived solo. Our ages ranged from early 30s to retirement age, and our hiking experience spanned from brand-new to “hiking Kilimanjaro next month.” We had four international visitors, and all 12 of us loved exchanging cultural insight and details. My husband and I left with new friends and an invitation to visit Australia!
Going guided was better than I expected
I went into this hiking trip thinking I’d trade freedom for convenience. Instead, I came home with new favorite trails, new friends and a deeper connection to a park I thought I already knew.
Whether you’re new to hiking, checking off a bucket-list destination or returning to a place you already love, a guided trip is worth considering—even if you’ve been planning your own adventures for years. REI Co-op and Intrepid Travel offer trips across the U.S. and around the world. The hardest part will be picking just one!
The author and her husband traveled to Yosemite National Park as guests of REI Co-op and Intrepid Travel.