John Muir Trail - Florence Lake to Yosemite Valley

Welcome to California! Your adventure begins in Fresno at 4 pm with a welcome meeting to meet your trip leaders and fellow hikers. You’ll review the trail plan, discuss resupply points and go over your gear to make sure you have everything you need before you hit the trails tomorrow. Tonight, get to know your new travel companions with a group dinner at a local restaurant – your leaders know the best spots in town to grab a bite!

It’s time to head into the mountains! Leave the hotel around 4:30 am to drive to Florence Lake, fueling up on breakfast on the way. Your trailhead today is near a prominent lake recognized by many to be the half-way point of the 200+ mi trail, equidistant to Mount Whitney and Yosemite Valley. At the lake, you’ll hop on a boat shuttle into the wilderness and ease into a light day of hiking to get your legs warmed up, make any adjustments to your gear and get ready for the next 12 days of hiking. Along the way, take a break for lunch with the group. Tonight, you’ll celebrate the first night in the mountains with a dinner at camp and a night under the stars.

Fuel up with a hot breakfast, then break down camp and hit the trail. Your hike today leads you past the Sallie Keyes lake, then up to your first major mountain pass – Selden Pass at 10,880 ft. Take some time here to soak in the Sierra mountain scenery – lakes, granite cliffs, towering peaks – and eat your lunch with an epic backdrop. You’ll then drop down from the pass and set up camp near a series of subalpine lakes – feeling brave enough for a refreshing dip?

You’re embarking on a relatively long hike today, but most of it is downhill, so your knees will thank you for the trekking poles. There is one short, but strenuous section today as you climb up to a high ridge before dropping into the Mono Creek Drainage. This area offers views of towering granite peaks, subalpine lakes, meadows and forests. It’s in this drainage that you’ll reach your first resupply point on the journey. After a full day on the trail, drop your pack and settle into the quiet of camp – nothing beats ending the day with a warm meal and a crackling campfire.

The downhill hiking is over for now and today you’ll begin gaining elevation. The uphill hike gains more than 3000 ft in 8 mi, but expect constant, hard-earned views along the way. Your high point is Silver Pass at 10,880 ft, which crosses over the Silver Divide – an aptly named ridge that has a silvery appearance within its massive peaks. You’ll have lunch either on or near the pass, then continue to camp near a clear mountain lake – Chief Lake. Set up camp and settle into another night in the wilderness surrounded by big alpine backdrops, forest and pristine water – swim, anyone?

Start another morning off with a hearty breakfast to fuel your upcoming efforts. Today, you’ll descend from Silver Pass and Chief Lake and follow the clear waters of Silver Creek into a lush, subalpine valley sliced by a winding stream. A short, steep ascent takes you to Virginia Lake, where you’ll break for a picnic lunch and refreshing dip in the snowmelt-fed waters. After lunch, follow the Nuumu Poyo’s rolling ups and downs for several miles and set up camp near Duck Creek – this picturesque spot stands out, even in these incredible mountains.

Take a break from climbing with a mostly downhill hiking day. You’ll arrive at a campground in Red’s Meadow by late afternoon to meet your resupply. There’s a small store and showers, so tonight’s a great chance to clean up and grab some snacks you’ve been craving.

You guessed it – another big hiking day. Today’s hike will take you over a prominent volcanic ridge and drop you into Shadow Lake. You’ll pass Devil’s Postpile National Monument and take some time to appreciate the bizarre and fascinating geological features of the area – columnar basalt walls over 60 ft tall, a massive waterfall that sometimes creates a rainbow in the spray, and the surrounding slopes with a patchwork of lava flows and ash deposits. From Shadow Lake, ascend again to a camp spot along Shadow Creek – a secluded area where your group is likely to have the mountain all to yourselves.

Today is arguably the crown jewel hike of the trip, although you can debate that with the group. Today is known as having some of the most stunning views of the entire Nuumu Poyo. You’ll traverse below the Ritter Range, one of the most dramatic subranges of the Sierra Nevada – you may feel like you’ve been transported to Patagonia with the jagged peaks reflecting in the calm waters. Pass Garnett and Thousand Island Lakes and camp along a creek with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

Your journey has prepared you for today – it's time to tackle the highest point of your trip. Donohue Pass rises at 11,050 ft and will have you trekking through impressive mountain scenery on all sides. After the pass, drop into Yosemite National Park, descending through the heart of the park along the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River. Set up camp on the edge of a meadow in the Lyell Fork canyon surrounded by another pristine lake, tall trees and mountain views. Rest up in the clear mountain air, re-fuel with dinner prepared by your guide and reflect on the day with your new friends – can you believe you were strangers just days ago?

Ease into today’s hike with a mostly flat section at the start, ending at the Tuolumne Meadows Trailhead where you’ll stop for another scenic lunch. You’ll head out through Tuolumne Meadows up to the iconic Cathedral Lakes, where you’ll set up camp. Tonight’s dinner will have quite an impressive backdrop as you watch the last light of sunset reflect off the sheer pinnacles of Cathedral Peak, which stands guard over the lakes.

Say a fond farewell to Cathedral Lakes and to the high country of Sierra Nevada that you’ve been traversing for the past 10 days. As you make your way down the trail, keep an eye out for pack horse trains that commonly travel this route and take in the sweeping views of Tresidder Peak rising to the west, Echo Peaks to the east and Cathedral Peak standing proudly to your south. Set up camp along Sunrise Creek and see how it got its name as you watch the sun set over Yosemite’s most iconic feature – Half Dome. Celebrate your final night in the backcountry with campsite camaraderie and a well-earned sense of pride for what you just accomplished together.

Take your time with a relaxing morning while you break down camp and share your final breakfast in the wilderness. Your hike is mostly downhill and brings you past two of the most dramatic features of Yosemite Valley – Nevada and Vernal Falls. These thundering cascades are the perfect farewell to your time spent in the park. Give your legs a much-needed break as you head back to Fresno, where your adventure comes to an end around 5 pm. If you’d like to extend your stay, just chat with your booking agent beforehand.