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Backpacking in Yosemite

Yosemite National Park

best done in summer/fall but available yearlong

$$

camping, outdoor-adventures, parks

An amazing adventure you won't forget!!

There are endless trails to consider when backpacking in Yosemite. Just make sure you either reserve your wilderness permit ahead of time or pick up a first-come, first-served permit at one of the permit-issuing stations. Yosemite holds 40 percent of wilderness permits for walks-ups, and that’s how we’ve always scored ours. Just have a back-up trail or two in case your first choice is full. One important consideration for backpacking in Yosemite is the need to fit all food and scented items into a bear canister, so make sure to pack wisely to conserve space. If you don’t own a canister, the permit stations rent them.

May Lake or Glen Aulin make for an awesome first backpacking trip for families, or combine both to make a nice two-night loop. The Yosemite National Park Website has a great planning page for backpacking trips. Another option to consider if you aren’t quite ready to lug all of your gear into the backcountry is Yosemite’s High Sierra Camps. The camps are situated 6-10 miles apart along a loop trail. Instead of hauling your gear in packs, you can travel light with just a day pack. The camps have canvas tents and meals ready for your arrival. You can opt to do guided, unguided, or just meals at the camps. The catch with this fun experience is getting a reservation. You can learn more about the lottery here.

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