Hiking day · 8–10h depending on pickup
Yosemite Hiking Tour — Taft Point, Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point
The South Rim on foot. Five miles of the Pohono Trail, 3,000 feet above the Valley, away from the crowds.
From Fish Camp / Tenaya Lodge (8h) — $179/adult, $149/senior 60+, $99/child under 12. From Oakhurst, Mariposa, Bass Lake, Coarsegold (9h) — $199/$169/$109. From Fresno, Madera, Merced (10h) — $229/$199/$129. Two-adult minimum. Add a private guide for the entire trail for $475.
A guided point-to-point hike along Yosemite's South Rim. We drop you at the Taft Point / Sentinel Dome trailhead on Glacier Point Road, and you hike to Taft Point (7,500 ft), up Sentinel Dome (8,123 ft), and down to Glacier Point (7,214 ft) — about 5 miles, 3–5 hours — with the whole Valley laid out below.
What's included
- Transportation to the trailhead and pickup at Glacier Point
- Local guide/driver
- Flexible trail support
Not included
- Lunch and snacks (bring your own)
- A dedicated all-trail private guide (available for $475)
- Park entry fee for non-U.S. residents — $100 per person, paid in cash to your guide
Pickup locations
- Fish Camp / Tenaya Lodge (8h day)
- Oakhurst, Mariposa, Bass Lake, Coarsegold (9h day)
- Fresno, Madera, Merced (10h day)
Itinerary
Where we'll be, and when.
- 01
Hotel pickup
We pick you up and drive to the Sentinel Dome / Taft Point trailhead on Glacier Point Road (typically open summer and early fall). Restrooms at the trailhead.
- 02
Taft Point (7,500 ft)
Hike toward Taft Point, which overlooks Yosemite Valley with giant fissures in the granite — straight down to the Valley floor. Named for the 27th US President William Taft, who visited with John Muir in 1909.
- 03
Sentinel Dome (8,123 ft)
A short steep climb to a 360-degree panorama — Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Vernal and Nevada Falls, Clouds Rest, the High Country, and the Merced River Canyon. Home of the Jeffrey Pine that Ansel Adams photographed (fell in 2003).
- 04
Glacier Point (7,214 ft)
Descend through forest with constant high-Sierra views to Glacier Point — amphitheater, snack bar, gift shop, restrooms, and the famous look across to Half Dome. Meet your driver at the Amphitheater.
Yosemite Valley from the South Rim
Enjoy Yosemite Valley from the South Rim. Hike a portion of the Pohono Trail, looking down more than 3,000 feet at Yosemite Valley. Across the Valley you’ll have wonderful views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, Clouds Rest, and the Yosemite High Country. We drop you off at the Taft Point / Sentinel Dome trailhead, leading to Taft Point (7,500 ft), then climbing Sentinel Dome (8,123 ft), and ending at Glacier Point (7,214 ft). The total distance is approximately 5 miles and takes 3–5 hours. Enjoy the peaceful, quiet scenery without the Yosemite Valley crowds.
Taft Point
We pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the Sentinel Dome / Taft Point trailhead along the Glacier Point Road. This road is typically open during the summer and early fall. Restroom facilities are available here. You hike to the left toward Taft Point, which overlooks Yosemite Valley. There are giant fissures, or cracks, in the granite, and you can see straight down to the Valley floor. The area is named after the 27th US President William Taft, who visited with John Muir in 1909.
Sentinel Dome
You then return to the trailhead to begin your ascent to Sentinel Dome. The trail joins an old road to the base of the Dome; a short steep incline brings you to the top and a 360-degree panorama of Yosemite National Park. The Dome looks across to Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls, Clouds Rest, the Yosemite High Country, and the Merced River Canyon. Sentinel Dome is known for the famous Jeffrey Pine that Ansel Adams photographed. The tree suffered from the drought of 1976 and fell in 2003.
Glacier Point
You now begin your descent to Glacier Point. The hike takes you through beautiful forests with constant high-Sierra views of Yosemite. The Glacier Point area is a major destination, with an amphitheater, snack bar, gift shop, and restrooms. The main viewpoint looks directly across to Half Dome — with binoculars you can see hikers who have climbed the world-famous dome — and straight down to Curry Village and the activity in Yosemite Valley.
How the guiding works
The tour includes transportation to the trailhead and pickup at Glacier Point. The tour is flexible depending on guests’ preferences. The guide/driver may hike with you to and from Taft Point, then drive the car to meet up with you at Sentinel Dome or Glacier Point. If parking availability allows, the guide/driver may also accompany guests to Sentinel Dome after re-parking the car. Guests then make their way down to Glacier Point and meet up with the driver at the Amphitheater. We recommend that you bring a hat, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, a jacket, extra water, and snacks.
If you prefer to have a private guide hike the entire trail with you, a second guide will be assigned for an additional cost of $475. You can choose this as an option when you book the tour online.
Our guides
Our guides are all local and going to Yosemite is their passion. Each one brings their own personal experiences, stories, and secret spots to share with you. They are delighted to meet you and wish to show you why this area of the world is a very special place.
From the road
A few looks at this trip.
Questions we hear a lot
FAQ.
- How long and how hard is the hike?
- About 5 miles, taking 3–5 hours. You climb to Taft Point, up Sentinel Dome, then descend to Glacier Point. It's a real hike at elevation — bring a hat, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, a jacket, extra water, and snacks.
- Does the guide hike with us?
- The tour is flexible. Your guide/driver may hike with you to and from Taft Point, then drive to meet you at Sentinel Dome or Glacier Point. If parking allows, the guide may also accompany you to Sentinel Dome after re-parking. If you'd prefer a private guide for the entire trail, a second guide can be assigned for $475 — selectable when you book.
- Where do you pick up, and how long is the day?
- Fish Camp / Tenaya Lodge is an 8-hour day, Oakhurst-area is 9 hours, and Fresno-area is 10 hours. Pricing varies by pickup location.
- Is there a minimum group size?
- Yes — a two-adult minimum is required to operate the tour.
- What will I see along the way?
- A portion of the Pohono Trail looking down more than 3,000 feet at Yosemite Valley, with views across to Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, Clouds Rest, and the Yosemite High Country — the peaceful, quiet scenery away from the Valley crowds.
- I'm not a U.S. resident — is there an extra park fee?
- Yes. The national park charges non-U.S. residents a $100-per-person entry fee that is not included in any tour price. Please bring it in cash — your guide collects it at the start of the tour. Guests without the fee cannot enter the park, and the tour might be canceled without refund.