Yosemite Hiking Tour – Taft Point, Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point
Taft Point, with Yosemite Valley below, and El Capitan to the right.
Fresno,Madera, Merced [Total tour time: 10 hours].
Yosemite Hiking Tour – $229/adult, $199/senior over 60, and $129/child under 12 (2 adult minimum required).
Yosemite Hiking Tour – Taft Pt, Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point from Fresno
Oakhurst, Mariposa, Bass Lake, Coarsegold [Total tour time: 9 hours].
Yosemite Hiking Tour – $199/adult, $169/senior over 60, and $109/child under 12 (2 adult minimum required).
Yosemite Hiking Tour – Taft Pt, Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point from Oakhurst
Fish Camp, Tenaya Lodge [Total tour time: 8 hours].
Yosemite Hiking Tour – $179/adult, $149/senior over 60, and $99/child under 12 (2 adult minimum required).
Yosemite Hiking Tour – Taft Pt, Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point from Fish Camp
Enjoy Yosemite Valley from the South Rim!! Hike a portion of the Pohono Trail, looking down more than 3000 feet at Yosemite Valley. Across Yosemite Valley, you will have wonderful views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, Clouds Rest, and the Yosemite High Country. You will be dropped off at the Taft Point/Sentinel Dome trail head that leads to Taft Point (7500 feet), then climbing Sentinel Dome (elevation 8123 feet), and ending at Glacier Point (7214 feet). The total distance of the hike is approximately 5 miles and will take 3-5 hours. Enjoy the peaceful quiet scenery without the Yosemite Valley crowds. A minimum of 5 people are required to operate the tour.
We will 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 will hike to the left towards Taft Point (see picture above), which overlooks Yosemite Valley. There are giant fissures or cracks in the granite, and you will be able to 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.
On top of Sentinel Dome with El Capitan and the Merced River Canyon in the background
You will then return to the trailhead to begin your ascent to Sentinel Dome. The trail joins an old road to the base of Sentinel Dome. You will walk up a short steep incline to the top of the Dome, viewing 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 Tree that Ansel Adams photographed. Unfortunately, the tree suffered from the drought of 1976, and fell in 2003.
You will now begin your descent to Glacier Point. Your hike takes you through beautiful forests, with constant high Sierra views of Yosemite. Glacier Point area is a major destination, which has an amphitheater, snack bar, gift shop, and restrooms. The main viewpoint looks directly across to Half Dome, and with binoculars, you can see the hikers who have climbed this world famous dome. You can look straight down to Curry Village and all the activity in Yosemite Valley.
The tour includes transportation to the trailhead and pick up at Glacier Point. The tour is flexible depending on the 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 availabilities allow, the guide/driver may also accompany the guests to Sentinel Dome after reparking the car. The guests will 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.
At Glacier Point, with Half Dome in the background.
If you prefer to have a private guide to 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.