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Highlights
Take a retreat into the Sierra Nevada wilderness on this 4-day backpacking tour
Immerse in nature: stargaze at night and wake up to sunrise over the lake.
Summit Madera Peak (3,203 m / 10,509 ft) for insane views of the lakes below.
Set up base camp for two nights next to Upper Jackass Lake, a glassy alpine pool.
Follow your guide off-trail for some unique vantage points.
For adventurers looking for a beginner-friendly but highly rewarding trekking tour, this journey through the Sierra Nevada is for you. Spend the first night in a lakeside resort at nature’s doorstep, then venture into the wilderness for the rest of the 4-day tour. Pack your backpack and follow your guide through trails replete with pine trees, streams, waterfalls, and alpine meadows until reaching your high-mountain lakeside campsite where you’ll stay for two nights. Hiking options are available on Day 3: relax by the lake, take a short walk, or choose to summit the nearby 3,200-metre Madera Peak. Treat yourself to a long-weekend getaway in the absolutely breathtaking Ansel Adams Wilderness in the Sierra Nevada.
For adventurers looking for a beginner-friendly but highly rewarding trekking tour, this journey through the Sierra Nevada is for you. Spend the first night in a lakeside resort at nature’s doorstep, then venture into the wilderness for the rest of the 4-day tour. Pack your backpack and follow your guide through trails replete with pine trees, streams, waterfalls, and alpine meadows until reaching your high-mountain lakeside campsite where you’ll stay for two nights. Hiking options are available on Day 3: relax by the lake, take a short walk, or choose to summit the nearby 3,200-metre Madera Peak. Treat yourself to a long-weekend getaway in the absolutely breathtaking Ansel Adams Wilderness in the Sierra Nevada.
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Backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Bass Lake
Welcome to California! Make your own way to Bass Lake to check-in to the hotel any time between 4pm and 6pm. Meet your guide in the lobby at 6pm for a quick discussion about the days ahead. Pick from one of many local restaurants for a hearty dinner, then get some sleep to prepare for hiking tomorrow.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bass Lake
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Hike to Jackass Lakes
After finding a yummy breakfast in the village, make your way to the trailhead about an hour away by car. The hike begins in the gorgeous area of the Ansel Adams Wilderness, and leads you to Upper Jackass Lake. Set up camp here and spend the afternoon and evening exploring, swimming, or relaxing until it’s time for dinner served up by your guide. This base camp is a fantastic spot for stargazing, so don’t forget to look up before crawling into your tent for the night.
Overnight Location: Camping
Distance: 3.4 mi, 1966 ft of ascent, 401 ft of descent
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Explore Area + Optional Peak Summit
Your guides will prepare breakfast along with hot tea or coffee and discuss the hiking options for the day. Several routes start from this lakeside campsite; it depends how far you want to venture. Options include Burro Notch, Madera Peak, or touring around the lake basin. Or you can relax for the day. Return to camp for dinner and another night under the stars.
Overnight Location: Camping
Distance: 1-6 mi (distance and elevation varies depending on route)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Return to Bass Lake + Farewell
Wake up early and catch the sunrise before having breakfast and packing up camp. Hike out the way you came in and arrive at Bass Lake in the early afternoon. Say goodbye to your hiking crew and make your way onto the next leg of your adventure in the Sierra Nevada.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 3.4 mi, 1966 ft of ascent, 500 ft of descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Tour Price and Dates
This guided tour in the Sierra Nevada is always run as a fixed-departure tour where you would be joining a group, therefore the price is fixed and only depends on the number of people sharing the room or a tent.The prices below are per person:
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Finish
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Spaces Left
Price
Accommodation on the Backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Tour
The hotel on this trip is 3-star. You will also camp in the wilderness for 2 nights in a high-quality tent with gear like sleeping bags and pads provided. Rooms are double occupancy, and single travelers will pay a supplement.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement of USD240 to have a private room in a hotel while traveling with a group. We can match the single travellers up, however, in case there aren’t any matches, you’ll have to pay a supplement of USD120.
What’s included in the Backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Tour?
Meals
2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodation for 3 nights (1 night at Pines Resort and 2 nights of wilderness camping) is included in the tour.
Transportation during the Tour
You are responsible for your own transportation to the hotel, and to and from the trailhead.
Also Included
- English-speaking guide services
- Group gear: stove, cookware, water filters, first aid kit
- Personal gear available: backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, trekking poles
- Tent
- Backcountry camping permits
- Trail snacks
Not included
- Transportation to and from trailhead and hotel
- Personal expenses + gratuities (recommended 10-20% for excellent service)
- Trip insurance
- Flights
- Voluntary or involuntary evacuations
- Anything not mentioned as “Included”
Optional Extras
- Extra nights in Bass Lake
- How hard is the Backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to the United States?
- Are meals included on the Backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Bass Lake to start this tour?
- How big is the group for this tour?
- Is the 4-Day Backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Tour in English?
- Where does the Backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to the United States?
- Are there any travel restrictions for the United States?
- When is the best time to travel to California for this tour?
We rate this tour as a 2 / 5. This tour is beginner-friendly; however, you should be comfortable hiking on moderate elevation gain and up to 10 km.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.
You can reach Bass Lake by car from Fresno Airport (1.25 hours), San Francisco Airport (3.5 hours), or Los Angeles Airport (4.5 hours).
The group consists of max 12 people.
Yes, the tour guide is English-speaking.
The tour ends where it starts, in Bass Lake, California.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to travel to California for trekking is during the summer. This tour is available in August.
Customer Ratings
SYMG was started in 1991 by three friends offering hiking trips into California’s mountains in hopes of more closely meshing lifestyle with work. The combination proved successful and SYMG has become a leader in the active travel and mountain guiding world, providing carefully planned and executed trips in the most spectacular wilderness areas of California and beyond. Now, 30 years later, we’ve shown thousands of people the beauty of Yosemite and the High Sierra and have been named one of the “Best Outfitters on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure Magazine.
