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A five-day guided traverse that links Cathedral Lakes, Clouds Rest, Half Dome via the cables, and a Mist Trail descent past Nevada and Vernal Falls. Small groups, included permits, and pro guides make this the efficient way to experience Yosemite’s signature high-country highlights.
A five-day guided traverse that links Cathedral Lakes, Clouds Rest, Half Dome via the cables, and a Mist Trail descent past Nevada and Vernal Falls. Small groups, included permits, and pro guides make this the efficient way to experience Yosemite’s signature high-country highlights.
Book with Discovery Treks
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Discovery Treks · Scottsdale, Arizona
Yosemite National Park, California — a five-day traverse from Cathedral Lakes to Half Dome compresses the park’s high-country drama into an intense, earned finale. Offered by discoverytreks and meeting at Yosemite National Park, this guided backpacking trip threads alpine basins, granite ridgelines, and thunderous waterfalls into a single route that rewards effort with the park’s most famous viewpoints. You’ll begin at Lower Cathedral Lake beneath the pointed granite of Cathedral Peak, swim in clear water, and carry loads into the high country. Days two and three climb toward Clouds Rest, a narrow ridgeline offering 360-degree panoramas of Yosemite’s domes and valleys. The Half Dome summit comes via the cables route at dawn, an exposed but protected ascent that ends on the rounded slab of granite everyone recognizes. The return follows the John Muir Trail and Mist Trail past Vernal and Nevada Falls, where spray and thunder bookend the descent into Yosemite Valley beneath El Capitan. Over roughly 27–30 miles and about 8,000 feet of combined elevation gain and loss, this route is appropriately demanding: expect long days, route-finding over talus and slick granite, and the physical logistics of multi-day backpacking. discoverytreks includes permits, wilderness-certified guides, group camping gear, bear canisters, and meals from breakfast day one through the final morning. Small groups (max 8) keep the pace personal and allow guides to manage campsites like Little Yosemite Valley and high alpine bivouacs. Why book this traverse? It strings together Yosemite’s geological highs: the glacially polished granite of Cathedral Peak and Half Dome, the knife-edge ridge of Clouds Rest, and the water-carved amphitheaters of Vernal and Nevada Falls. Wildflowers and subalpine conifers color meadows in season; marmots and Clark’s nutcrackers are common high-country companions. Because permits, bear canisters, and a Half Dome permit are required, guided groups remove logistical friction so you can focus on moving well and photographing the light from sunrise on the cables. This trip is an efficient, responsibly run way to experience Yosemite’s backbone in a single, celebrated push. Plan logistics: meeting point is Yosemite National Park; travel time from Fresno or Merced is significant—book lodging the night before. The trip runs seasonally with limited dates; check availability through the booking link. Recommended experience includes prior overnight backpacking, solid cardio, and familiarity with exposure; staff handle route permits and bear-aware food storage. Leave no trace practices are enforced: pack out everything, use established fire regulations, and store food in provided bear canisters. Whether you crave a technical summit via the cables, alpine swims at Lower Cathedral Lake, or the thunder of Mist Trail waterfalls below, this five-day traverse delivers Yosemite’s most iconic moments in a curated, guide-led package. Reserve early; group size is small and spots sell out fast each season.
challenging.
5 days.
Good aerobic base with experience carrying a loaded pack is required; expect long mileage days and elevation changes.
Guided trips handle and secure required permits; participants must follow permit rules and carry identification.
This trip is challenging: participants should have prior overnight backpacking experience and be comfortable with long mileage and elevation.
Yes, Lower Cathedral Lake is commonly used for quick swims; water is cold even in summer—take care and dry quickly.
The operator supplies pro-quality tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags (depending on booking), backpacks, trekking poles, cooking gear, meals, and bear canisters as listed on the booking page.
Groups are limited to a max of 8 guests to keep the experience personal and manageable for guides.
Cancellation terms vary by date; check the booking link for specific policies and blackout dates for sale pricing.
Yosemite National Park was established in 1890; these routes follow trails shaped by glacial carving and decades of mountaineering history.
Guides enforce Leave No Trace, use bear canisters, and limit group sizes to reduce impact on fragile alpine zones.
Discovery Treks specializes in guided hiking and backpacking trips across iconic U.S. national parks and coastal routes. The company coordinates experiences that range from day hikes to multi-day backpacking tours, including focused itineraries for the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Olympic Coast, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Grand Teton. Discovery Treks offers specific pre-permit lottery reservation services for Grand Canyon backpacking and Rim to Rim departures, allowing hikers to apply through the permit lottery process and adjust group details before application deadlines. Several listed departures include explicit pre-permit reservation language, and some trips note flexible booking without an upfront deposit during the pre-permit phase. Signature itineraries include Classic Hike to the River, a 3- or 4-day Grand Canyon hike with camping at Phantom Ranch, Rim to Rim options in both camping and priority/tour formats, Half Dome hikes and express options, and multi-park inn-based tours such as Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef. Day hikes, overnight treks, and extended tours are represented across the calendar. All trip descriptions and reservations appear under the Discovery Treks listing on The Adventure Collective. Booking details, permit application options, trip duration, and specific route information are provided per individual trip listing. Prospective hikers should review each itinerary description for exact logistics, permits, and current availability. Safety information, packing lists, fitness requirements, and seasonal guidance are included with each trip listing so participants can prepare appropriately and confirm specifics such as meeting locations, gear recommendations, and required permits before booking.
Book with Discovery Treks