Self-Launched Hiking in Yosemite National Park
6 days · Yosemite National Park & San Francisco, USA
Intrepid Travel charges £2,490
No-markup version: ~£712 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 6-day independent version of Intrepid's guided Yosemite hiking trip — same trailheads, same giant sequoias, same waterfalls, done on your own schedule. Base yourself in San Francisco for a night, then take the YARTS public bus into Yosemite Valley and stay in tent cabins or the walk-in backpackers' camp, hiking Tuolumne Grove, the Mist Trail and the Taft Point–Sentinel Dome loop with self-booked permits. Everything here is approximate, based on 2026 budget traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive San Francisco — Haight Street & the waterfront
San Francisco
Land in San Francisco and check into a hostel in the Downtown/Fisherman's Wharf area. Spend the afternoon doing Intrepid's Day 1 optional activities at your own pace: browse the vintage shops along Haight Street (Muni bus 7 or 33 from downtown, ~£2.20 per ride), then take the historic F-line heritage tram to the waterfront. If you want the Alcatraz angle without the £35+ official tour ticket, the Blue & Gold Fleet 60-minute bay cruise (~£28, book via GetYourGuide or at Pier 39) passes close to the island. Stock up on trail snacks and a refillable water bottle — Yosemite Valley has refill stations but no cheap shops. Eat dinner in Chinatown for £10-12.
🚌BART from SFO to downtown ~£8; Muni day pass ~£5
🛏HI San Francisco Downtown or similar hostel dorm, ~£38/night
- →Haight Street vintage shopping
- →F-line heritage tram to the waterfront
- →San Francisco Bay cruise past Alcatraz (optional, ~£28)
- →Chinatown dinner
Public bus to Yosemite — Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias
Yosemite National Park
Skip the private van: take the YARTS Highway 140 bus from San Francisco (Amtrak Thruway connection to Merced, then YARTS) or the cheaper option — Amtrak San Joaquins to Merced (~£22) then YARTS into Yosemite Valley (~£8, or free with an America the Beautiful annual pass). Total journey 6-7 hours; leave early. Drop bags at your tent cabin or at Camp 4 / Housekeeping Camp walk-in site, then drive or shuttle to Tuolumne Grove for the 4 km round-trip downhill hike through giant sequoias, including the tunnel tree walk. Important: entry to Yosemite now requires a peak-hours reservation (recreation.gov, ~£2 processing fee) on weekends and holidays from spring to autumn — book it the moment dates open. Overnight in the valley.
🚌Amtrak to Merced ~£22 + YARTS ~£8; valley shuttle buses free
🛏Curry Village tent cabin (shared, ~£45/night) or Housekeeping Camp / Camp 4 walk-in (~£12)
- →YARTS scenic bus into the park
- →Tuolumne Grove giant sequoia hike (4 km, ~1.5 hrs)
- →Optional half-day bike rental in Yosemite Valley (~£23)
Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Fall
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
The signature hike, and you can start it whenever you like — no group pace. Take the free valley shuttle to Happy Isles trailhead and walk the Mist Trail: footbridge to Vernal Fall, then the steep granite steps to the top of Vernal (2.4 km, 300 m gain), continuing to Nevada Fall for the full 11 km round trip with ~580 m of elevation. It is genuinely strenuous at 1,200-1,700 m altitude, so turn back at the Vernal footbridge or the top of Vernal if you're flagging — there's no guide to wait for. Bring 2-3 litres of water (refill at Happy Isles), lunch, and a rain shell; the Mist Trail lives up to its name in late spring and early summer. Evening: swim or lounge by the Merced River and cook dinner at camp.
🚌Free Yosemite Valley shuttle
🛏Curry Village tent cabin or Camp 4 walk-in
- →Mist Trail hike to Vernal Fall (4.8 km) or Nevada Fall (11 km) — free, no permit needed
- →Merced River swim
- →Stargazing in the valley
Taft Point to Sentinel Dome loop
Glacier Point Road, Yosemite National Park
Head up to Glacier Point Road (check current status — it's seasonal and sometimes closed for repairs; the YARTS Glacier Point service or the fee-based valley shuttle tour both work as alternatives if you don't have a car). From the trailhead, hike the Taft Point–Sentinel Dome loop: 11 km, ~500 m gain, with Taft Point's jaw-dropping 900 m sheer drop over the valley and Sentinel Dome's 360° views of Half Dome, El Capitan and the Cathedral Rocks. It's a much quieter trail than the Mist Trail. Afternoon: drive or shuttle down to Tunnel View for the classic photo, and refill supplies at Yosemite Village store. Cook in camp or grab a pizza at Curry Village (~£14).
🚌Shared valley shuttle / fee-based Glacier Point tour ~£20
🛏Curry Village tent cabin or Camp 4 walk-in
- →Taft Point & Sentinel Dome loop (11 km)
- →Tunnel View photo stop
- →El Capitan meadow viewing
Ahwahnee Lodge, valley walk & museum
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
A gentler day. Visit The Ahwahnee — the 1927 historic lodge — for a look at the Great Lounge and (if budget allows) coffee or a drink in the bar; no reservation needed to wander the public areas. Walk the flat 2 km Cook's Meadow / Yosemite Falls loop for valley-floor views, spend an hour at the Yosemite Museum and Indian Village of Ahwahnee (free, donation suggested), and tackle a shorter river trail or Mirror Lake (3 km round trip) in the afternoon. Self-guided ranger programs run most evenings at the village amphitheatre for free. Pack up tonight for an early departure.
🚌Free valley shuttle
🛏Curry Village tent cabin or Camp 4 walk-in
- →The Ahwahnee historic lodge visit
- →Cook's Meadow & Yosemite Falls loop
- →Yosemite Museum & Indian Village (free)
- →Mirror Lake walk
- →Evening ranger talk (free)
Return to San Francisco & Golden Gate Bridge walk
Yosemite National Park to San Francisco
Take the morning YARTS bus out to Merced and connect to Amtrak back to the Bay Area (~£30 total, about 6-7 hours), or book a one-way seat on a Yosemite-area shuttle/rideshare back to SF if you want to save time. Once in the city, drop bags at the hostel and walk the Golden Gate Bridge — take Muni 28 or 30 to the south toll plaza and stroll to the first tower and back (free, ~1 hour). Final dinner at a Burrito spot in the Mission or a shared meal at the hostel to wrap up. Fly out the next morning.
🚌YARTS ~£8 + Amtrak Merced-SF ~£22 + Muni ~£2.20
🛏HI San Francisco Downtown or similar hostel dorm, ~£38/night
- →Golden Gate Bridge walk
- →Muni ride to the bridge
- →Mission District dinner
Self-launched vs. Intrepid Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Intrepid Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£712 | £2,490 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,778 per person (71%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Intrepid Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£712
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Hiking in Yosemite National Park cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £712 per person for 6 days in Yosemite National Park & San Francisco, USA. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Intrepid Travel?+
Yes — Intrepid Travel charges around £2,490 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £712 — a saving of roughly £1,778 (71%) per person.
How long is the Yosemite National Park & San Francisco, USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Yosemite National Park & San Francisco, USA.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, adventure, budget trip through Yosemite National Park & San Francisco, USA, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.