Yosemite National Park offers a wide range of guided tours for every interest—day trips from San Francisco, leisurely meadow walks, scenic tram rides, and even guided Half Dome summits. Whatever it is,there’s a guide for that. Check out this collection of great guided tours for any kind of Yosemite experience.
Classic Yosemite National Park Tours
Yosemite Valley Floor Tour: Take this quintessential Yosemite tour, great for first-timers, on a bright green, open-air tram with clear views (there’s no roof on the tram, so pack sunscreen). Your tour guide is an official park ranger who shares park history during the roughly two-hour tour; riders typically see Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Tunnel View, and Bridalveil Fall, depending on seasonal conditions. The tram is also available for special “moonlight” tours during the warmer months, leaving at 9:00 or 8:30 p.m., depending on the day.
Yosemite 360° Tours: Created by the Tenaya resort, these shared tours whisk guests off in luxury vans with large windows and moonroofs offering panoramic views of the park. Private tours are also available, and you don’t need to be a resort guest to book. Rides are available during summer and winter months, and there’s also a specialized Firefall Express tour on select dates in February.
MORE: Here's What You Need to Know to See Yosemite's Firefall
Yosemite Grand Tour: This eight-hour bus tour covers multiple Yosemite landmarks, including the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite Valley, and Glacier Point. Lunch is included.
Discover Yosemite Bus Tour: Let the bus pick you up at your hotel (or the local Oakhurst library) for a six- to eight-hour tour of Bass Lake, Coarsegold, Fish Camp, or Oakhurst, with each destination offered as its own dedicated tour. Available in both summer and winter.
Glacier Point Tours: From either an open-air tram in the summer or a heated coach in the winter, this two-hour tour offers a rich experience for knowledge-seekers: Park rangers and Yosemite Hospitality naturalists will fill you in on all the history, flora, and fauna throughout the park.
Guided Tours From San Francisco to Yosemite
San Francisco to Yosemite Best Bay Tour: Hop on a small-group luxury van at your hotel in San Francisco for a tour of Yosemite’s greatest hits, from Half Dome and El Capitan to groves of giant sequoias and waterfalls.
Incredible Adventures Day Trip From San Francisco: Leave your car behind on this expertly guided tour of Yosemite’s highlights in just one day. Choose from two trips—both have guided portions and time dedicated to independent exploration. You’ll be amazed at how much you can experience in a single day.
Hiking Tours in Yosemite
Wild Yosemite’s Family-Friendly Tour: Explore the wilderness with a seasoned guide who can tailor your Yosemite quest for all skills. Hike through the forest and amongst the redwoods, or take a leisurely stroll through the meadows—the pace and attractions are entirely up to you.
YExplorers Adventure Hikes: There’s a hike for every level at YExplorers including beginner, moderate, intermediate, strenuous, and challenging. Take an easygoing half-day journey or unleash your inner mountaineer on a more ambitious excursion. Each hike is season-specific and promises new adventures and hidden-gem trails.
Lasting Adventures Half Dome Guided Day Hike: Tackle one of the most challenging Yosemite hikes side by side with your experienced guide. Lasting Adventures provides trekking poles, gloves for the cable portion of the climb, first-aid supplies, toilet supplies, bug repellent, and sunscreen. Lunch and trail snacks are not included.
Walking Tours in Yosemite
Discovery Walk: Join a ranger for a relaxing stroll through Yosemite Valley as they share their deep knowledge of the park. Meetup is in front of the museum in Yosemite Village on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., from July 15 to September 22, 2026. (Free!)
MORE: Best Hikes in Yosemite National Park | Visit California
Star Gazing Tours in Yosemite
Yosemite Conservancy Stargazing Tour: Walk with a naturalist on a two-hour stargazing stroll where you can spot constellations and discuss planetary science, light speed, meteors, and more.
Yosemite After Dark Tour: This 90-minute walking tour is a deep dive into the importance of dark sky preparation. The spectacle starts at the Yosemite Valley Lodge Amphitheater and weaves into a sensory deprivation experience in the dark of night. Children over 11 are welcome. There’s also a winter-only Yosemite star tour that starts on shuttle stop six and takes passengers to Cook's Meadow.
Yosemite Alpine 90-Minute Stargazing and Stories Tour: Gaze in wonder at the stars as you’ve never seen them before. This tour provides chairs, blankets, live telescope viewing, take-home astrophotographs, and hot chocolate to keep you cozy.
Backpacking Tours in Yosemite
Yosemite Falls Guided Hike: 3-Day Backpacking Trip: Tick off all your bucket-list-worthy waterfall views with the operator 57 Hours Tours. Great for beginners and intermediate backpackers, this trek hits all the top Yosemite sights such as Yosemite Falls, Eagle Peak, North Dome, and Camp 4. The seasonal trip can accommodate up to six people and includes permits, gear, sleeping tents, and all meals. Travelers can hike up to 10.7 miles a day.
Wildland Glacier Point Trek: Escape the crowds during this four-day exploration of the southern rim of Yosemite. Camp above Bridalveil Fall, then hike down the John Muir Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls. The group can fit up to 10 hikers and starts and ends at Yosemite Valley. Meals and camping equipment—including tents, sleeping pads and bags—are included.
Rock Climbing Tours in Yosemite
Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service: Even if you’ve never done more than scramble up a boulder (or not even that), this service provides the equipment and basic skills to get you climbing Yosemite’s legendary granite. Kids are welcome too (classes are open to ages 12 and up).
MORE: The Ultimate Guide to Rock Climbing in Yosemite
Jeep Tours in Yosemite
Crossroads Tours: With more than ten pickup locations (including Oakhurst, Bass Lake Fish Camp, Mariposa, Midpines, Fresno/Clovis, and Groveland), this private jeep tour comes with a personal guide, water, and a picnic lunch.
Rafting Tours in and Near Yosemite
In June and July visitors can rent two- and four-person rafts for a self-guided tour down the Merced River in Curry Village. But if you're looking for a whitewater-type rafting tour, those typically run just outside the park. OARS runs one- and three-day rafting trips on the Tuolumne River over class III and class IV rapids.
Fly-Fishing Tours in Yosemite
Echo Adventure Cooperative: This worker-owned, guided service has compiled a list of environmentally friendly and sustainable adventures across Yosemite. From beginner to advanced experiences, this diverse collection of fly-fishing tours can include transportation and meals (depending on the length of your trip). Check out their expansive collection of family-friendly, private, and multi-day fishing trips across Yosemite.
Yosemite Fly-Fishing Guide: A private, all-inclusive fly-fishing excursion with local experts. Both half-day and full-day tours are available.
Winter Tours in Yosemite
Travel Yosemite Snowshoeing: Rent snowshoes at the Badger Pass Ski Area, and book guided tours for both advanced and beginner trekkers on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays.
Lasting Adventures Winter Backpacking Tour: Experience winter with a snowshoeing adventure through Yosemite’s backcountry. Sleep in an all-season tent near Dewey Point and plow through to the overlook at Crocker Point. The three-day, all-inclusive trip also offers cold-weather gear and packs.
Cross-Country Ski School/Guides: Glide through Yosemite’s backcountry with your own personalized cross-country ski guide. Tours are offered for groups of one to seven during the winter months. Gear rentals are also available for half-day and full-day rates.
