Yosemite High Sierra Loop - SBC
Join Adventure for the trip of a lifetime as we backpack deep into Yosemite National Park’s High Sierra on an unforgettable 48-mile loop. Our route begins in Tuolumne Meadows—wide open granite country framed by soaring peaks—and over the course of the week we’ll return to the same trailhead, transformed by everything we’ve seen (and earned) along the way.
From the very first miles, the high country delivers: crisp mountain air, endless views, and that classic Yosemite mix of polished stone, rushing water, and alpine meadows. We’ll follow stretches of the mighty Tuolumne River as it tumbles and braids through the landscape, then climb toward pristine lakes tucked into granite basins. Expect postcard-perfect scenes around every bend—sunrise on the domes, shimmering water reflecting jagged ridgelines, and wide panoramas that make you stop mid-step just to take it all in.
This is real wilderness travel. Days will include sustained climbs, rocky sections of trail, and long miles at elevation, and the challenge is part of what makes the experience so rewarding. But for those ready to dig in, the payoff is huge: quiet camps under star-filled skies, the satisfaction of carrying everything you need on your back, and the kind of mountain moments you’ll talk about for years.
If you’re looking for an adventure that pushes you, inspires you, and immerses you in some of the most spectacular terrain on earth, the Yosemite High Sierra Loop delivers in every way.
Trip Cost
Student and SRWC Member: $250
Faculty, Staff, Non-Enrolled CSUSB Student, and Alumni Association: $280
Affiliate: $295
Sponsored Guest: $310
Pre-Trip Meeting / Sign Up Deadline
June 20, 2023 @ 6pm
Activity Level
4 - Epic
Itinerary
Day 1: We meet at the Adventure Center at 9:00am to check equipment, divide food and load the van. We will head north up highway 395 to June Lake. We will stop for lunch on the way and check into Oh Ridge Campground before dark. We will dial in our gear, prepare dinner and get a good night’s sleep.
Day 2: After breakfast and packing up it we will be off the Yo So Mighty! We'll pick up our wilderness permit and don our packs and hike 8.0 miles (920' descent) to Glen Aulin.
Day 3: Today we travel another 8.0 miles (1,470' ascent) on our way to May Lake.
Day 4: Our destination for the day in Sunrise High Sierra Camps (HSC). Our hardest day yet. We will travel a total of 8.5 miles (1,260' descent then a 1,680' ascent) as we pass Tenaya Lake and cross over Tioga Road.
Day 5: Our most miles in one day, 9.5, but it's all downhill (2,500' descent). On our way to Merced Lake we will pass through Echo Valley and along the Merced River.
Day 6: Hopefully you have you backpacker's legs by now because today we climb 2,950' in 7.8 miles to Vogelsang via the Fletcher Creek Trail.
Day 7: We will leave the backcountry today after a 6.8 mile (1,380' descent) back to where we started. We should reach the van by lunch time and on the way home by 2pm.
Packing List
Weather
Food
17 meals are included, starting with dinner on day 1 (6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 5 dinners)
3 meals are not included (1 lunch and 2 dinners). Bring money.
Hygiene and Comfort
We will be carrying our all our food, shelter, clothing, water and equipment in a pack weighting over 40lbs. We will be staying in a developed campsite on night 1 with access to restrooms and drinking water. There are NO showers. The other nights will we sleeping in the wilderness and treating water to drink from streams and lakes. We will follow Leave No Trace ethics and pack out all trash and dispose of human waste in cat holes or WAG bags, You will have the option to share a tent with one or two people or sleep out under the cover of the stars. Light weight tents, warm synthetic sleeping bags, foam pads and ground tarps will be provided to ensure a comfortable night’s sleep. The ground consists of soft or hard soil.
Summer Registration Information
Spring 2026 Students not taking summer school must first purchase a Summer Membership for $46 or sign up for free "Inactive Member Price" Membership to register online for Adventure trips. Inactive Members pay $30 more. Summer Members pay the member rate.