Backpacking and Camping at May Lake in Tuolumne Meadows

Experience the beauty and thrill of a casual but scenic backpacking and camping trip to May Lake! Get out of the crowded camping areas, and enjoy the peace and beauty of the deep woods and high mountains.

 

Creek-side trails. Granite peaks. Mirror-like lakes. Incredible views of one of the most beautiful alpine environments anywhere. All this in our 2-day, 3-mile (plus or minus, depending on trail conditions) round trip backpacking trip in Yosemite! This is a great beginner trip. The distances we cover are short, the scenery is great, and the experienced, professional guides of the OAC will be there to guide and assist you especially if this is your first time sleeping in the woods.

 

Outdoor Adventure Club guides are professional, very experienced guides, who are certified as Wilderness First Responders and love to share their knowledge. You can take this opportunity to learn to filter water, use a stove, pack your pack efficiently, and the secrets to staying warm and comfortable while sleeping, all with an emphasis on minimal impact camping, trying to leave the area in the same or better condition than we found it, so the next person there can enjoy it as much as we do. All in a remote campsite in an incredibly beautiful setting! How can you go wrong?

 

The Trip:

We'll meet in the late evening on Friday in Yosemite and camp for the night.

 

On Saturday, we'll rise to a warm full breakfast with coffee, pack our bags and head out for just 1.5 miles of backpacking through rolling terrain past spectacular vistas. Then, we'll set up camp in a remote backpacker campsite near May Lake situated beneath the steep granite slopes of Mt. Hoffman.

 

From there, we can take a short day hike (leaving our backpacks at camp) to a ridge that overlooks much remote land to the northeast where we can enjoy lunch and scramble up the the summit of Mt. Hoffman. In the evening back at camp, we'll enjoy a marvelous dinner and socialize under the stars!

 

Sunday, after fresh pressed coffee and hot breakfast at camp, we'll pack up camp and loop back to the cars. We'll then have the option to go on an easy, mellow half day hike through the Tuolumne grove of Sequoias to finish up the weekend.

 

The short distances covered while hiking provides two benefits. First, you get to experience backpacking without having to hike a great distance from civilization. Second, we'll have more time to spend exploring the area and learning a new backpacking skill or two. It makes for a great casual weekend in Yosemite National Park with the OAC!

 

Level of experience recommended: This trip is perfect for beginners, first time backpackers, and casual hikers but all levels are welcome! If you're looking to brush up on your basic backpacking skills, this could be a great trip for you. We require that you be in good physical health and have previously hiked at least a 4-mile hike without discomfort.