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Choose Your Pace: Hiking Yosemite Up Close and Personal

Program No. 13977RJ
Hike at the pace you choose each day and see authentic Yosemite with experts. Discover giant sequoias and glacially carved valleys, and learn the story of this national treasure.
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  • Yosemite National Park
  • Yosemite National Park
  • Yosemite National Park
  • Yosemite National Park
National ParksWalking/HikingOutdoor AdventuresSmall GroupMost PopularRetreatsNature & Environment
Length
6 days
Rating (4.87)
Activity Level
Starts at
1,999
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
15 meals ( 5B, 5L, 5D )
4 expert-led lectures
4 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Lodge check-in from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously). Every day, hikers can choose between two hikes--a "moderate" hike or a "challenge" hike. A moderate hike offers more opportunity for education as it is usually a shorter hike with less elevation change than the challenge hike.
Afternoon:
Program Registration, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in Lyles Dining Hall to register with the program staff, get any up-updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. We’ll enjoy a get-acquainted social hour that includes drinks and appetizers.
Dinner:
6:30 p.m. in Lyles Dining Hall.
Evening:
7:30 p.m. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Retreats program. Our programming at Retreat locations includes opportunities for light morning exercise, interaction with members of the local community, a farm-to-table meal, and evening entertainment. This program has a Road Scholar activity rating of “Outdoor: Choose Your Pace.” Every day, hikers can choose between two hikes--a "moderate" hike or a "challenge" hike. A moderate hike offers more opportunity for education as it is usually a shorter hike with less elevation change than the challenge hike. Hike destinations will be determined based on a variety of factors including but not limited to number of participants, group and/or individual skill levels, weather and terrain conditions at time of program. Hike destination decisions are based on the suitability of the hikes for the group(s) as a whole. Final hike choices are ultimately up the hike leaders and are subject to change. If you have any questions as to the suitability of this program for you, please contact us to discuss as soon as possible before your arrival. Field trips off site will be via shuttle bus. Field trips to and from Yosemite are around 35 miles each way on country roads. Classes will be held in Lower Lyles West or the chapel, a short walk from Lyles. Field trips including Day 5 may include walks/hikes of varying lengths to enhance and illustrate the subjects being taught. If mobility is an issue, please contact ECCO for further information.
Activity Note
Light exercise prior to breakfast (walking, yoga, etc.). Getting on/off a shuttle bus; driving about 15 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time; country roads. Moderate hike: 6 miles, elevation gain/loss 1000+ feet, hike begins at 5,500 feet. Challenging hike: 7 miles, elevation gain/loss 1,200 feet, hike begins at 5,500 feet.
Breakfast:
In Lyles Dining Hall.
Morning:
At 7:45 a.m., we will board the shuttle bus and ride to Mariposa Grove (30 min. drive) where we’ll begin our hike for the day. Choose from two hikes, moderate or challenging. Moderate hike: 6 miles, elevation gain/loss 1000+ feet, hike begins at 5,500 feet. Challenging hike: 7 miles, elevation gain/loss 1,200 feet, hike begins at 5,500 feet.
Lunch:
On the trail, we’ll have the sack lunches we packed this morning.
Afternoon:
After completing our hike in the late afternoon, we will return to the Mariposa Grove parking lot and reboard the shuttle bus for return to ECCO (30 min. drive).
Dinner:
In Lyles Dining Hall.
Evening:
We will gather for a presentation by a local expert on a topic of interest. Possibilities could range from a live animal presentation, living history performance, musical or artistic guests, or lectures on human and cultural history of the area.
Activity Note
Light exercise prior to breakfast (walking, yoga, gardening, etc.). Getting on/off a shuttle bus; driving about 90 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time; country roads. Moderate Hike: 5.75 miles; elevation gain 1,000 feet, net loss 500 feet; hike begins at 7,700 feet. Challenging Hike: 9 miles; elevation gain/loss 1,000 feet, net gain 200 feet; hike begins at 7,000 feet.
Breakfast:
In Lyles Dining Hall.
Morning:
We will board the shuttle bus for today’s field trips to Yosemite trailheads (1 hr. 30 min. drive). Choose from two hikes, moderate or challenging. Moderate hike: 5.75 miles, elevation gain 1,000 feet, net loss 500 feet; hike begins at 7,700 feet. Challenging hike: 9 miles; elevation gain/loss 1,000 feet, net gain 200 feet; hike begins at 7,000 feet.
Lunch:
In the field, we’ll have our sack lunches.
Afternoon:
After completing our hikes mid-afternoon, we will return to the shuttle stop and reboard the shuttle bus for return to ECCO (1 hr. 30 min. drive).
Dinner:
In Lyles Dining Hall.
Evening:
We’ll gather for a presentation by a local expert.
Activity Note
Light exercise prior to breakfast (walking, yoga, etc.). Getting on/off a shuttle bus; driving about 70 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time. Extent of walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
In Lyles Dining Hall.
Morning:
We will board the shuttle for a full free day for independent exploration in Yosemite, to see and do what interests each of us most (1 hr. 30 min. drive). Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Lunch:
In Yosemite, we’ll have our sack lunches.
Afternoon:
We will continue our free time in the Park. If you like, tag-a-long on a scheduled Park Ranger walk or talk (as available), or simply relax and enjoy the beauty of Yosemite. We will rendezvous at the shuttle stop at 3:15 p.m. and reboard the shuttle bus for our return to ECCO (1 hr. 30 min. drive).
Dinner:
In Lyles Dining Hall.
Evening:
We’ll gather for a presentation by a local expert.
Activity Note
Light exercise available prior to breakfast (walking, yoga, etc.). Getting on/off a shuttle bus; driving about 70 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time. Moderate Hike: 4.75 miles, elevation gain 200 feet; hike begins at 4,000 feet. Challenging Hike: 5.75 miles, elevation gain/loss 1,500 feet; hike begins at 4,000 feet.
Breakfast:
In Lyles Dining Hall.
Morning:
We will board the shuttle bus for our last day of hiking in Yosemite(1 hr. 30 min. drive). Choose from two hikes, moderate or challenging. Moderate hike: 4.75 miles, elevation gain 200 feet; hike begins at 4,000 feet. Challenging hike: 5.75 miles in length, elevation gain/loss 1,500 feet; hike begins at 4,000 feet.
Lunch:
In Yosemite, we’ll have our sack lunches.
Afternoon:
After completing our hikes mid-afternoon, we will return to the shuttle stop and reboard the shuttle bus for return to ECCO (1 hr. 30 min. drive).
Dinner:
In Lyles Dining Hall. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
We’ll gather for a presentation by a local expert. Prepare for check-out and departure after lunch tomorrow.
Activity Note
Light exercise available prior to breakfast (walking, yoga, gardening, etc.). Getting on/off a shuttle bus; driving about 3+ miles, less than 1/4 hour riding time. Walking about 2.5 miles, approximately 1 hour; mixture of single track rolling hill trails, wide dirt forest service roads; elevation loss 325 feet. Lodge check-out 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
In Lyles Dining Hall.
Morning:
We will board the shuttle bus and ride to the beginning point of our last hike. This area, south of Yosemite National Park, boasts its own beauty, which we will experience as we hike from the Cedar Valley trailhead along Lewis Creek through National Forest land back to ECCO. We will stop by ECCO's waterfalls and swimming holes, nature trails and meadows on our way back to the lodge. Returning to the lodge, we’ll have some time to shower and pack before lunch.
Lunch:
In Lyles Dining Hall. This concludes our program.
Afternoon:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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