A WOMEN'S RETREAT | CAMPING MADE EASY
Yosemite Valley Camping Retreat
Three days exploring, based in the middle of Yosemite Valley
September 11 - 13, 2026
A small group of women, camped under the walls, everything handled.
Most people see the Valley in a day. You’ll wake up in it.
Upper Pines sits on the valley floor, under Half Dome, a short walk from the trailheads everyone else drives in for. We camp here for three days — so the valley is yours in the early light and the evening quiet, after the day-trippers have gone.
The tent's set up when you arrive. So is everything else.
You hike the Mist Trail past Vernal and Nevada Falls. You ride up to Glacier Point and walk the high rim with the whole valley below you. And you see the places everyone photographs, with someone along who can tell you what you're looking at.
Then you come back to camp, where dinner's handled and the fire's going. No planning, no gear to haul, no permits to chase. You bring yourself.
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The Valley Tour
Arrive late morning. You’ll meet your guide and tour Yosemite Valley — the viewpoints everyone photographs, and the stories behind them.
In the afternoon you will head to a camp that's ready for you to settle in, then a first chef prepared dinner.
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We drive up to Glacier Point and walk the rim, the whole valley laid out below and Half Dome eye to eye.
We’ll hike to Taft Point & Sentinel Dome.
Special picnic lunch out at Glacier Point and photo stops at Washburn Point.
Then the road home back to camp where another chef dinner will be prepared.
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The Mist Trail
The valley's classic hike up alongside Vernal and Nevada Falls.
Trail lunch out.
If the Mist Trail is more that you want to take on, we’ll have an alternative hike in the Valley that is more mild.
THE DETAILS
The Parts Most Trips Skip.
❋ Where you sleepUpper Pines Campground, on the Yosemite Valley floor. A two-person tent and cot, bedding included, your site set up before you arrive.
❋ The hikingThe Mist Trail past two waterfalls, and the Glacier Point rim. Real hikes, paced for the group, not a race, not a slog.
❋ The groupWomen only. Eight to ten of us, two to a tent. Small enough that it's a group, not a tour.
❋ Getting thereEasy drive into Yosemite Valley from Fresno or Sacramento.
For the woman who wants to be in it, not look at it.
If you've driven through Yosemite and wished you'd stayed — this is the trip.
You don't need to be a camper. You don't need to be an athlete. You need to be up for two good hikes, fine sharing a tent, and ready to be somewhere beautiful for three days with the logistics off your plate.
It's camping, so it's the real valley with cool September nights, early light on the walls, the quiet after the crowds leave. We make it comfortable.
The setting does the rest.
WHAT WE HANDLE
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Camp set up & waiting for your arrival.
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We’ll supply the sleep arrangement. You may opt to bring your own bedding but we supply the tent, cot and mattress for everyone.
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The Mist Trail, Sentinel Dome, Taft Point, Yosemite Valley Tour - paced for the group.
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We’ll shuttle you up to Glacier Point for your not-to-miss day on the other side of Yosemite.
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We take food seriously. All meals are included.
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All of it is handled by us. Just show up in Yosemite Valley.
We can also supply small day hiking backpacks and trekking poles.
THE PARTICULARS
What you’re saying yes to.
WHEN: September 11 - 13, 2026
WHERE: Upper Pines Campground, Yosemite Valley
WHO: 8-10 Women
LODGING: Two person tent +cot, bedding included
HIKES: Valley Tour, Mist Trail, Glacier Point Taft Point & Sentinel Dome
PRICE: $1,295 per person
JOIN US
Eight to ten spots, women only.
Reserve your spot with a deposit. Balance due August 14, 2026.
Once you've reserved, we'll send a link to book your pre-trip prep call — we'll help you sort your flights or travel questions.
We require a minimum of 4 bookings to run this trip. If we don’t receive 4 bookings, your deposit & any additional payments are returned in full.
Retreat Details
September 11 - 13, 2026
Next Dates
3 days / 2 nights
Trip Duration
$1,295
Pricing
BEFORE YOU WONDER
A few honest answers.
I'm not really a camper. Is that okay?
Yes. The tent and cot are set up and made up with bedding before you arrive — you're not pitching anything or hauling gear. If you can sleep in a sleeping bag for two nights, you're set. Most of our guests aren't campers.
How hard are the hikes?
The Mist Trail is honestly a real climb. Imagine stair stepper next to waterfalls… but you go at the group's pace and turn around wherever makes sense — nobody's pushed. Glacier Point is a walk along the rim with the big views but minimal incline. Be up for a couple of good days on your feet and you'll be fine.
What do I need to bring?
A daypack (but we can provide), layers for cool nights, broken-in athletic shoes like sneakers, and a water bottle. We send a short, specific list once you're booked. Everything else — tent, cot, bedding, food, permits — is handled.
What's the bathroom situation?
Upper Pines has restrooms with flushable toilets and potable water on site. It's a developed campground in the valley, not the backcountry. Curry Village, a 15 minute walk from the campground, has hot showers available for a small fee.
How do I get there?
Depending on where you are coming from, you can either fly into Sacramento or Fresno and rent a car to drive in. Many people drive in from San Francisco or you may take public transportation from Fresno. Book a time to chat with us and we’ll help you figure it out.
What is the daily hike mileage?
Valley Tour - up to 3 miles, flat & paved, may include shuttle shops. This is an informative tour with frequent stops at viewpoints and historical markers.
Mist Trail - 6.7 mi, with an elevation gain of 2,191 ft. It takes about 4.5–5 hr to complete. If this is too much of a commitment, we’ll offer a shorter, 3 mile hike with minimal elevation gain.
Glacier Point - Sentinel Dome & Taft Point is about 7.4mi, with an elevation gain of 1,800’ and takes about 4–4.5 hr to complete. This tour may be broken in half so there is the option to only do half. Additional viewing stops at Glacier Point and Washburn Point will be included with minimal hiking.
For Your Outside.
Who We Are
We've spent more than two decades, combined, in the Sierra Nevada living, working, guiding, climbing, and learning Yosemite the slow way, season by season. Most of the year we run Alpinistas Adventures trips for people who want the boot beating treks & ultimate summits.
This is the premium and softer side of outdoor travel.
Same mountains, same knowledge but built around comfort, good food, and being looked after. It started with a simple idea our founder kept having on her own trips: time outside shouldn't always mean roughing & toughing it, and the details are what you remember.
So we built the trip we'd want to be on.