Discovery & Ideation

Exploration Ideas

Curated destinations, activities, and adventure concepts for future outings

Proposed Destinations

Moved to Planning Hub → Overview → Proposed Trips, alongside the full trip itineraries.

Yosemite Falls & Walls — Hiking Program

Greater Yosemite Council's patch program — a rocker earned per completed trip, from single-day hikes to a 6-day High Sierra Camp loop. Ties into Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, Forestry & Geology merit badges. Submit the Yosemite Falls and Walls Form to the council office to earn rockers.

Source: yosemitescouting.org · Greater Yosemite Council, 4031 Technology Drive, Modesto CA 95356 · (209) 545-6320 · [email protected]

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Multi-Day Loop

High Sierra Camp Loop

Starts/ends at Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Permit Center. Routes through Glen Aulin, May Lake, Sunrise, Merced Lake & Vogelsang High Sierra Camps via the JMT/PCT. Seasonality: mid-May–early Nov.

Difficulty: Moderate–V.Strenuous
Distance: 49 mi
Elevation: +8,272/-8,272 ft
Time: 3–6 days
Trail Guide (PDF) →
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Day Hike Waterfalls

Nevada Falls (Top)

Via the Mist Trail from Happy Isles (shuttle #16) — up-close views of Vernal & Nevada Falls. Can combine with the John Muir Trail as a loop. Open year-round; lower Mist Trail closes in icy winter conditions.

Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 5.4 mi
Elevation: +2,296/-324 ft
Time: 5–6 hrs
Trail Guide (PDF) →
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Day Hike Point-to-Point

The Panorama Trail

Glacier Point to Yosemite Valley, passing Panorama Point, Illilouette Fall, and views of Nevada Fall, Liberty Cap & Half Dome. Waterfalls best in spring/early summer. Take the Glacier Point bus to the trailhead.

Difficulty: Moderate–Hard
Distance: 8.5 mi
Elevation: +1,749/-2,508 ft
Time: 4.5–7 hrs
Trail Guide (PDF) →
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Day Hike Point-to-Point

Pohono Trail

East-west along Yosemite Valley's south rim — Glacier Point to Tunnel View, passing Sentinel Dome and views of every major valley landmark (Half Dome, El Capitan, Bridalveil). Only open when Glacier Point Rd is (mid-May–early Nov).

Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 13 mi
Elevation: +5,622/-3,270 ft
Time: 5–10 hrs
Trail Guide (PDF) →
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Day Hike Waterfalls

Yosemite Falls (Top)

Starts near Camp 4 on the Valley Loop Trail — a steep switchback climb to Columbia Rock then the top of Upper Yosemite Fall. Open year-round; best flow in spring, can be a trickle by August.

Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 7.2 mi
Elevation: +3,172/-520 ft
Time: 6–8 hrs
Trail Guide (PDF) →
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Day/Multi-Day Summit

Clouds Rest

Trailhead at Tenaya Lake off Tioga Rd. Out-and-back to the summit, or 17mi point-to-point down to Happy Isles via the Half Dome trail (net ~6,000ft descent). Narrow, exposed summit scramble — spectacular Half Dome & Tenaya Canyon views. Open roughly March–Oct (Tioga Rd season).

Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 13.1 mi (out/back)
Elevation: +2,279/-576 ft
Time: 1–3 days
Trail Guide (PDF) →
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Day Hike Viewpoint

Glacier Point (Four Mile Trail)

Four Mile Trailhead on Southside Drive, climbing to Glacier Point past Union Point. Views of El Capitan, Yosemite Falls & Half Dome. One-way hikers can bus back from Glacier Point (advance ticket needed valley→point).

Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 4.8 mi one-way / 9.6 mi RT
Elevation: +3,426/-662 ft
Time: 3–4 hrs (6–8 RT)
Trail Guide (PDF) →
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Day Hike Permit Required

Half Dome

From Happy Isles via Mist Trail (2.5mi) or JMT (4.0mi), through Little Yosemite Valley to the cables. Permits required to summit; cables up mid-May/June–Columbus Day. Never attempt in thunderstorms or rain — granite gets dangerously slick.

Difficulty: Extremely Strenuous
Distance: 14.2 mi
Elevation: +5,223/-507 ft
Time: 10–14 hrs
Trail Guide (PDF) →
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Easy Family-Friendly

Mirror Lake & Tenaya Canyon

Paved path from the Mirror Lake Trailhead (shuttle #17) to the lake, with an optional loop along Tenaya Creek. Fullest with reflections in spring/early summer; often dry ("Mirror Meadow") by late summer. Open year-round.

Difficulty: Easy–Moderate
Distance: 2 mi (5 mi loop)
Elevation: +112/-10 ft
Time: 1 hr (2–3 hr loop)
Trail Guide (PDF) →
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Multi-Day JMT

Tuolumne Meadow to Yosemite Valley

Via the John Muir Trail's northernmost section — Cathedral Lakes trailhead (bus #7) to Happy Isles (bus #16), through Cathedral Pass, Long Meadow, Little Yosemite Valley (2014 burn area) and Nevada Falls. Seasonality: mid-May–early Nov.

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 21.7 mi
Elevation: +2,189/-6,743 ft
Time: 2–4 days
Trail Guide (PDF) →

Bay Area Group Camping Spots

Group & backpack camping sites within range — sourced from campingarrow.org

Dots are grouped by county (no per-site coordinates in the data) — click a dot, then "View sites" to jump to that county's cards below.

Site data & descriptions courtesy of campingarrow.org — verify availability, fees, and reservation requirements directly with each park before booking.

Activity Concepts

New program formats and experience types to explore

Winter Mountaineering

Technical winter climbing and snow camping skills on peaks like Mt. Shasta or Mt. Whitney

Proposed

Whitewater Rafting

Multi-day river expedition with professional guides on Class III-IV rapids

Research

Coastal Sailing

3-5 day bareboat charter for sea sailing certification and offshore navigation training

Possible

Mountain Biking

Multi-day bike packing through Sierra trails with camp and self-supported logistics

Research

Wilderness Survival

Intensive survival skills training: shelter building, foraging, fire craft, water sourcing

Proposed

Caving Expedition

Guided exploration of marble caves with underground ecology and rock formations study

Possible

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