SAN BRUNO CITY TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Three Days in Yosemite: Granite Cathedrals, Ancient Sequoias and Evenings at Cedar Lodge
A customizable, multi-day tour from the Bay Area that pairs guided highlights—Giant Sequoias and Yosemite Valley viewpoints—with unguided time after a Cedar Lodge check-in, useful for planning photography, hiking and independent exploration.
Three Days in Yosemite: Granite Cathedrals, Ancient Sequoias and Evenings at Cedar Lodge.
This curated three-day itinerary carries you east from the Bay Area into the Sierra, delivering the signature drama of Yosemite National Park—towering granite faces, thundering waterfalls and ancient Giant Sequoias—while centering your overnight at the rustic Cedar Lodge so you have evening calm and unguided time to explore the valley on your own.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
A Hike Among Giants — Tuolumne Grove
Trail conditions permitting, the itinerary includes a challenging hike into Tuolumne Grove to stand beneath Giant Sequoias that reach heights up to 275 feet (84 m), a rare chance to visit these ancient specimens within Yosemite.
Valley Icons: Tunnel View, El Capitan, Half Dome
The tour routes you through Yosemite Valley’s defining panoramas—Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan and Half Dome—with a stop at Inspiration Point (aka Tunnel View) for heart-stopping photographic vantage points.
Cedar Lodge — Your Valley Basecamp
After daytime guiding, the itinerary gives you free, unguided time to check into the Cedar Lodge (via YARTS; bus fare not included) and plan independent excursions or relaxed evenings amid the park.
What the day feels like
What the three days feel like
You leave the city in the morning, cross the agricultural sweep of the San Joaquin Valley and climb into the Sierra foothills with narration on regional history and geology. After a midday approach into Yosemite—stopping for sequoias and valley viewpoints—you transition to unstructured time following a Cedar Lodge check-in, returning to San Francisco on the final afternoon with more photo stops en route.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip suits — and who might want to reconsider.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The outbound day begins early (the itinerary lists a 6:30 AM start for the first day segment and approximately seven hours on the first day). On the final day you are asked to meet the return bus in the late afternoon (participants are instructed to meet the bus at 3:30 PM to return to San Francisco).
Included: guided hike to Giant Sequoias (conditions permitting), stunning valley views, free time, a local expert, foreign-language audio in eight languages, daily departures, convenient hotel pickups, WiFi on board and park entry fee at checkout. Not included: meals or beverages, accommodations, guide gratuity, and the YARTS bus fare to the lodge.
The tour provides bus transport from the Bay Area into Yosemite; YARTS bus fare used to reach the lodge area is not included and must be paid separately.
Expect one or more rest stops en route for snacks and restroom breaks; after arrival you will have unguided time following lodge check-in to plan independent activities.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Are meals included on the tour?
No. Meals and beverages are not included in the tour price.
Is accommodation included with the tour?
No. Accommodations are not included; the itinerary directs you to check into the Cedar Lodge during your stay.
Is park entry included?
Yes. The park entry fee is included at checkout.
Do I need to pay extra for the transfer to the lodge?
Yes. The YARTS bus used to reach the lodge requires a fare that is not included with the tour.
What time do I meet the return bus on the last day?
You are asked to meet the return bus at 3:30 PM on the last day to return to San Francisco.
Is the Giant Sequoia hike guaranteed?
No. The sequoia hike is offered subject to trail conditions and is described as a challenging hike.