A Seasonal Guide to Yosemite Backpacking: When to Go

Yosemite is a funny place. The “best” time to go backpacking isn’t a simple answer. The park is huge, and depending on the time of year, different areas can be at their absolute best.

The general season runs from early June through September. May and October are possible, but they’re shoulder seasons that require a different level of preparation for snow and water.

Here’s our practical, on-the-ground breakdown of what to expect.

Not sure which season fits your goals? That’s what our free consultation call is for, we’ll match you with the optimal route and timing based on what you want to experience.

Early Season (June – Early July): The Waterfall Season

This is spring in the High Sierra. The flowers are popping, grasses are fresh, and there is water everywhere. You’ll find creeks in places that aren’t even on the map. This is, without a doubt, peak waterfall season.

The Good: Mosquitoes usually haven’t hatched yet. The landscape is lush and vibrant.
The Challenge: High passes can be impassable with snow. Creek crossings can be genuinely sketchy, technical, and the water is dangerously cold.
Our Expertise: This is where our experience is critical. Shawna and I are both Swiftwater Rescue certified from our whitewater rafting background. We understand how water moves and how to get a group across safely. Early-season trips require specialized skills and route selection. Learn more about our guiding experience and why local expertise matters for safe, successful Sierra backpacking.

Peak Season (Mid-July – Late August): The Classic Summer

This is the classic, perfect Sierra summer. The weather is stable, it’s warm (often very hot), and it’s the best time for swimming. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, but completely manageable.

The Good: Snow is gone and water is still plentiful. High passes are open.
The Challenge: Crowds. This is summer vacation. If you drive yourself, you can wait in 2-hour lines at the gate, and parking can be a total nightmare. Mosquitoes can be present in marshy areas.
Our Expertise: We mitigate both. First, our trips don’t spend much time in the over-crowded Valley. We get you into places that aren’t high-traffic. We know the lesser-known trailheads that provide spectacular wilderness without the crowds. See our trip offerings and how we access Yosemite’s best-kept secrets. Second, we know where the mosquitoes are. This is an experience thing—we make wise choices about where to camp so mosquitoes aren’t a trip-ruining issue.

Late Season (September – October): The Explorer’s Vibe

This is a special time in the Sierra. The crowds are gone, the days are cool and crisp, and the vibe is quiet. There are no mosquitoes.

The Good: This is the best time for exploratory, off-trail trips. Rivers that are uncrossable all summer are now low, letting us access amazing places the vast majority of people will never see.
The Challenge: Water sources are scarcer. Waterfalls are often dry. Low-moving water can have a red algae that clogs water filters fast. Nights get cold, and frost is common.
Our Expertise: We have special techniques to keep filters from clogging. This is when we run our expedition-style trips. Getting to these off-trail zones requires knowing how to navigate on granite, which takes years of exploration. September is perfect for experienced hikers wanting Sierra Traverse point-to-point routes with minimal crowds and access to off-trail exploration.

A Quick Note on Summer Rain

Most people don’t think about rain in California, but in the Sierra, July and August are the rainy season. You often get afternoon thunderstorms. This isn’t an all-day rain, but it’s something we plan for. We watch the sky, plan our movement, and know that pitching a tent before the rain starts is always more enjoyable. (Bonus: these clouds make for far more dramatic photos than a plain blue sky).

So, When Should You Come?

It just depends on what you want:

Choose June if you want to see massive waterfalls, raging creeks, and spring flowers.
Choose July/August if you want the classic, warm summer experience with high-country access and swimming.
Choose September if you want quiet trails, cool air, and the chance to explore off the beaten path.

You don’t have to have the answer. This is what our consultation call is for. We’ll talk about your goals and match you with the best route and time of year for the trip of a lifetime. Explore our Sierra Immersion and Traverse trip styles to see what resonates with you.

Evan

I’ve spent the last 17 years leading IT teams during the week and every free moment chasing wild places. I’m a lifelong problem-solver, a maker, and the guy who buys the tool and figures it out rather than calling a contractor. That curiosity and grit eventually led me away from screens and deep into the Sierra Nevada backcountry. My path into backpacking wasn’t pretty. My first trip as an adult was so miserable I returned all my gear. So I got myself stronger, learned the ultralight way, and found that when you carry less, you experience more. I’ve never had a bad day on the trail since, even in the rain, even when things go sideways. Especially then, because nobody remembers the trips where everything goes perfectly, the stories are in the hard stuff. For almost 20 years I’ve guided whitewater trips, hiked and backpacked in the Sierra, and raised five kids on a steady diet of forests, rivers, and outdoor adventure. In my adventure group they call me the Fun Ambassador, because I’m usually the one saying, “Yeah that sounds rad, when do we leave?” I believe in Type 2 fun (the kind that’s hard and unforgettable), and occasionally Type 3 fun, though we try to keep that one off the itinerary. I’m not a mountaineering hero, or an expert botanist, or a professor of Yosemite history. What I am is a Wilderness First Responder, a permitted guide through the National Park Service, and someone who has spent years earning lessons the real way, one mile, one mistake, and one sunrise at a time.