We are a small, guide-owned company, and cancellations have a significant impact on our business. That said, we know that life happens and plans can change unexpectedly. Our policy is designed to be as fair as possible to both you and our company. We strongly encourage all guests to purchase travel insurance to protect their investment.
When you book a trip with us, we begin preparing for your specific adventure. That includes permits, group dynamics, food planning, and logistics. These are small group experiences with limited space, so every reservation matters. We’ll always try to work with you if something changes, but we also need to protect the time and energy that go into making each trip successful.
Private trips are booked as a full-package experience, with pricing for the entire trip, not per person.
If your entire group needs to cancel, the following applies, based on the date we receive your written notice:
90+ days before trip start date — 90% refund, or one free reschedule within 12 months.
45–89 days before trip start date — 50% refund, or reschedule with a 10% rebooking fee.
Less than 45 days before trip start date — No refund will be issued. A reschedule may be possible with a 25% rebooking fee, depending on guide and permit availability.
Guest safety is our absolute priority. As experienced local guides, we monitor Sierra weather, fire, and smoke conditions daily. Because we maintain permits for multiple wilderness areas, we reserve the right to move your route and trailhead location to a safer, higher-quality area in the event of local smoke or fire, allowing the trip to proceed smoothly when others cannot. We will offer or implement any trip changes at any time to ensure guest safety.
When possible, we will offer alternate routes or rescheduling options. Our deep local expertise means we have a portfolio of alternate routes to pivot your trip to a different, high-quality area.
However, some events are beyond our control (such as forest-wide closures or severe, unhealthy smoke blanketing the entire region). We do not issue refunds for weather, trail conditions, smoke, or other external factors, as our operational costs and permit fees are committed months in advance.
For this reason, we strongly recommend you purchase comprehensive travel insurance to protect your investment. A ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ (CFAR) policy is the best way to ensure you are covered for any eventuality.
Our business operation is contingent on our active Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) from the National Park Service. which is renewed at the beginning of each season. If for any reason our CUA is revoked, no trips can run, and you will receive a 100% refund on all funds paid.
If a participant must be removed from a trip for safety, medical, or behavioral reasons, no refund will be issued.
We are not responsible for any travel costs you incur outside of your Yosemite Wilderness Company booking.
Trip credits are valid for 12 months from the date of issue and may be transferred to a friend or family member.
Most guests who cancel end up rebooking another trip, and that’s always our preference. If something changes, talk to us. We lead with fairness and want to find a solution that works for everyone without compromising the integrity of the trip.
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