Itinerary

Welcome to Yosemite National Park, a vast California wilderness of towering granite cliffs, ancient sequoia groves, alpine meadows and roaring waterfalls - one of the most spectacular landscapes on earth and the spiritual home of American trail running. Join us for 5 nights of trail running based deep in Yosemite Valley, with mornings spent on iconic trails and afternoons spent recovering beneath the granite walls. We'll run four stunning routes totalling around 92km, each one revealing a different side of the park: from the waterfall-laced Glacier Point loop, to a full out-and-back to the legendary Half Dome via Sub Dome, to an iconic climb to the top of El Capitan that emerges onto sweeping views across the valley. A shorter recovery loop around Mirror Lake midweek gives the legs a chance to reset. We'll spend our first three nights based in Curry Village and the final two nights in a comfortable lodge deeper in the valley, with all meals shared along the way.

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This is not a race, it's trail running as a journey. We'll move as a group at a steady, social pace, with the elevation tackled at whatever speed works for the day. Expect long climbs, hot afternoons, recovery walks and breakfasts beneath the cliffs. The routes have been carefully planned to balance effort with awe, and recovery time is built in. The trip wraps up with a final celebratory dinner in the valley to mark the end of the week.

Day 1

Welcome to Yosemite Valley​

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Day 1 is our meeting day. We recommend flying into Fresno and taking the YARTS bus service direct to Yosemite Village. Meet the team in Curry Village from 15:00 onwards. We're not running today, but we will enjoy a leisurely walk around the local area to stretch the travel legs. We'll head out for tacos at a local spot for dinner, fuelling up before tomorrow's first big day on the trails.

Day 2

Glacier Point Loop - 27km, 1300m+​

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We start the morning with breakfast at a village coffee spot before heading out for a challenging and rewarding 27km loop run around Glacier Point and its iconic waterfalls. The route climbs steadily with around 1,300m of elevation - as with most of our runs this week, the climbs are real, but we keep a steady group pace that everyone can enjoy. We'll stop along the trail for a packed lunch, taking time to refuel and soak in the views before completing the loop. After some well-earned recovery back in the village, we'll gather for dinner at a local restaurant, sharing stories from the trail over great food and drinks.

Day 3

Half Dome via Sub Dome - 25km, 1500m+

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After breakfast we set out on the world-renowned Half Dome hike, covering 25km through some of Yosemite's most iconic terrain with around 1,500m of elevation gain. The route follows the classic Mist Trail past Vernal and Nevada Falls before climbing into the high country, with each switchback opening up bigger views of the granite cathedral all around us. We'll climb high to Sub Dome, taking in the dramatic granite views and the immense sense of scale that make this route legendary, before descending back to the valley. The day wraps up with a relaxed group pizza dinner - well earned after an unforgettable day on the trails.

Day 4

Mirror Lake Recovery Loop - 10km, 100m+​

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Today is recovery day. After breakfast we'll head out for a gentle 10km loop around Mirror Lake, just enough to flush out the legs without the climbing. Mirror Lake itself reflects the towering north face of Half Dome on still days, a perfect quiet contrast to yesterday's effort up on the granite. Back in the village we'll pack up our kit and move to our second accommodation deeper in the valley for the final two nights. Drop bags off, then enjoy a free afternoon to explore at your own pace - a swim in the Merced River, a wander beneath the cliffs, or simply a long, well-earned nap in the shade. Check-in is from 16:00 and we'll meet back up at 18:30 for a group dinner at a local eatery.