Experience Thru-Hiker Vibes Without the Thru-Hike
Itinerary Overview
This 1 week adventure takes you deep into the California mountains, the Sierra Nevada range, where you’ll stay at a couple of amazing back-country resorts, one of which is frequented by John Muir Trail (JMT) thru-hikers. You and your group will have a chance to disconnect and enjoy all the backcountry has to offer (e.g. streams, lakes, hot springs, etc) without having to pack all your gear and hike 15 miles a day over mountain passes.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
So, you’ve arrived in Fresno, CA! First, you’ll need to stop at the grocery store and pick-up some provisions. Both resorts that you’ll be staying at have food, but options are limited, so if you need anything in particular, now’s the time. After you have provisions, your adventure begins as you head up to Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR) either in a high-clearance vehicle or using the VVR shuttle. Once you make it up to VVR, get checked-in and begin exploring! The resort has kayaks, boats, and paddle boards to rent. There’s ultimate frisbee and, of course, lots of hiking. Also, be sure to remember to grab dinner and some of VVR’s homemade pie for dessert!
Day 2
After a good night’s rest in the fresh mountain air, you’ll wake up to grab some breakfast at the resort, pack your bags, lunch, and snacks and go out for a day of hiking. Depending on the weather, water levels and your group’s enthusiasm, there are many options to enjoy. If you’re feeling like swim holes and naps on warm, granite slabs, Bear Creek Trail is your hike. If you’re looking to experience a remote piece of the JMT, you can take the ferry (if water levels are high enough) over to the other side of Edison Lake and head northbound on the JMT towards Silver Pass. It’s a steep climb, but you’ll catch some amazing views. Just remember you have to turn around in time to catch the ferry! After dinner, spend the evening sharing stories with your fellow hikers at the resort.
Day 3
Wake up to breakfast at the resort and get ready for another amazing day in the Sierra Nevadas! Today, you’ll spend 1/2 your day horseback riding. Whether you choose to get up bright and early or get an afternoon start, you’re sure to explore some places that will take your breathe away. When you’re not riding, consider renting a kayak, boat, or paddle board from VVR and spend the rest of your day exploring lake Edison. Or maybe you’ll just decide to forest bathe with a book and a beer in hand.
Day 4
Ready to mix it up a bit? Great! You’ll get a later start today, so relax. Pack your bags, check-out and then maybe get another hike in and grab some lunch before heading out to your next destination, Mono Hot Springs Resort. If you’re feeling motivated and enjoy fishing, maybe you’ll try to get out onto the lake one more time to catch some fish. When you’re ready, make your way back to Mono Hot Springs Resort for some river, hot spring vibes. Once you’ve checked-in to your new place and settled, go out to do some exploring before grabbing dinner at your new resort.
Day 5
Beach day! Well, mountain-style beach day. Today is all about enjoying the San Joaquin River and the nearby Mono Hot Springs. After making breakfast (the restaurant only serves dinner here), you’ll head over to river to tube, swim, or creek walk. If you get a chill or just need a soak, you can make your way across the river to forage for your perfect hot pool. For those feeling the spa is in order, the resort even offers massages. After a fun day in the sun, you’ll grab another amazing dinner.
Day 6
After a fun day enjoying the river and hot springs, today’s theme is “lake”. After you make some breakfast and pack a lunch, you’ll take a short, semi-challenging hike up to Doris Lake where you can spend your day swimming or floating around. If you’re feeling motivated, you can even make it a 2-lake day by hiking another 3/4 mile to nearby Tule Lake. After dinner this evening, before to grab a glass of wine, make a campfire, and enjoy your last evening under the stars.
Day 7
Wake up this morning, grab a soak in the hot springs or just spend some time relaxing by the river with some coffee in hand. You’ll need to pack your bags and check-out, but you can spend as much or as little time as you want savoring your last few moments this very special place in the California mountains.
Ready to Book This Trip?
Yes and I’d like some help: Ready to go on this adventure, but don’t have the energy to book it? Inspired by this itinerary and want to customize it, but don’t have the time to research or reconfigure? A little of both? I’ve got ya covered! Click on the button below to get started.
Yes, but I’d like to book this myself: Great! Here’s some information to get you started:
Planning this itinerary requires some amount of foresight, but that’s about it! To start you need to select your general travel dates. Because this trip is high in the Sierra Nevadas (7,700 ft), the best timeframe to enjoy this itinerary is late July – early September. There’s less snow, warmer water, and sunnier skies.
- Book Lodging First: The snowless, summer months book quickly for both Vermillion Valley Resort and Mono Hot Springs Resort. VVR requires a 2-day minimum booking and Mono Hot Springs requires a 3-day minimum booking.
- Book Excursions: Most excursions up here don’t book out quite as quickly as the rooms, but it’s still a good idea to reserve prior to your arrival. High Sierra Pack Station will help you find the best horseback ride for your group and VVR can help you book fishing excursions. If you’re considering massages at Mono Hot Springs, you should also consider booking before you arrive. All other excursions including ferry rides, boat rentals, and hiking shuttles can be easily arranged after you’ve arrived.
- Determine Modes of Transportation: The road up to this area is fine up until the last 20 miles on Kaiser Pass Road. It’s a beautiful ride, but it’s a tight squeeze on a single-land road between the mountain and a steep drop-off. If you’re a skilled driver and have a higher clearance vehicle, you’ll be fine to drive up on your own keeping in mind that weekends can be a bit tight and that on garbage days, the garbage truck does not yield to anyone (so you might need to use those backwards driving skills). Alternatively, VVR does offer a shuttle service up to the resort from Fresno. You will need to book this shuttle prior to your arrival in Fresno.
- Menu Planning: You will need to some planning around food options. VVR does serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It also has a small store that sells some essentials like pie, ice cream, beer, wine, camping meals, canned goods, etc. Mono Hot Springs, on the other hand, only serves dinner, but has far more options for food in its store (including eggs, lunch meats, prepared burritos, etc). So, if you’re fine with burritos and/or sandwiches for lunch and dinner at Mono Hot Springs, then you’ll be fine without bringing cooking gear. However, if you’d like a hot breakfast and lunch while at Mono Hot Springs, then bringing a camp stove and fuel is a good idea.
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