Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides
Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides
Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides
5
Multi-day Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours
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About
SYMG is a leader in the active travel and mountain guiding world, providing carefully planned and executed trips in the most spectacular wilderness areas of California. SYMG was started in 1991 by three friends offering hiking trips into California's mountains in hopes of more closely meshing lifestyle with work. Now, over 25 years later, we've shown thousands of people the beauty of Yosemite and the High Sierra and have been named one of the "Best Outfitters on Earth" by National Geographic Adventure Magazine.
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Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
35 reviews
Excellent
32
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Annie C
Raleigh, NC6 contributions
May 2021
A half day of top rope climbing at Willow Creek was a fantastic experience! Our guide Benton was knowledgable, friendly, and gave us (2 couples) a great introduction to slab climbing. Would recommend to anyone with an interest in climbing- we had some indoor experience but minimal outdoor beforehand. Benton was able to offer something for everyone, and we all felt very safe and comfortable climbing. A unique way to see the Yosemite area! Note: the climbing area is south of the park itself, so make sure to plan your time accordingly when coming and going through the main park entrance (the lines can get long during peak season)
Written May 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A blissful climb
1 contribution
Sep 2020
Connor and Tom made our 5 days across Tenaya Canyon, Clouds Rest and Half Dome a Once in a Lifetime Experience. Due to the restrictions in the park for CO19, we felt we had the peaks almost all to ourselves. This wasn't just the lower number of permits, but also the planning of our guides to show us hidden springs, set out with headlamps so we would make Half Dome at dawn, and discover the joys of swimming after thoroughly demanding switchbacks. My colleagues in Fish Camp sent me here, and wow, they under sold what SYMG can do. Thank you for the trip I'll always cherish.
Written September 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David K
1 contribution
Jul 2021
I turned 50 this year. I feel this is important to mention for those of you considering this trip and wondering if you’re up for the challenge. You got this and the guides have your back 100% of the time.
On our trip the guides were tested right from the beginning. They had a guest re-schedule the night before, and dropped one more guest on day two with altitude sickness . Escorting this guest to safety was seamless. This safety maneuver was handled professionally and with no impact to the remaining guests.
The food was off the hook! The overall food requests made by the guests was varied. We had a vegetarian , gluten free, and someone that requested as much meat as possible. The planning and effort put into the menu was amazing. It’s going to be hard to go back to the boring meals I typically backpack with.
After night 3 the group really came together, our oldest backpacker was around 62 and the youngest 33. This diverse group , made the experience amazing
I would recommend SYMG one hundred percent .
On our trip the guides were tested right from the beginning. They had a guest re-schedule the night before, and dropped one more guest on day two with altitude sickness . Escorting this guest to safety was seamless. This safety maneuver was handled professionally and with no impact to the remaining guests.
The food was off the hook! The overall food requests made by the guests was varied. We had a vegetarian , gluten free, and someone that requested as much meat as possible. The planning and effort put into the menu was amazing. It’s going to be hard to go back to the boring meals I typically backpack with.
After night 3 the group really came together, our oldest backpacker was around 62 and the youngest 33. This diverse group , made the experience amazing
I would recommend SYMG one hundred percent .
Written July 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Missy
2 contributions
Aug 2020 • Solo
SYMG gave me one of the best guided-hike experiences of my life. (I’ve worked with several companies on a number of hikes both in and outside the US over the past decade.) My guides were knowledgeable, fun, patient, and supportive. A standout was the food, which was the best I’ve ever had on a guided hiking trip. This is saying a lot, considering this was a three-week backpack in deep backcountry.
I would recommend this trip and would do it again if I could. If you are wondering whether you’re up for a thru-hike like this, but are daunted by the planning, logistics, safety measures, etc that comes with it as a solo traveler, I can’t recommend traveling with SYMG enough. It was worth every penny to go with a guided trip to remove the hassles but keep the fun. While the guests on my trip got along rather well, there is plenty of opportunity to create your own space both on the trail and at camp.
I would recommend this trip and would do it again if I could. If you are wondering whether you’re up for a thru-hike like this, but are daunted by the planning, logistics, safety measures, etc that comes with it as a solo traveler, I can’t recommend traveling with SYMG enough. It was worth every penny to go with a guided trip to remove the hassles but keep the fun. While the guests on my trip got along rather well, there is plenty of opportunity to create your own space both on the trail and at camp.
Written December 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William R
Fort Worth, TX27 contributions
Sep 2022
Well done SYMG!! A group of 12 dedicated and accomplished backpackers scheduled their 7 day Yosemite Grand Traverse and the trip was flawless. From logistics and organization through 60 plus miles on the trail, this was a lifetime experience.
Our guides, Rachael and Wyatt, were outstanding rock stars with incredible stamina and experience in the Sierras. Fun to be around, extremely strong, capable and knowledgeable in the backcountry, and good trail chefs! The food was fantastic and plentiful. Their local knowledge about geology and flora was always interesting, and the more I pressed, the more information I'd get. One day, I casual asked Wyatt what the genus/species of a flowering plant we had first came across (trying to stump the chump) and he casual whips it out. Rachael is an experienced climber and we were gradually able to pull exciting details out of her humble nature.
Their flexibility and easy going personalities made for such a comfortable trip. One day, a few of us wanted to get some extra miles and bag a local peak, Wyatt took a look at the peak, looked at his watch, grabbed a water bottle and said "let's go". He guided us up a steep approach and a final vertical scramble that was a top 3 view of the trip. Bottom line, if you asked for something, these two would drop what they were doing and made it happen.
Make no mistake, you have to be in Great Shape, or you will suffer on this trip. So train hard and be prepared and the trail miles will glide by and the scenery will be more appreciated. This was a trip of a lifetime with the views, serenity and seclusion. For the first 72 hours, we saw 2 people who were just exiting the trail as we were on mile 4. All of our campsites were unique and incredibly beautiful.
Oh, and a shout out to Becky and Becca in the front office who helped put it all together, answering my relentless questions and requests with patience. Excellent customer service!!
We came away with stories and memories of a lifetime, so thank you SYMG for a great trip! We will definitely be back for more in the Sierras and SYMG!
Our guides, Rachael and Wyatt, were outstanding rock stars with incredible stamina and experience in the Sierras. Fun to be around, extremely strong, capable and knowledgeable in the backcountry, and good trail chefs! The food was fantastic and plentiful. Their local knowledge about geology and flora was always interesting, and the more I pressed, the more information I'd get. One day, I casual asked Wyatt what the genus/species of a flowering plant we had first came across (trying to stump the chump) and he casual whips it out. Rachael is an experienced climber and we were gradually able to pull exciting details out of her humble nature.
Their flexibility and easy going personalities made for such a comfortable trip. One day, a few of us wanted to get some extra miles and bag a local peak, Wyatt took a look at the peak, looked at his watch, grabbed a water bottle and said "let's go". He guided us up a steep approach and a final vertical scramble that was a top 3 view of the trip. Bottom line, if you asked for something, these two would drop what they were doing and made it happen.
Make no mistake, you have to be in Great Shape, or you will suffer on this trip. So train hard and be prepared and the trail miles will glide by and the scenery will be more appreciated. This was a trip of a lifetime with the views, serenity and seclusion. For the first 72 hours, we saw 2 people who were just exiting the trail as we were on mile 4. All of our campsites were unique and incredibly beautiful.
Oh, and a shout out to Becky and Becca in the front office who helped put it all together, answering my relentless questions and requests with patience. Excellent customer service!!
We came away with stories and memories of a lifetime, so thank you SYMG for a great trip! We will definitely be back for more in the Sierras and SYMG!
Written September 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter N
1 contribution
Jul 2022 • Friends
this was the hike of a lifetime done with the excellent leadership of our SYMG guides Connor and Laurel. It was definitely the most physically challenging thing i’ve ever done. We had a great group, outstanding guides who prepared top notch meals everyday!! the weather cooperated for the most part with only two days of rain after we had set up camp. this was my second trip with SYMG. i had a similar excellent hike on the Yosemite Grand Traverse last summer. i would recommend SYMG to anyone who wants an exceptional high sierra adventure. great team leaders, great food and most importantly lots of fun along the way even though you’re working hard. Such a great way to take a special vacation with family, friends or by yourself. the bond that develops between you and your fellow hikers is truly special. everyone on the trip learns from one another and a lifetime of memories is created.
Written August 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
W9173QSbriang
5 contributions
Aug 2020
What an incredible experience and a trip of a lifetime. I was a member of SYMG August 2020 John Muir Trail trip. The two Guides, Casey and Bri, were very professional experienced backpackers, excellent cooks and very knowledgeable in many respects of the Sierra Nevada. The trip would not have been so awesome without the support staff which included Tom and Haley. Tom was the individual responsible for our resupplies and occasional cooking. Haley was the incredible behind the scenes administrative technician who handled the trip logistics. Overall, it was an unbelievably fulfilling adventure through one of the most beautiful locations known to mankind. I highly recommend SYMG for your outdoor adventures.
Written December 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda B
1 contribution
Aug 2021
John Muir Trail August 2021-I cannot express in words what an amazing experience I had on the JMT this past summer. Our guides Connor and Riley were THE BEST! Not only were they extremely knowlegeable about the region, flora and fauna, but they were also highly personable, caring , supportive and fantastic cooks to boot! The food, the scenery and the company were second to none. It was without a doubt the most challenging thing I have ever done and I admit, there were days when I wondered if I could do it. Connor and Riley were so patient and encouraging, They helped me find my "pace" and made the experience so memorable. I especially loved our morning "Muirsian moments" and being serenaded on the trail by Riley and his guitar! Our group really clicked together and became a trail family. Whitney was "breathtaking" (literally!) and beautiful! Another check off the bucket list! Thank you SYMG!
Linda B
Linda B
Written November 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amywsp
Pell City, Alabama59 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
My husband, 8-year-old son, and I did a half-day rock climbing trip with SYMG. We were a little late to the meeting spot, but our guide was later than we were. After he arrived, we drove to the climbing spot and climbed on one wall the whole time. The guide was great about teaching especially my son, who is on an indoor climbing team but has minimal outdoor experience. (However, he climbed the route pretty quickly and could've had more of a challenge.) We climbed for about 2 hours and that was it. While the guide was great, I don't think I would choose this again. For what we paid, there wasn't enough time or variety. If you want to do more than climb two routes beside each other and only get 2 hours climbing time, maybe choose a full day or different company.
Written August 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emma
Thames Ditton, UK19 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
We did an day walk coving part of the Mist Trail and John Muir trail. Amazing walk a big chunk of which we couldn’t have done ourselves. Our guide Quap was really interesting and kept us all engaged for the full journey - no mean feat when you have four teens
Written August 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides Information
Excellent Reviews | 32 |
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Very Good Reviews | 1 |
Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides Photos | 33 |