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Although hiking into the great unknown brings a sense of thrill, many times you end up missing a lot unless you’re a person who spends hours researching your journey ahead of time. Most of us can’t devote lots of time seeking out information about our next adventure. Instead, try one of these guided hikes of the High Sierra and enjoy your free time to the fullest.
Sunset Hikes to Cougar Rock
Learn more about the sunset hike
Distance: 4 miles
Elevation gain: 900 feet

If your favorite hikes happens well after a leisurely brunch (or day about town), fear not, leisurely wanderers, we’ve got you covered! A sunset hike to Cougar Rock along the legendary Arnold Rim Trail is the perfect outing. Whether going on your own or with a guide, the hike to Cougar Rock is about a 4 mile loop with a 900 foot elevation gain. Looking for guidance? Check in with the Calaveras Visitors Bureau to find the next guided Arnold Rim Trail Hike planned for your next visit. For this semi-monthly guided hiking event, Arnold Rim Trail Association docents guide you, your friends and fellow solo/group hikers to the top of Cougar Rock where you can watch the sunset. No sign-up is needed. If you haven’t done a sunset hike before, you owe yourself to try one. You won’t regret it.
Sentinel Dome & Taft Point
Learn more about tour guides in Yosemite
Distance: 4 miles
Elevation gain: 700 feet

This list couldn’t exist without a guided tour through the legendary Yosemite National Park. In John Muir’s own words, “It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter.”
Out of any area to visit with a guide, this is it. It will make you appreciate the park that much more. The adventure begins with a short jaunt up to the summit of Sentinel Dome, one of 10 places to get the “Shot”. On the way to one of Yosemite’s 8,000-foot peaks, you’ll learn about the natural features of the park. From here, you’ll have breathtaking panoramic views of ALL Yosemite. Then, it’s off to one of Yosemite’s geological wonders, the Taft Point Fissures. You’ll finish the hike with the pièce de résistance, Taft Point overlook, presenting you with one last spectacular vista. And this is only a sampling of the seasonal guided tours provided by YExplore Yosemite Adventures’.
Walk Amongst The Giants
Learn more about group tours in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation Gain: Minimal

Some say everything is bigger in Texas, but we’re guessing they haven’t visited the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in the High Sierra. Home to the largest trees in the world, this is a perfect introductory hike done by the Sequoia Parks Conservancy. Meet these towering giants with an expert. The journey will first take you on one of Sequoia National Park’s most iconic trails. Under the shade of the giants, you’ll look for the classic flora and fauna of John Muir’s Giant Forest.
If this is your first time visiting or you’re a seasoned veteran, why not take the guesswork out and let the experts handle it? Guided Hikes of the High Sierra will maximize your time and offer you an insider’s look at the majestic mountain range in a whole other way. From twilight endeavors to fauna scavenger hunts, you’ll have a blast in the High Sierra.
Author: Alex Silgalis
Alex Silgalis is an outdoors travel writer who enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, or having a cold one from a local mountain brewery. See more of Alex’s work at https://localfreshies.com
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