Ostrander Lake
Adventure Details
Ostrander Lake is one of the many beautiful lakes in Yosemite National Park, but what makes Ostrander Lake so special is its relative ease of access while being out and off the beaten path; limiting crowds throughout the hike. Our Ostrander Lake guided tour in Yosemite National Park is one of the best backpacking trips in California and is perfect for the novice backpacker, or the whole family looking to get into backpacking but not wanting to do anything too strenuous to start out with. The hike out to Ostrander Lake takes us through the woods, over the creek and up the hill over approximately 6.2 miles (12.4 miles round-trip) not including any day hikes to the surrounding areas. The hike will culminate at the shores of Ostrander Lake where we will spend 1 or 2 nights camping. We offer this hike over 3 or 4 days and on the 4 day hike, we will have the opportunity to day hike out to Hart Lakes for even more Yosemite Lake fun!
What's included?
- 5pm orientation the afternoon of day1 at Yosemite Valley at the backpacker's camp.
- Backpacking permits.
- Tent camping each night on the trail plus the night of orientation at the backpacker's camp.
- All food for meals while on the trail prepared by your guide - from dinner at orientation through breakfast on the last day.
- Single or Double occupancy tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack, trekking poles.
- A certified, medically trained guide that will lead you safely on your journey.
- An unforgettable experience!
Adventure Itinerary
Day 1
Meet you guide and group inside the park for orientation, gear check, dinner and your first night of camping!Day 2
Today we start our backpacking trip to Ostrander Lake! You will wake up reasonably early to the smell of coffee and your breakfast being prepared by your guide. After breakfast, we will do final gear packing and prep before we head to the trailhead at approximately 8am. The drive out to the trail is about 45 minutes and we should expect to begin hiking around 9:30am. Our hike in to Ostrander Lake will be a 6.2 mile hike with about 1,500ft elevation gain through the beautiful backcountry wilderness of Yosemite. On our hike we will have views of Half Dome, Red Peak, Gray Peak and many other awesome landmarks and monoliths throughout the park. Once we reach the lake, you can drop your pack and go for a refreshing dip in the crisp clear water of the High Sierra's or sit back and relax along the shore to take in the unending beauty of the area. This is one of the best backpacking areas in Yosemite, and you’ll get to experience it all with Discovery Treks!Day 3
For the 3 day hike, today will be out last day of backpacking in the park. We will wake up again to coffee and breakfast to finish packing and hike the 6.2 miles back to the trail head where our guided tour will conclude. For those looking to get a little extra time in Yosemite and want to go for the 4 day hike, day 3 will entail a day hike out to the even more remote Hart Lakes and back for more Yosemite Lake fun! We will have lunch along the shore line and will have additional time for swimming if you so choose. After our day hike, we will head back to camp for dinner and camp stories around the fire. Care for some hot chocolate around the fire? We've got you covered!Day 4
As with the 3 day hike, this will be our last day of backpacking as we head back out to the trailhead the same beautiful and scenic 6.2 miles that we hiked in.Pickup Locations
With shuttle service being closed down for the summer due to COVID-19, it is necessary to rent a car for trailhead transportation.
What to Bring
Our camping and hiking trips include all pro-quality gear and meals required for your adventure. This includes tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cooking supplies, trekking poles, and daypacks and/or backpacks. All meal preparations will be handled by your guide. We are happy to accommodate food allergies and most dietary restrictions. Please include your preferences in your Registration Form so that we can prepare accordingly.
Gear Included
Discovery Treks tours are all inclusive tours which include:
- All meals from lunch day 1 through lunch day 3
- An experienced Wilderness First Responder Certified Yosemite Backpacking Guide
- Necessary pro-quality backpacking gear including 65 - 75L Osprey backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, trekking poles, double occupancy tent, bear canister (Single tent upgrade available for $50)
- All permits and fees