Awesome company! Very impressive, professional and knowledgeable staff and guides! Would use this company again.

I took the Agnew Meadows to Tuolomne mule supported backpack trip in August 2022. I cannot say enough positive about this trip. "Fred was an incredible guide, naturalist and cook! Tremendous experience, focus on safety, knowledge of the region, mountains, flora and fauna - and an amazing menu planner and cook. A great guide - oozes depth of experience in both guiding and safety - with a focus on all of the participants. He helped all of us achieve our goals on this trip. Chris was incredibly positive and supportive - developed great rapport with all of the guests - and a phenomenal backcountry cook! Strong sense of safety and responsibility for guests on the trail - and delight to be around. The food was amazing! I could not believe how delicious our meals were in the backcountry. " Definitely recommend!!! read more

Two terrific days of climbing at Fresno Dome. Multipitch was sweet and my guide Benton was excellent at picking routes just challenging enough for my level. After the crowds of Yosemite Valley the peacefulness of this place is well worth checking out. read more

Some of the best guides in the business. We did the Yosemite Grand Traverse in August and Ethan and Rowan did a fantastic job of juggling the differences between the 3 sets of couples/families and making the trip work well for everyone. I was touched by Rowan's effort to ask me before the trip started "what do you - specfically - want most of out of this trip" . I was humbled by Ethan sharing his passon and advocacy for the wild places we have left that are so special to him. And I was touched by the problem solving when I had sciatica on day 2...it could have been a nightmare and I got through the trip just fine. The day that could have been a long hard day ended up my favorite day of the trip. The vegetable heavy meals were perfect in the backcountry and having mule support made the trip easy and not a slog with a full pack. I would do the exact same trip again. read more

We just completed the Yosemite Grand Traverse with the exceptional guide Colby Brokvist. This 6-day backpacking trip is not for the faint-hearted -- but Colby sets the gold standard for all guides: an encyclopedic knowledge of the wilderness & natural history, patient, empathetic, funny and yet precise & demanding in his expectations of organization, timeliness and fitness. He knows the Sierra like his own backyard, selecting the most gorgeous campsites and smartly brainstorming about water sources when late summer creeks/lakes ran dry. We learned so much about backpacking, as well as safety & attention around rattlesnakes (!) and bears. When there was an injury, his first aid & bandaging received high praise from Bay Area physicians upon our return. Oh, and he's a photographer & writer. We've been on many guided backpacking trips, with many guides; he's the best ever. (Kudos also to SYMG's front office, which is responsive and detail-oriented re: dietary restrictions, etc. Word to the wise: Follow Their Fitness Prep Recommendations! It makes the trek so much more enjoyable.) read more

went on the July7, 2022 Half Dome day hike with guide Jackson. I've been on many guided climbs with many outfitters but this was by far the most enjoyable. Jackson is one of the best guides I've ever had. personable, knowledgeable and patient all while keeping the group on task and getting us to the summit in good time. He was an absolute pleasure to have a a guide and I plan on booking future climbs in Yosemite that he'll be leading. I hope the people at SYMG know they have a really wonderful young man in Jackson and I wish him the best in his guiding career read more

7 AMAZING Days! I have done several guided back packing trips with other companies - this was by far the BEST experience to date. Starting with clear communication of what to expect, what to pack etc. Safety is obviously a priority for this organization - both in the communication of an itinerary change due to snow pack to assisting one of our hiker's in distress down and to the assistance she needed. Alex and Heather were our guides - knowledgeable, delightful and just added to the beauty that surrounded us for the week. I can't say enough - the food they prepared was so impressive, their kindness, their humor, their leadership just made the whole experience so delightful! Yosemite Park itself is just breathtaking and having the right guiding company that cares about each hiker and protecting the park is just so awesome to find! Thank you Alex, Heather and SYMG! read more

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! We had an absolute horrible experience. We did the half dome full day hike, from the beginning, our guide was very negative, referring to the hike as a "death march" and how this hike should not be a day hike . We were a party of 3, with 2 others in our group. About 3 miles in, we were told the other 2 members were "irritated" that we were not hiking at their pace. Our guide then proceeded to leave us and join the other group of 2, because they were irritated, and wanted help up the cables. Our group of 3 hiked the entire day on our own, never saw our guide again until we were on our way down, the last 4 miles of the hike we had our guide with us. I hired a guide so I could have some extra peace of mind for the climb, but I should have just saved myself the money and hiked it on our own . Do yourself a favor and just jump on someone else's permit. If I could give less than one star I would. read more

Rock Climbing Weekend - Unforgettable! My husband and I contracted SYMG for the holiday weekend of the 4th. We were assigned Nick R. Our meeting location was easy to find, and had a local coffee/ice cream/pizza shop, bar, and grocery store. He was helpful in confirming we had the necessary supplies for the weekend, we grabbed a couple of sports drinks at the grocery store, and headed to the camp site. We discovered later that regretfully his car broke down; however this was a non-issue as SYMG provided him with a vehicle to make sure our weekend went well. Let me start by saying I will not be able to convey with words how beautiful our campsite was. We were relatively close (walking distance) from park service maintained toilets, but removed from all other camping groups, and had a wonderful view to boot. Menu selection was varied, fresh, and local. We highly suggest going in with no dietary restrictions if you can and allowing him to create the menu. We had simply awesome food, sourced by our terrific guide. I don't want to give out any secrets but Nick was also great at spicing things up for the 4th of July holiday with a few patriotic surprises. Getting to the rock climbing area was a rough drive, bring a vehicle with high clearance if possible. It was well worth it when we arrived there and had our pick of routes, especially if you've ever seen the crowded Yosemite Valley locations. All the rock routes were very clean, well maintained routes (which I believe SYMG helps out with). We saw only three others climbing groups on Saturday, and none on Sunday. Nick did a great job giving us an intro to the area, as we were unfamiliar with this style of rock. He picked good first routes where we still had fun, but he was also evaluating skills before getting into a multi pitch situation. He was extremely friendly, knowledgeable of the area, easy going, and fun and interesting conversation wasn't difficult. He was very competent and professional, with a laundry list of certifications. We always felt like we were in good hands. (unlike some other climbers we saw on the wall over the weekend, being guided by someone other than SYMG.) Nick always ensured we were using proper technique and was willing to offer us suggestions to improve our climbing technique. His willingness and ability to tailor his instruction towards our trip goals was second to none. For example, we wanted to climb and experience multi-pitch climbing rather than develop specific skills, as that is not something we get a lot of in the Midwest. He was terrific at accommodating that, and skillfully led all the pitches of our two routes. I'm sure if you wanted to be more skills focused he would be equally competent in demonstrating and instructing. He kept us at a good pace, but it never felt like he was driving us. Route selection for both multi pitch and single pitch "training" routes was excellent. It enabled him to educate us on the style of rock and techniques, for him to evaluate our skill levels, and ensure we had a challenging, but fun trip. He was younger than both of us, but very willing to be decisive, and not afraid to assert himself when needed and show leadership at all times. He was very willing to give us tips and suggestions for the rest of our week in Yosemite (we had a six day backcountry hiked planed for afterward). It was nice to have a local perspective on how to deal with the crowds in the Valley. The whole weekend, we had his complete and undivided attention. There was never a point in the weekend that he wasn't focused on our experience. (i.e. he wasn't trying to ditch us, or playing on his cell phone, or anything like that.) Well deserved reputation for the company, with guides like Nick, we will definitely be using SYMG again. read more

Took a four day private tour with them. Guides were really wonderful and it was a decent, assisted camping trip. However, for the outrageous price the company charged (well over $2k per person!) we were expecting to have mules with us, be able to camp where we wanted (not next to other camping groups), and not have to stay in a not so great motel the first night, put up/take down our own tents, etc. Management was not at all helpful when we spoke to them. Expectations for trip weren't clear and company seems intent on gouging their customers. Wonderful guides, but very very much not worth it. Buyer beware. read more

Great experience with Ryan and Nick as our guides on the 4 day/3 night Half Dome trip. These guys were awesome, great cooks, knowledgeable about the area and its history, and went out of their way to give us a great experience. Would definitely travel with this company again. Thanks again for looking after us and getting us up Half Dome! And thanks for the great food, stories and putting up with our many requests. My only comment is to maybe think about having a shuttle at the base at the end of the last day to take you back to the village rather than adding those extra few miles walk on the roads. That was the only negative as we were all so tired after the last day that would have been a great way to finish. That's not to take away from the great experience we all had and I would 100% recommend these guys to guide you around Yosemite. read more

We cannot praise this group highly enough for their Torres del Paine trip. We just returned a week ago from this incredible adventure in Patagonia and are still reflecting on what an epic and beautiful adventure it was. The logistics which are myriad and incredibly challenging were handled perfectly including a last minute and very important reordering of our hiking days to accomodate difficult weather. This meant that the iconic hike to the Torres themselves took place on the best day to revel in their glory. Our guide Colby is extremely knowledgeable about geology, flora and fauna of the region which added a great deal to the experience. Both Ian and Colby are incredibly fun and encouraging guides. We can't wait to plan another trip with SYMG -- this time a little closer to home and hopefully including our sons. read more

My wife and I recently completed a day hike of Half Dome in Yosemite with Shaun as our guide. We were extremely pleased with the trip and most strongly appreciative of the assistance Shaun provided in order to complete this challenging endeavor. I highly recommend SYMG for their guiding services. read more

I did the 5 day hike on the John Muir Trail: Agnew Meadows to Tuolumne Meadows in August 2015. This was my first experience trekking. Because of the description - that the area is considered postcard country, the mules will carry most of your gear (awesome) so you just carry your water and bring a camera - I thought there would be time to shoot, so I brought a nice camera. Well, when hiking from dawn to dusk, on steep trails, you can't look around too much - you must look at where you're walking or you could fall to your death or worse. Without ever stopping, except for lunch or short breaks, there is no time to take photographs. More Amazing Race than Ansel Adams, keep on trekking! That explains why I was the only one with a camera. Speaking of everyone else, there was a family of 8 which was unexpected and a bit overwhelming. They could've had their very own trip. Anyway - have to shout out the amazing guides - knowledgable about the landscape and history, great cooks, super attitudes, very kind. I loved these guys! For reals! So this isn't about them, this is about the exhaustion and the lack of pleasure. We would arrive somewhere just before the sunset when the temp would drop quite a bit. So you wanted to set up your tent as quickly as possible, and get into whatever body of water was around before it got cold - a plunge to refresh and wash the dust off was much needed. The sun would have set during the cold plunge, so there was never enough light to shoot anything. Then I'd tumble into my tent, soaking wet and cold and lie there for a minute to get a little rest. Then the guys would serve a great dinner (although at high altitudes you can feel bloated and not hungry but you must eat for energy). I'd eat something and go straight to my tent. I never slept well, which can happen at high altitudes and when you're not in a bed. Sometimes at night, I'd be paranoid about bears and imagine a huge paw slicing through my tent. Just after dawn I would rise, exhausted, sore, tired and take a walk to do my business, pack up my shit, have some great coffee and yummy breakfast, fill up my water and start hiking and hike all day up very steep terrain. I was always short of breath bc of altitude. I was almost always last to get to camp (we're talking 15, maybe 20 minutes, not hours). At sunset I'd arrive, set up the tent as fast as possible, take a cold plunge, lie down in the tent wet and tired, eat dinner, etc etc. all over again. I had extra weight on me and wasn't physically fit for this trip that's for sure so my bad on that! This just wasn't a good way to see Yosemite for the first time. I made a couple of terrific friends, experienced hikers, who on the last day, asked if I would recommend this trip to someone. "I have one friend," I said, "who is an extreme sports person. Biked across Africa, was on the US Ski Team, in great shape. I MIGHT recommend this to him." Then I returned the question to them - would you recommend to a friend? "No," they said, "It's too intense and not that fun." Then they told me about a few different ways they like to experience Yosemite - plan a trip where you hike a few miles, set up camp, STAY FOR A FEW DAYS (this is so key!!!), explore the area, relax a little, pack up the tent, hike somewhere else, set up camp and stay for 2 days, etc, etc. Well, now I know and I'll be back Yosemite. I'll be back. read more

See all

Well i'm a pretty difficult guy to please but myself and a buddy went trekking with these guys for three days thru Yosemite recently and they were fantastic. (Ian) Thoughtfully created a great itinerary for us based on our experience and gave us a terrific guide (Pat). They give you much more than just having a guide that is familiar with the park - the guide meticulously planned out equipment and the route, then changed the route as conditions changed to ensure we stayed on our schedule, was very conscious of safety (bears and falling off cliffs are not uncommon...) and made the trip a total pleasure. Even the small stuff like keeping track of water consumption, making sure our meals were balanced with proper protein/carb mix (it's pretty impt when you're at 10k feet walking 10hrs day with a pack!) and leaving extra early for the summit treks so you don't get caught in the heat or the tourist traffic. All in all, i'd strongly recommend these guys and will def use them again. read more

This group is top notch. Just got back from an amazing 8 day trip. The guides, Wilson and Phoebe were the best and the food was tasty. The trip could not have been better organized. read more

We did a short custom backpacking trip to Chain Lakes. One of us hadn't backpacked in 25 years, and the other two (15 and 13) were camping for the first time. Guide was extremely knowledgable and taught the kids a lot about map reading and about the geology, ecology and history of the high Sierras. Pacing, food, and equipment were everything we could ask for. Planning to do a longer trip with them in the future. read more

We took a 4 day trip to Half Dome and Cloud's Rest with Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides and found that both our guides and SYMG as a whole facilitated a top-notch experience. SYMG took care of everything from itinerary planning and packing lists to reservations and permitting, so our pre-trip stress was at an all-time low. Upon arrival in Curry Village, SYMG quickly pulled our group away from the crowds which meant our trip never felt touristy or overcrowded. On the trail, our guides made sure that everybody was able to hike at his or her own pace. The hikes were planned wonderfully so that we got the best views and saw the least amount crowds. Food was unexpectedly gourmet (i.e. pesto pasta, stir fry, and even a delicious banana/chocolate desert) and consistently elicited rave reviews from our fellow trip-mates. We had a fantastic trip that we'll always cherish, and I highly recommend the Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides. read more

Our group of 5 just returned from the Grand Traverse backpacking excursion through Yosemite. SYMG deserves the highest praises. From start to finish the trip was the tops. Andrea and the front office were fantastic and responsive. They made every thing easy in prepping for the trip, working through travel, arranging hotel stays for the front and back end, and pricing a trip with an ever shifting number of participants. As for the trip itself, it was the experience of a lifetime in large part due to our guide Brendan. This was not "glamping." We roughed it in the backcountry for a full week. But Brendan was up before us and after we went to bed preparing meals and coffee, and doing the cleanup. And I would add that the meals were top notch -- not typical camping fare. He served as camp medic helping to take care of nasty blisters before they became a problem. He pushed us, but was very patient. He and SYMG were quick with an alternative route when our last day was diverted due to fire. And he knew and loved the park, as do we after this trip. I would recommend this trip and SYMG to anyone. read more