YExplore has received our 2023 Half Dome Permits. If you would like to attempt the summit of Half Dome on a guided hike, we are offering the following dates to the public: June 27,29; July 16,17; and August 11. Please visit our Hike Half Dome page to book this tour.

Half Dome is the tallest peak in Yosemite Valley, rising 8,842 feet above sea level. It is one of the main attractions in Yosemite National Park and one of the most popular day hikes in the world. The only way to hike to the summit of Half Dome during peak summer months is to obtain a permit through the lottery program. Each year, the lottery becomes more difficult to navigate, and the management team at Yosemite continues to make it more difficult to run tours to Half Dome. This year we only received 5 dates so we anticipate selling out our inventory of Half Dome Hiking Tours early.

YExplore was established in 2006 with a passion for exploring the natural world with fellow adventure seekers from across the globe. All of our guides are local to Yosemite with a wealth of experience. John DeGrazio, our lead Half Dome Guide, has reached the summit of Half Dome 200 times. He made his 200th ascent last October. “I enjoy sharing nature with guests from all over the world. Spending a day in this setting creates an unbreakable bond shared by the entire team. I only wish the National Park Service would find more value in the safety benefits we provide to our groups and the general public and try to be more cooperative instead of imposing more restrictions on us each year,” DeGrazio states.

The guided Half Dome hike typically lasts 12-13 hours and covers 19 miles with about 5,000 feet of elevation gain. It requires maximum endurance and serious physical training. Our experienced guides help prepare you for the day while also lending support for the extreme physical and mental challenge of the hike. We will also send you a a gear preparation list to help you pack efficiently for the trek.

If you would like to have added safety trekking with an experienced leader and have already acquired 2023 Half Dome Permits through recreation.gov, then YExplore can be added as your guide. You’ve done the hard part, and we’d be happy to assist you in achieving your goal. If you did not receive 2023 Half Dome Permits or believe this trek may be a little too extreme, we have many other guided opportunities to choose from. We have several Yosemite tours that are suitable for all levels of experience and fitness in every season.

Please also visit our Yosemite Shop with a newly developed product line featuring our Yosemite Tunnel View Bear.

YExplore Yosemite Adventures is having a Yosemite Bear Gear Clearance Sale on all of our inventory. Please visit the Yosemite Gift Shop for all items that must be sold by the end of March. We created this line of hats, shirts, and decals as a fundraiser to support black bears in Yosemite. We are currently looking to improve our line of merchandise to offer but must sell out our remaining stock before we move forward.

These items are priced to sell quickly so you need to act fast to get your favorite Richardson trucker hat, classic trucker, tshirt, hoodie, or decal. Each choice is of high quality standards and adorned with our Yosemite Tunnel View Bear logo.

Color supplies are limited so please list a backup choice if your original color is not available. Be sure to shop the YExplore Yosemite Bear Gear Clearance Sale for the best deals. https://www.yexplore.com/yosemite-gift-shop/

In 2017, YExplore Founder John DeGrazio developed a concept for a new logo he hoped would be iconic for Yosemite. In a collaboration with Lawson Studios in Oakhurst, CA, we have created the Yosemite “Tunnel View” Bear. It is a native Yosemite black bear outlining the iconic scene from Tunnel View. We have selected the finest quality garments to proudly display this attractive design. We are equally proud to announce that proceeds from sales have been donated to the Yosemite National Park Bears. Thank you for helping to protect Yosemite bears. Keep bears wild!

They might not be delivered in time for the holidays, but we are pleased to announce our new line of Yosemite gear featuring our Yosemite Tunnel View Bear. You will find these and other great Yosemite Bear gift items in our Yosemite Gift Shop.

Yosemite Bear Gift Items

We are excited to announce our new ‘first edition’ unisex Yosemite Bear Charcoal hoodie in sizes S, M, L, and XL. Quantities are limited at this special price of $45.

In addition to demand for a hoodie we have received many requests for a Yosemite Bear Decal. Here it is! We have two styles. One is a 4 inch durable decal that will be perfect for your favorite water bottle of school notebook. Decals are $5.

The results are in, and everyone loves their new Yosemite Bear decals. Here is Krysta Wolken, our very first YExplore Ambassador, sharing hers.

Our second decal is a smaller one at 1.5 inches that would fit perfectly on a phone case or other personal items. The smaller decal is $3, and proceeds from each Yosemite Bear gift item will directly benefit Yosemite bears.

Thank you again for helping support our Yosemite bear project. Now, you can spend as little as $3 on Yosemite bear gift items at our gear shop to support Yosemite bears. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year from YExplore. If you’re interested in browsing other items, feel free to check out our Yosemite Gift Shop as well as any last minute Yosemite gifts for your loved ones.

In 2017, YExplore Founder John DeGrazio developed a concept for a new logo he hoped would be iconic for Yosemite. In a collaboration with Lawson Studios in Oakhurst, CA, we have created the Yosemite “Tunnel View” Bear. It is a native Yosemite black bear outlining the iconic scene from Tunnel View. We have selected the finest quality garments to proudly display this attractive design. We are equally proud to announce that proceeds from every purchase you make will be donated to the Yosemite National Park Bear Management Team via the Yosemite Conservancy. Thank you for helping to protect Yosemite bears. Keep bears wild!