I've hiked Yosemite my whole life, but the one thing I hadn't experienced was the Yosemite Valley…read morefire falls which occurs every year, if the conditions are just right. I never knew the best place to view them from so didn't try in previous years. We scheduled time with Gabe from Wild Yosemite and he took us to a spot to view the falls from that is kind of a secret spot where only a few serious photographers were located. My wife and I watched the fire falls and sipped wine from about 700 feet above the valley floor. It was amazing. Gabe at Wild Yosemite scouts out the best hikes, best viewing locations that only come with constant exploring of Yosemite. Gabe's knowledge of Yosemite, and his warm and caring personality make him stand out among guides.

Gabe helped make our trip absolutely unforgettable! From stunning hikes to engaging conversations…read moreGabe only exceeded expectations. His knowledge of the park is vast, he knows all the best views and the local intel. Got a question about a certain rock formation or tree? Gabe knows the answer. He makes sure to curate the trip based on your interest and ability, while providing the overall best experience the park can offer you. Absolutely will be returning to hike with Gabe again!

Wow way way up there. It was August so the conditions were good albeit. a bit cold this early…read more Awesome views down the West and East sides of the Sierras and quite the steep windy road as well. Its easy to see why this is closed int he wionter as driving conditions would be brutal up here on a normal day let alone during. . storm. There appeared to be several trails but having blasted up there from sea level I did not try my luck

Fun experience ! We cut our first Christmas Tree down today . The kids loved it it was a bit…read morechallenging to find the perfect one. Definitely give yourself plenty of time . It took us 3 hrs to find our tree.

Great moderate hike. Many people bring their kids and babies. The final part is a bit steep to…read morereach the top, but it's doable. The view at the top is amazing and beautiful.

Great easy hike until the last push to the top which was pretty steep and essentially all rocks…read more Feel free to turn back or push past it to the top. Great views at the top. The last half did have a lot of poison oak though so beware. We probably won't be back just because of the poison oak anxiety tbh.

Very nice park. Very well maintained (old buildings, lots of items). Lots of things to see and to…read morelearn. Highly recommended. Many stores to visit and shop, bakery, restaurants, ice cream, museums and more. Air conditioned store rooms. Some rare book editions on sale in the bookstore! Free parking. Dog friendly.

I come here every year! I walk around and enjoy seeing the old, small town of Columbia that…read moresettlers founded. It is now recognized as Colombia State Historic Park. It has a one-room school house where students of different ages, once sat and listened together to their teacher's lectures, in harmony. I always visit the old cemetery where some members of The Donner family, who survived their perilous journey from Missouri to California during the gold rush, are buried. The old mercantile building and the Blacksmith stable where the horses were shoehorned and cared for, still stands. The countryside is beautiful. The hills and rivers are gorgeous. This is a great place for families and especially for children who should know our great history regarding brave settlers who traveled from far and wide, by horse and buggy (wagon trains of home crafted covered wagons). It is always such a nostalgic feeling going back in history for me. Enjoy this great town!

I once knew and had visited this establishment as the Regional Learning Center while a part of the…read moreFresno Unified School District. Before that it was known as the Five Mile Job Corp, and now we know it as Sierra Outdoor School. (Please read the SOS history here: https://sos.cusd.com/History.aspx ) I am happy to report that every time I have been here, (once in as a student back in 1992,) and twice as a chaperone (2016 and 2022), that they continue to uphold excellence science and ecological education. I don't speak for all children, who I have found will roll their eyes to the idea of conserving our world, to students who find traversing hills to learn more about nature as an arduously unnecessary task, that this school is truly a great experience. The Naturalists who teach here are patient, kind, knowledgeable, and inclusive of the every one of the children's differences. They are a forward thinking lot who continuously reflect on our past successes to better contribute to our future. From the life lessons we can learn from Teddy Roosevelt to the deeply rooted connections to nature by the Iroquois and Apache. Our students covered the 2 night camping trip both times and had a slightly different itinerary. (But I've come to learn that some schools are offered 5-day camping experiences to get the entirety of what SOS has to offer.) Classes experienced were as follows: High Ropes: Climb 32 ft while triple suspended and belayed to one of two courses, the Burma Bridge (crossing a wire bridge w/wire hand holds), and the Catwalk (a telephone pole laid horizontally), and cross towards the main zip line podium. The kids were able to experience this at their own preferred levels. A fee kids remained in their comfort zone by zip lining with no hesitation while others would get a strapped in, climb a peg or two, and head back to solid ground. Badger was the main Naturalist for the High Ropes adventure and he was here doing great things with the kids over 6 years ago! Silent Mile: during the first mile and half, we experienced various stopping and learning points in regards to ecology, biotic and abiotic, biome, classifying animals by what they eat, etc. Later on we were able to experience the Silent Mile where each child was separated, 20 seconds at a time, walking and taking in their experiences and the cards placed by the Naturalist, Sequoia, to reflect upon. Chaperones and teachers were inserted every 3-4 students to ensure safety. We followed that up with an experience called Heart Attack Hill. You can traverse it however you would like, but the one we went on was a longer but easier version of the steeper/shorter one that I remembered running 6 years ago. Lastly, the kids were given magnifying glasses and instructions to examine the world around them. Wilderness Survival: We had Foster (Slime Mold) guide us through understanding how better to be prepared in our environment. From a fun compass usage exercise, to building our own shelter in the elements. Night Hike: Shirley (Tiger Lily) was our naturalist for this learning experience. We were able to enjoy a beautifully lit sky once camp had turned off the light pollution. She also taught us about our eyes, red light use, and how important they are to each and every living creature. Roaring Relays: Wide varying challenges across a gym room floor. Campardy: Large groups of kids take turns competing against each other to answer questions about what they've learned so far. Previously we had done Owl Pellet Dissection, arrowhead carving, and Dull Axe Excavation of tree bark and within soil. Some things had changed, but the interactive fun doesn't stop.

This was an amazing place! Great place for the kids to learn the outdoors. When you come, don't…read moreexpect that you will be chilling sitting somewhere. We were here 3 days and on a time crunch. We wake up, eat, and off we go on a hike. Next is lunch, next hike. After that dinner, then night class till 9:00 at night. Up at 6:30am. Why I gave it 4 stars, the food for the most part was good, but you could tell a lot of the food came from a can or was frozen. Which I guess is fine when your feeding hundreds of kids. The salad bar for the adults was awesome!! Thank you! Also, the beds were not very comfortable, but it could have been way worse. The showers are super small and there is only 3 showers per side of the cabin. Plus the walls in the cabin are super thin so you can hear everyone get up to use the bathroom. Other than that this is something your child should experience. Totally worth it!!

Theo was a seasoned and fun rafting guide. Knowledgeable about the river and area, we felt like we…read morewere in capable hands. Had a great time. Would recommend this eager to please, service and safety minded biz!

What a wonderful adventure! My girlfriend and I took our girls for their 40th Birthday. Well…read moreorganized, friendly fun and funny crew! Weather stayed nice and the lunch time break was simple and very good. You can tell this company hires the best to be the crew on these expeditions. Tim was absolutely wonderful as our guide and knowledgeable about the area as well. We will definitely be back!

Had a great experience with David, caught some fish, learned a lot and had interesting talks.read more

David took my husband and I on a wonderful fishing and hiking excursion! He is knowledgeable, kind…read moreand professional. We learned a lot about fishing techniques, and saw some amazing views!

AWESOME 6-day raft trip down the Selway River in N.E. Idaho near Missoula, MT. The river,…read morecampsites, participants, scenery, etc., were great. We had fun and the trip was smooth and went off without a hitch. What made the trip superb were the guides: Izzy, Emma, Kenny, and Woody. The were personable, informatice, accomplished, .... They took care of EVERYTHING! On top of the everyday everything, they made a birthday cake for someone on the trip including the candles.

Amazing tour! I went as a chaperone for a field trip and the guides were so knowledgeable and…read morehelpful throughout the whole trip. We were safe the entire trip and had loads of fun. I would definitely recommend going with ARTA if you get the chance!