Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides

What Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides does

Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides (SYMG) is a Yosemite-based adventure tourism operator founded in 1991 that provides guided hiking, backpacking, horse-supported, and rock-climbing expeditions in Yosemite National Park and the High Sierra. The company was one of only two operators historically permitted to guide the entire John Muir Trail and was recognized by Outside Magazine as a "Trip of the Year" winner. SYMG sells multi-day guided tour packages that include permits, meals, gear, and logistics, with pricing conducted via a per-person deposit model ($250 standard; $300–$500 for premium itineraries such as Inca Trail or Phantom Ranch) and final balance due 60 days before departure.

The company runs a direct-to-consumer go-to-market using its website, a 1-800 phone line, and email/newsletter channels, supported by an extensive earned-media presence in outlets including Forbes, CNN, Los Angeles Times, Outside Magazine, Travel & Leisure, National Geographic, and Backpacker Magazine. It also operates a B2B channel through long-running partnerships such as REI Adventures (with which it has a 20-year operating history), Wyndham Vacation Ownership (since 2014), and the National Parks Conservation Association (since 2021). Customer segments are predominantly outdoor-adventure enthusiasts ranging from beginners to experienced backpackers, served via small-group tours (typically 1–9 guests).

SYMG was acquired by Wildland Trekking in December 2024, integrating SYMG's itineraries, field staff, vendor relationships, and brand legacy into Wildland's portfolio. Wildland Trekking is itself wholly owned by Intrepid Group Pty Limited, a large international adventure travel conglomerate whose portfolio spans national parks and trekking destinations across the US, Canada, Europe, Japan, Nepal, New Zealand, Patagonia, Peru, and Tanzania. SYMG has no proprietary technology platform; its competitive position rests on brand recognition, permit/regulatory access in the Sierra Nevada, and the experienced guide community built over three decades.

Name

Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides

Legal name

The Wildland Trekking Company

Website

https://symg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, founded in 1991, offers guided backpacking, horse-supported hiking, and rock-climbing expeditions in Yosemite National Park and the High Sierra. The company serves adventure travelers through DTC channels and B2B partnerships, and was acquired by Wildland Trekking in December 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Adventure Tourism

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), All Other Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services (561599)

akta.pro primary industry

Hiking, Trekking & Mountain Guiding (THAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Outdoor Guiding Services (Hiking, Trekking, Mountaineering) (THAAALAA), Rock Climbing, Mountaineering & Via Ferrata Guides (THAAADAC), Climbing & Via Ferrata Guiding / Instruction (THAAALAH)

Keywords

• Guided hiking tours
• Backpacking expeditions
• Outdoor adventure travel
• National park tours
• Wilderness trekking

Headquarters

HQ city

Yosemite National Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Guided Hiking and Backpacking Tours: SYMG generates revenue through the sale of multi-day guided hiking, backpacking, horse-supported hiking, and rock climbing tours in Yosemite National Park and the High Sierra. Customers pay for trip packages that include guiding services, meals, gear, permits, and logistics. The company was one of only two companies guiding the entire John Muir Trail.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides (SYMG) provided multi-day guided backpacking, horse-supported/portered hiking, and rock climbing expeditions in Yosemite National Park and the High Sierra region. Its trips included professional guiding services, all-inclusive logistics (permits, meals, gear), wilderness safety support, and access to routes such as the entire John Muir Trail. The company was acquired by Wildland Trekking in December 2024 and its itineraries continue under the Wildland platform.

Product overview

Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides (SYMG) was an adventure tourism company providing guided outdoor expeditions in Yosemite National Park and the High Sierra. Founded in 1991, SYMG operated as a portfolio of trip styles including backpacking tours, horse-supported hiking expeditions, and rock climbing adventures. SYMG was notable for being one of only two companies guiding the entire John Muir Trail and received Outside Magazine's Trip of the Year award. In December 2024, Wildland Trekking acquired SYMG's itineraries, field staff, vendor relationships, and brand legacy, continuing to operate SYMG's time-tested adventure programs under the Wildland Trekking umbrella.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Backpacking Tours and Expeditions Multi-day guided backpacking trips through Yosemite National Park and the High Sierra, including guided expeditions along the John Muir Trail. Packages include professional guides, meals, gear, wilderness permits, and logistics management, targeted at hikers seeking all-inclusive backcountry experiences.
• Horse-Supported / Packstock Hiking Tours Hiking expeditions in which pack animals (horses or mules) carry gear and supplies, allowing participants to hike with lighter loads. These tours access remote wilderness areas of the Sierra Nevada that would be difficult to reach otherwise, and are sold as multi-day all-inclusive guided trips.
• Rock Climbing Tours Guided rock climbing tours and expeditions in Yosemite National Park, offered as part of SYMG's adventure portfolio. Note: Wildland Trekking has indicated rock climbing trips are not currently offered following the December 2024 acquisition, though this may change in the future.

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership with NPCA (non-profit partner of National Park Service with advocacy and educational focus) to provide trips to their members in the Desert Southwest. NPCA is a long-standing organization making significant conservation impact.
• LEKIminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020LEKI, maker of trekking poles, partnered with Wildland Trekking to provide poles to guests and collaborate on marketing and promotional campaigns. Wildland guests receive 20% off LEKI trekking poles with reservation number.
• Oboz FootwearminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Oboz Footwear is the official footwear partner of Wildland Trekking, worn by staff and recommended to hiking guests. Companies sponsoring the 'Ask a Pro' blog series highlighting guide expertise.
• BACKPACKER MagazinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Wildland Trekking and Backpacker Magazine teamed up to offer special world-class treks and philanthropy projects, providing opportunities to hike with like-minded adventurers on dream trips and make a difference around the globe.
• REI AdventurescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Wildland has a 20-year history of operating trips for REI Adventures as part of B2B educational and retreat style trips.
• Wyndham Vacation OwnershipcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2014Wyndham Vacation Ownership partnered with Wildland to offer multi-day hiking tours as benefits options to their premier members, continuing since 2014.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• G Adventures: Large global adventure travel company offering guided small-group trips across six continents. Comparable in guided-group product and direct-to-consumer booking, though broader and more internationally oriented than SYMG's Yosemite-centric focus.
• Wildland Trekking: Direct acquirer of SYMG and now its operating parent. Operates guided hiking and backpacking tours across the U.S. and globally, with overlapping Yosemite, High Sierra, and John Muir Trail itineraries. Comparable in product category and customer profile, but a much broader portfolio spanning multiple destinations.

Direct peers

• Backroads: Premium guided active travel company offering hiking, biking, and multi-sport trips across the U.S. and internationally. Highly comparable in guided-trip product, target customer (affluent active travelers), and per-trip pricing tier.
• Boundless Journeys: Boutique guided walking and hiking tour operator offering small-group trips in U.S. national parks and international destinations. Comparable in guided small-group format, active-traveler customer, and premium pricing.
• Mountain Travel Sobek: Pioneer in guided adventure travel with trekking, hiking, and expedition trips worldwide, including in the Sierra Nevada and international destinations. Comparable in premium guided trekking format and experienced-adventurer customer profile.
• Austin Adventures: Boutique guided adventure travel company operating family-friendly hiking, rafting, and multi-sport trips in U.S. national parks. Comparable in small-group guided format, national park focus, and direct-to-consumer booking model.
• Natural Habitat Adventures: Nature-focused guided adventure travel company offering small-group trips in U.S. national parks and global destinations. Comparable in small-group guided model, premium pricing, and conservation-oriented positioning.
• REI Adventures: Operates guided adventure trips (hiking, backpacking, trekking) worldwide, including in U.S. National Parks. Has a 20-year B2B partnership with Wildland/SYMG, making it both a peer and a channel partner. Directly comparable in target customer (active outdoor enthusiasts) and guided-trip product.

Emerging players

• O.A.R.S. Outdoor Adventure River Specialists: Family-owned guided adventure outfitter specializing in rafting, hiking, and multi-sport trips in U.S. national parks. Comparable in guided small-group outdoor adventure product, though with narrower focus on whitewater and rafting.
• Sierra Club Outings: Non-profit-led guided outdoor trips including hiking, backpacking, and rock climbing in the Sierra Nevada and beyond. Comparable in Sierra Nevada hiking and climbing content, though operates under a non-profit membership model rather than for-profit guiding.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides