Canucks looking for suggestions from from San Fran to Yosemi

[thecanyonwalker]

Hello,

Hoping someone can helps us with some suggestions as to how we might hire a shuttle service from San Fran to Yosemite to begin the JMT,

We have located an exit shuttle service, but hoping we might find something similar on the front end as to make our deadlines work we need to be as direct as possible and hoping to minimize transfers and chances for things to go wrong.

If you have any suggestions as to services I would be greatly appreciative,

[The Other Tom]

This thread might help......
viewtopic.php?t=3531" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[markskor]

Don't know if landing in San Francisco is the best option. You might try Sacramento instead without using any expensive shuttle.
Suggestion - Land in Sacramento and grab one of those ubiquitous $20 airport shuttles to the Downtown Amtrak located 3rd and J - about 6 miles. From there (you can check/coordinate schedules on-line) there is a $46 train - bus connector right into Yosemite Valley. Takes about 6 hours (not bad as driving takes ~4 hours) and quite comfortable. Stay in the Valley backpackers site that night or two (no reservation needed - $5 pp), grab your JMT permit and you are set.

There is also another similar Amtrak connector from SF - Yosemite, but never used that one yet. I understand it takes a few hours longer and costs a bit more.

In fact, depending on when you go, I would even be willing to pick you up at the Sacramento Airport and drop you off at the Train station...anything for someone doing the Muir for the first time.

[The Other Tom]

Another option would be to fly to Reno and take the CREST bus to Lee Vining, then Yarts to the valley to start the hike. At least I think that's how the connections work. You could probably google CREST and Yarts to get the schedules.

[Pietro257]

Amtrak runs a service from San Francisco to Yosemite Valley. You can take it from the Ferry Building in San Francisco (at the bottom of Market Street). They bus you across the bay to Emeryville, where you board the train and get off at Merced, California. From there, a bus takes you to Yosemite Valley. The cost is $37 and it takes six hours. Here is the Web site:

http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've taken this route a couple of times, and it's pretty way to see California. One warning: If you come back on this route, the train can be very late. On the way back, you wait in Merced for a train from Chicago or somewhere or other. This train can be late arriving.