Frequently Asked Questions

We're open Tuesday through Friday from 10:30am to 5:30pm, and Saturday from 10:00am to 5:30pm. We're closed Sunday and Monday. Always check our Instagram or call ahead for holiday hours.

We're at 5081 CA-140, Suite A in Mariposa, right on the main route to Yosemite's Arch Rock Entrance. We're about 45 minutes from the park entrance—conveniently located for an easy stop on your way.

Yes! Easy parking in our building's lot or plenty of options along CA-140—even for RVs and trailers.

We're primarily an in-store experience, but we can ship items in special cases. Give us a call to discuss—we'll do our best to help if you can't make it to the store.

We stock trusted outdoor brands including Osprey, Black Diamond, Petzl, MSR, Nalgene, Jetboil, BearVault, and more. We focus on quality over quantity—if it's on our shelf, we stand behind it.

We carry hiking socks but not insoles or footwear. We occasionally have boots and shoes available in our Switchback Gear Exchange. For new footwear, we recommend Fremont House here in Mariposa.

We don't currently offer gear rentals, but check our Switchback section for affordable used options that you can buy at a discount.

Not currently. We're a small operation focused on the in-person experience. Part of what we offer is personalized advice and the ability to see and touch gear before you buy. That's hard to replicate online.

Bring your gear to the store, we'll inspect it and agree on a price. When it sells, you get 70%* as store credit. (Prefer cash? You can cash out at $0.80 per dollar.) Items stay on the floor for 12 weeks with price reductions at weeks 7-9 (20% off) and weeks 10-12 (40% off). No upfront fees.

*70% payout is a limited-time launch offer. Standard rate is 60%.

We accept recent, functional, clean outdoor gear across several categories: hiking gear (packs, trekking poles with lever locks, headlamps), lightweight backpacking equipment (packable tents, sleeping bags, canister stoves), climbing accessories (shoes, chalk bags, packs—no safety gear), technical apparel and footwear from recognized brands, and some watersports gear (dry bags, PFDs, wetsuits). We don't accept ski/snowboard equipment (insurance exclusion), helmets, fishing or cycling gear, large items, or anything damaged, dirty, or off-brand. See our Switchback page for full details by category.

You can pick up your unsold items at any time during the 12-week consignment period. Items not picked up by the end of week 12 automatically become the property of The Approach and may be donated, liquidated, or disposed of.

We're about 45 minutes from Yosemite's Arch Rock Entrance (Highway 140 route). From our store to Yosemite Valley, it's roughly an hour depending on traffic and park conditions.

For day hikes, no. For overnight trips in Yosemite wilderness, yes—they're required by the park. We sell approved bear canisters. Day hikers should still store food properly and never leave it unattended.

No — bear spray is not allowed in Yosemite National Park. The black bears here are not aggressive like grizzlies and are best deterred by making noise, keeping your distance, and storing food properly. We don't carry bear spray, but we do stock bear canisters and can help you with proper food storage for your trip.

Check out our Prepare to Hike page for a complete checklist. The short version: plenty of water, sun protection, layers, snacks, a map, and a headlamp (just in case). We stock all of it.