Clouds Rest

Mariposa County, California

Description

Incredible views in every direction of Yosemite. If you can't get permits for the Half Dome cables (and even if you can) this hike is a must. Beautiful meadows and stunning views.

This hike is a good 14 mile round trip hike and climbs about 1,500 feet in elevation. The first couple of miles are through a relatively flat meadow and forest and then head into some killer switchbacks for about a mile (make sure you bring those hiking poles. Your knees will thank you on the way down). Once you reach the top of the switchbacks you wander through some more meadow and pass by a beautiful lake before starting the climb to the peak. It's pretty relentlessly uphill for another mile. Once you reach the top, there's what amounts to a big pile of rocks that you need to cross in order to get to the summit and views of Half Dome. It's not a scramble up though - just across. Trust me, it's worth crawling across this if you have to - the views are beyond breathtaking.

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Features

Backpacking

Hiking

Forest

Scenic

Wildflowers

Wildlife

Clouds Rest Reviews

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Nearby

Clouds Rest via Tenaya Lake

The "younger" brother of the world famous Half Dome, Clouds Rest is in fact a solid 1,000 feet taller despite receiving significantly less attention. If you know about this hidden gem however, you're in luck. Starting out from the Tenaya Lake trailhead will save you crowds on the trail and the trouble of driving into the congested Yosemite Valley and fighting for parking spaces. At the start...

Clouds Rest to Half Dome

Because this is not a loop, you will need to figure out a shuttle situation. There are two options for this: 1. Drive your car to the Tenaya Lake Trail Head, and leave it parked there. Once you reach the Valley you will be car-less, but then the next day you can take one of the free shuttles up to Tuolumne to retrieve your car. 2. Leave your car in the Valley, and take the first shuttle up ...

Half Dome & Clouds Rest Loop

Start and end this loop from the Sunrise Lakes TH along the Tioga Road, and in between you'll travel over 26 miles through Yosemite's backcountry gaining and losing over 7,000 feet in elevation. Unlike typical mountain summit hikes where it's climb climb climb to the top and then descend, this will be a day of constant up and down switching from ascent to descent. The trail starts at 8,150' a...

Sunrise Lakes to Clouds Rest

Start out at the Tenaya Lake Trailhead, where you can head directly onto the trail for Clouds Rest or you can branch off after 2.7 miles to Sunrise Lakes. This allows you to break up the hike, spend a night relaxing and help you have an early start back on the trail. Once re-connected to the Clouds Rest trail you begin a brief descent before you come across the only lake on the CR Trail. You d...

Tenaya Lake

Tenaya Lake is located alongside Tioga Road in the park's Tuolumne Meadows region. There is a family-friendly trail that surrounds the lake. Though some spots along the trail on the western shore may require fording the waters, the 2.5-mile trip is an easy hike for all to enjoy. Many others prefer to find a sunny spot along the shore to relax and enjoy the views and the clear waters. Parking...

Climb Hermaphrodite Flake to Boltway in Yosemite National Park

This is a great 5.7/5.8 linkup for anyone looking for an intermediate climb in Tuolumne. Always read through beta on Mountain Project and Super Topo and having the book on hand is always a good idea. To find the route, this photo is super helpful. The flake is pretty obvious, it's the one feature that looks like it's floating, completely disconnected from the rest of Stately Pleasure Dome. Ther...