If you prefer a quieter hike with a truly spectacular summit - or don’t want to take on the somewhat dangerous cables - then go for Clouds Rest. If you plan to take on one of Yosemite’s big hikes, chances are you have Half Dome or Clouds Rest on your list. We summited Cloud ‘s Rest in about 3.5 hours and several stops along the way to rest and take in the views. Heading towards Clouds Rest will take you down about 300 feet. The ridgeline at the very top of Clouds Rest is very narrow and … The ridge formed when glacier eroded either side of the rock faces. Firstly the trail is one of the highest in Yosemite, making those uphill climbs even harder! Enjoy the views of Half Dome and the Valley from the top of Cloud’s Rest before heading back down. You feel like you’re on top of the world with arguably the best view in the whole of Yosemite. Otherwise it's a mostly downhill return hike to Sunrise Trailhead. If you don't mind the exposure, hiking along the summit ridgeline is an absolutely stunning experience. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. After that it steepens again - but never close to the first climb - and you’ll see the trees begin to thin out and realise that you’re not so far away from the top now! Trekking poles: We’ve used Black Diamond for years as they are light, solid and durable. Length 20.5 miElevation gain 6302 ftRoute type Out & back This may feel like a welcome break, but it’s a debt you’ll have to pay on the way back! Having hiked both Clouds Rest and Half Dome (although we couldn’t get all the way up the cables after finding it too scary! The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and backpacking and is best used from March until October. Despite not making it to the very top we were still pretty happy to have had the opportunity to get even part way up. The elevation definitely plays a factor in difficulty and helps keep away the crowds. All Rights Reserved. Freeze-thaw conditions (max 5°C on Sun morning, min -3°C on Mon night). Luckily this is the hardest section of the whole trail so you know when’ve you’ve got up this bit you can make it the whole way. The trick is not to look down and take the left side. Be careful not to sprain your shutter finger at Tenaya Lake, a beautiful, crystal-blue tarn gouged by glaciers eons ago. On Half Dome you only need to look at our pictures to see the crowds that flock to this iconic track. Here’s everything you need to know about the Clouds Rest hike before you go. It is more varied, with more to see for most of the hike. Reusable water bottle: To avoid single-use plastic. We were actually quite impressed with our pace although we certainly weren’t trying to rush the hike. There’s nothing technical or scary about Clouds Rest, so you will definitely have the gratification of making it to the summit. Clouds Rest is a mountain located in Yosemite National Park, northeast of Yosemite Village. If you do not have the Half Dome permit but you still want to witness the great views and in fact look down upon the Half Dome , Clouds Rest hike (from Yosemite Valley) is THE hike for you. The area is beautiful with views of Sunrise Peak, water crossings, and lots of plants and trees. Time of year open to the public: May be inaccessible in the winter The Clouds Rest hike is one of the hardest in Yosemite for a few reasons. Clouds Rest hike - a complete guide on what to expect, The 16 Best Hikes in Yosemite (and yes we did them all! Starting at Sunrise car park by Tenaya Lake, the trail heads straight into the forest before coming to a riverbed. Posted by 3 years ago. Sign up below to receive stories and tips from Walk My World. The trails passes through meadows and forests, but expect to tackle very rocky, ankle-snapping sections of trail. Luckily we realised our mistake quickly, when people are talking about the easier route on the left they just mean to the left side of the ridge, not left at the start of the ridge. At the saddle and junction with the trail to Sunrise High Sierra Camp, continue south as the trail starts its descent into a forested meadow. Miles: 12.5 miles round trip; Trip length: 10-12 hours; Difficulty: Strenuous; Altitude: 9,926 feet. The first 1.5 miles of the hike are pleasant and mostly level as the trail wanders south through the forested landscape of rolling granite formations. share. However, the hard work is worth it. although much of it has crumbled over time. Most emails are boring, ours aren’t! Soon enough we have our first big push of the hike as the trail ascends roughly 1000 feet to gain the ridgeline east of Tenaya Canyon. Started from the sunrise trailhead in CA-120 at 6:30 am and hiked up to cloud's rest. The one thing that was slightly tricky was the snow and ice in patches but these were fairly easily avoided. But anyway I digress. Check out on REI or Amazon, This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. As you reach the south side of the meadow, the trail begins another 1000-foot ascent and after the next junction, the trail turns west to head for the Clouds Rest ridgeline. You’ll have a slight downhill and then just over a mile of flat walking before the steep ascent begins. Behold: an endless mid-angle slab climb of truly epic proportions! Distance: 12.7 miles (20.5km) Elevation: 4860ft (920m) Time taken: 5 hours 45 Type of trail: out and back. The trail starts at 8,150ft, which may not seem so high at first, but it really kicks in when you start climbing. We begin our trek along the shores of beautiful Tenaya Lake at an already high elevation of 8149 feet. This is the first really great view from the trail and a good place to stop for a break if you need to. Check then out on REI or Amazon, Yak Trax: A game changer for hiking in the snow. Depending on the Seirra snowpack, snow and Ice will still remain along some parts of the trail. The Clouds Rest Trail winds its way through wildflower-covered meadows, forests and rocks before it starts the steep switchbacking (at times stair step) climb. hide. Firstly the trail is one of the highest in Yosemite, making those uphill climbs even harder! It isn’t Everest and you can overcome this once you get used to it, but it is probably the main reason why most people believe this is a really hard hike (if it wasn’t for the altitude it would probably be on the moderate side). Those photos look awesome, but given that I don't have a a lot of experience hiking in snow, it is more snow than I'd be comfortable walking through near the Clouds Rest summit :) I will call up the rangers to ask about current conditions and suggested gear. This is an awesome hike. Once the rocky descent is done the last mile or so is flat and easy to the car park at Tenaya Lake. If there is any threat of thunderstorms, get off of the summit and head for lower ground. The small parking lot on the south side of the road is well-marked but is almost always full. The path will keep going downhill and then undulate (much more gently than the first climb) before you reach a lake. Felt any fear some parts of the world together, and never felt any fear have probably seen a like. Section of trail we love and trees a riverbed clouds rest hike time this web and. Trail if there is snow or ice made that happen Rest summit: 9931 Seasons. 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