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Cathedral Lakes to Clouds Rest & Half Dome

5-Day Half Dome Backpacking Tour

Trip Highlights:

Summit Half Dome

Cathedral Lakes & Peak

Summit Clouds Rest

Tuolumne Meadows

John Muir Trail

Sunrise Lakes

Kick off your Half Dome Backpacking Tour with one of the most iconic sections of the John Muir Trail, weaving between majestic alpine lakes to the summits of Clouds Rest and Half Dome! Camp the first night in the backcountry at Cathedral Lakes amid the spirit of the true high country, then hike the JMT up and over Cathedral Pass with stunning views of alpine peaks along the way. Set up camp in the Sunrise Lakes area for Night 3, and from there, tackle the Clouds Rest summit (9,926’) for one of the most spectacular views of Yosemite Valley in the park! Your adventure culminates with the summit of Half Dome (8,846’) before returning to Yosemite Valley on the famous Mist Trail, passing two spectacular waterfalls. This trip’s strenuous itinerary is well worth it! If you’re looking for an authentic Yosemite experience, with Yosemite's #1 wilderness outfitter, this adventure is for you!

Mileage & Difficulty

28 Miles

Length

5 Days

Price

$2,085

Per Person

Departure Info

4 p.m.
Check Availability

You will receive a full refund if you cancel within 48 hours of the original booking date.

Book with confidence knowing you can cancel for any reason up to 30 days before your trip date and receive a transferable lifetime credit that is good for use on any of our programs.

Not sure if your current trip dates work? Rest assured, you can change your trip date as many times as needed, provided you do so at least 30 days before the current and new trip dates.

All dates remain tentative until confirmed 23-24 weeks in advance.

We are now fully permitted through August 8, 2026 departures.

Yosemite 2025 Update: The National Park Service was given the green light for Yosemite to hire all needed seasonal employees for the summer 2025 season. We do expect to be able to run all our programs as planned. Should reservations be required, participation in Lasting Adventures programs, trips, and/or tours includes entry when reservations are needed

2026 Departure Dates by Month

    June Departure Dates  

  • Sat, Jun 20th – Wed, Jun 24th
    Hurry, only 4 spots remain
  • Tue, Jun 30th – Sat, Jul 4th

    July Departure Dates  

  • Mon, Jul 6th – Fri, Jul 10th
  • Tue, Jul 21st – Sat, Jul 25th
    Sorry, Sold Out
  • Tue, Jul 28th – Sat, Aug 1st
  • August Departure Dates  

  • Sat, Aug 8th – Wed, Aug 12th
  • Fri, Aug 28th – Tue, Sep 1st

    September Departure Dates  

  • Fri, Sep 18th – Tue, Sep 22nd

All dates remain tentative until permitted 23-24 weeks in advance. Please refrain from making travel arrangements outside of this timeline. We will contact you if we are unsuccessful in obtaining your dates. Feel free to contact us if you would like to confirm.

Cathedral Lakes to Clouds Rest and Half Dome Backpacking Trip

For a detailed map with elevation profile of the tentative itinerary, click here: Map.

Day 1

Meet your guide in Curry Village at 4 p.m. Get acquainted with the group and with gear. If time allows before dinner, walk to some of the Valley’s iconic destinations. Camping in the Yosemite Valley Backpackers Campsite.

Today’s Mileage/Elevation: ~0.5 mi / +0′, -0′

Day 2

After breakfast and packing up the campsite, our group will return to Curry Village for our transfer to Tuolumne Meadows and the Cathedral Lakes Trailhead by 8 a.m. Catch your first glimpse of the high country while hiking 3.5 moderate miles up to Upper Cathedral Lake  (9,600′). Upon arrival, have lunch lakeside and set up camp with a stunning view, then spend the rest of the day exploring this iconic alpine lake area, with the option for another short hike to an overlook above Lower Cathderal Lake. We’ll return to camp this evening and enjoy a delicious hot meal and tea before bedding down beneath the stars. Also at this location: swimming, relaxing, and taking in an amazing sunset.

Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 3.5 mi / +1085′, -345′

Day 3

Hike the JMT (John Muir Trail) up and over Cathedral Pass (9,700) for some of the trips most spectacular views, passing Matthes Crest, Tressider Peak, Echo Peaks, and Columbia Finger on the way to Sunrise Lakes. Find your reward for a full day of hiking at the top with a relaxing evening at camp beside Sunrise Lake, complete with a spectacular alpenglow sunset.

Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 7.6 mi / +1237′, -1272′

Day 4

After a hearty breakfast, hike approximately 3.5 miles to the summit of Clouds Rest at 9,926′. Enjoy lunch at the top while soaking in one of Yosemite’s most renowned panoramic views. From the summit, hike down 5 miles to Sunrise Creek for the final night of camping.

Today’s Mileage/Elevation (without Half Dome): 8 mi / +1398′, -3482′

Half Dome

Half Dome will be completed either in the afternoon/evening on Day 4 to catch the sunset or the following morning with an alpine start to catch the sunrise. This is a strenuous uphill of 2.6 miles to the summit at 8,846′. (This is done as a day hike and without the larger backpacking backpacks.) Note: Half Dome is an optional side hike and not required. Those not attending can enjoy relaxing at the campsite and/or along the beach of the Merced River.

Round-trip Mileage/Elevation: 5.2 mi / +2078′, -2078′

Day 5

Wake early and hike 6 miles to Yosemite Valley via the Mist Trail. En route, experience two of the park’s most spectacular waterfalls. Generally, our goal is to finish between 2-4 p.m., but this can be later due to human factors within the group or environmental conditions.

Today’s Mileage/Elevation (without Half Dome): 6 mi / +149′, -3313′

 

Other: Going this route there are options. For example; there is a trail that goes around the summit of Clouds Rest should anyone not want to summit. Half Dome in itself can be an option too.

  • Our trips are all-inclusive. We provide all meals, and we can provide high-quality gear, including Gregory backpacks, Big Agnes tents, sleeping bags and pads, LEKI trekking poles, and eating gear, free of charge. Group gear, including all kitchen supplies, first aid, and water purification, is also included. See the Guide Service Backpacking Equipment List for more information.
  • See our Frequently Asked Questions, Yosemite Transportation Options, and/or Yosemite Lodging Options.
  • Parking will be available adjacent to the first day’s meeting location.
  • All trips include the required permits and are pending permit availability, which we gain 23-24 weeks in advance. Please refrain from making travel arrangements until we have confirmed dates. If we cannot acquire permits for this exact itinerary on your chosen dates, you will be contacted with options to choose different dates and/or cancel/refund.
  • Should weather, fire, and/or delayed seasonal openings affect the chosen itinerary, a different itinerary will be offered. Lasting Adventures is recognized for its commitment to safety and risk management. In this regard, the summit of peaks will not be attempted when clouds are in close proximity.
  • Safety harnesses are not a requirement for the Half Dome cables, and we neither recommend for nor against them. It is a personal decision that ultimately lowers risk. We do not supply harnesses and/or Via Ferrata systems. You are, however, welcome to bring your own. For answers to other Half Dome questions, visit our Half Dome FAQ.
  • Should reservations be necessary to enter Yosemite, your booking confirmation with us will serve as your entry reservation for the days booked with us. This should not be confused with entry fees, which still may be required.

Your participation helps sustain our non-profit mission of supporting youth, families, and disadvantaged communities with positive experiences in America’s National Parks and natural spaces.

Yes, our backpack trips are perfect for both those who are new to backpacking and those who have backpacked before and are looking to explore new areas.

Yes, overall, most of our clients travel solo, and everyone always leaves with new friends. Often these new friendships return and join us in different parks and/or on different itineraries. Solo participants will be offered single-person tents.

On backpacking trips, our average group size is 8-10 people with at least two guides, however, often groups are much smaller. We strive for a 1:5 guide to client ratio at most on all trips. We also appreciate small group sizes to maximize your experience.

You can expect to carry anywhere from 30-50 pounds, but no more than â…“ of your body weight. You will carry all your personal gear and, if possible, a share of the group gear. Within the group, bigger people carry more and smaller people less. For over 30 years now, this process has worked to everyone’s advantage.

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We have a long history of meeting the needs of most all dietary restrictions and even some very complicated ones. When registering, you will complete a questionnaire to give us a brief picture of your needs. Later, you will complete a more detailed Medical Form, which you can use to include additional information. The staff guiding your trip will call you the day prior and, when packing the food/gear for the trip, will go over your needs and modifications in more detail. Although we have many options in stock, we respect it if you ultimately decide to bring your preferred substitutions.

Yes, parking is always available close to our first day’s meeting point, and your vehicle can remain there throughout the trip. Although parking is free, remember to expect a vehicle fee when entering the park.

Although past clients have said they were glad they rented a vehicle, there are limited public transportation options for most of the trips we offer in Yosemite. See here for additional information: Yosemite Transportation Options.

You can store your valuables and/or extra gear/luggage either locked in your vehicle or our guide’s vehicle for the duration of the trip.

To avoid the processing fees associated with online registration, you can pay by check, Zelle, or bank transfer. See more information here: Payment Options. 

Lasting Adventures offers a very forgiving and structured Cancellation Policy, with lifetime transferable credit always an option up to 30 days prior to the trip. For a full description, visit our Terms and Conditions page.

Safety harnesses are not required for Half Dome, and we neither recommend nor oppose them. It is a personal decision and ultimately poses a lower risk. We do not supply harnesses and/or via ferrata systems. You are, however, welcome to bring your own.

  • Our trips are all-inclusive. We provide all meals, and we can provide high-quality gear, including Gregory backpacks, Big Agnes tents, sleeping bags and pads, LEKI trekking poles, and eating gear, free of charge. Group gear, including all kitchen supplies, first aid, and water purification, is also included. See the Guide Service Backpacking Equipment List for more information.
  • See our Frequently Asked Questions, Yosemite Transportation Options, and/or Yosemite Lodging Options.
  • Parking will be available adjacent to the first day’s meeting location.
  • All trips include the required permits and are pending permit availability, which we gain 23-24 weeks in advance. Please refrain from making travel arrangements until we have confirmed dates. If we cannot acquire permits for this exact itinerary on your chosen dates, you will be contacted with options to choose different dates and/or cancel/refund.
  • Should weather, fire, and/or delayed seasonal openings affect the chosen itinerary, a different itinerary will be offered. Lasting Adventures is recognized for its commitment to safety and risk management. In this regard, the summit of peaks will not be attempted when clouds are in close proximity.
  • Safety harnesses are not a requirement for the Half Dome cables, and we neither recommend for nor against them. It is a personal decision that ultimately lowers risk. We do not supply harnesses and/or Via Ferrata systems. You are, however, welcome to bring your own. For answers to other Half Dome questions, visit our Half Dome FAQ.
  • Should reservations be necessary to enter Yosemite, your booking confirmation with us will serve as your entry reservation for the days booked with us. This should not be confused with entry fees, which still may be required.

Your participation helps sustain our non-profit mission of supporting youth, families, and disadvantaged communities with positive experiences in America’s National Parks and natural spaces.

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All Lasting Adventures Backpacking trips require trailhead permits, which we gain 23-24 weeks in advance through a lottery process.

We are now fully permitted through August 8, 2026 departures.

If you register for a date after August 8, 2026, and we can’t get the necessary permits, we will work with you to select alternative dates or trips. A complete cancellation or refund is always the final option.