Trip Highlights:
Our Clouds Rest hike is the ultimate bucket-list Yosemite adventure! The summit of Clouds Rest is the neighboring peak to Half Dome, located immediately to the North and peaking over 1,000 feet higher. When looking at Half Dome from the valley, you can see Clouds Rest immediately to the left. At 9,926’ in elevation, the summit offers one of the best views in the park, and an unparalleled vantage of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley. This challenging 14.5-mile day hike is a favorite for guests and guides alike, making it among our most popular day tours. All Clouds Rest day hike tours are private.
All Tours Are Private
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
Meeting Location: Sunrise Lakes Trailhead at 8,150′
High Point: Clouds Rest Summit: 9926′
Elevation Gain: 1,776′
The Clouds Rest hike begins at 7 am at the Sunrise Trailhead parking along the west shore of Tenaya Lake. This is right off of Higway 120/Tioga Road between Olmstead Point and Tenaya Lake. You will meet your Lasting Adventures Guide here.
The distance of the Clouds Rest hike is approximately 14.5 miles round trip from Tenaya Lake in the Yosemite high country with a total elevation gain of 1,776′. The trail begins at an elevation of about 8,150 and the first 1.5 miles is gradual before miles 1.5-2.5 which offers one of the more difficult climbs of the day. The reward at the top of this first climb is an awesome hidden viewpoint down the length of Tenaya Canyon seeing the valley in the distance past both Clouds Rest and Half Dome.
The next few miles are a combination of some downhill and gradual uphills before the last climb to the summit. Views of the high country in a less crowded area are abundant as we pass by a pond and break at a stream. After the break we start winding uphill again as we gain a view of the Clouds Rest summit and more views up the Merced River Canyon. The last 1/4 mile or so to the summit we call ‘The Spine’, a narrow ridge with a steep drop off to the west of about 4,000 feet and a lesser drop to the east of around 1,000 feet. This provides an exciting adrenaline rush at the end, but is certainly more low key than summiting Half Dome.
The reward at the summit is one of the best 360 degree views in the park. From this viewpoint you can see many famous Yosemite icons such as Half Dome, El Capitan, Glacier Point, Mt. Watkins, North Dome, Sentinel Dome, Mount Hoffman, Mount Lyell, Mount Conness, Mount Dana, Merced lake, Tenaya Lake … and the list goes on.
Notes:
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.
REQUIRED FORMS
In addition to full payment, the final acceptance of any participant is subject to receipt and review of all the Required Forms. These forms will be signed via a link provided in your confirmation email from our booking agent, under the link for “Digital Waivers” and must be signed by each attending adult. Minors will be included on the same form as their parent/guardian.
We will require an additional medical release for any “Half Dome in a Day” hikers or any guest who is currently under the care of a physician for any ongoing disease, illness, or any other condition/factor that may be a concern on the trip.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
For your protection and ours, we strongly recommend the purchase of Travel Insurance, which can provide you with coverage for trip cancellation/interruption (including COVID-19), travel delay, medical expenses, emergency assistance, airfare, and baggage loss/delay to protect your financial investment. We recommend those with “cancel for any reason” clauses included. See reviews of some of the best Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Options presented by Forbes or Squaremouth. Othe
Travel Insurance is the easiest and best way to protect yourself and our smaller non-profit organization against last-minute cancellations. We are happy to provide timely and accurate documentation for any insurance claim related to our trips when requested. Please remember that when canceling a reservation, you must first contact the company responsible for ensuring your reservation.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Full payment is required upon registration for day trips.
When registering online, expect to pay a booking fee of 3.0% (which is capped at $30) and a processing fee of 2.7% (no cap). These fees can be avoided when paying by check and are non-refundable. For detailed information, see our Payment Options page.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICIES
Lasting Adventures reserves the right to cancel trips. If a trip is canceled due to circumstances beyond our control, a credit equal to the total amount paid will be issued. Lasting Adventures is not responsible for additional expenses incurred while preparing for the trip.
The following cancellation policy is only for trips booked directly through our official website, lastingadventures.com. If you have booked via a third-party website (such as TripAdvisor/Viator, bookyogaretreats.com, or 57Hours), the below policy does not apply, and you are held to the third-party’s cancellation policy.
Day Hike Cancellation Policy
Half Dome in a Day Cancellation Policy
48-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation Policy
Any reservation can be canceled within 48 hours of the initial booking, and we will grant you a full refund minus a 2.7% processing fee for credit card transactions. After 48 hours, our standard terms and conditions apply. To cancel, please email us at staff@lastingadventures.org or leave a voicemail at 800-513-8651. This policy does not apply if the booked trip occurs within 96 hours of the initial booking.
Fire/Smoke Cancellation Policy
Fire/smoke cancellations are considered circumstances beyond our control. If your chosen travel insurance does not cover fire/smoke cancellations, a credit equal to the total amount paid will be issued. If we cancel during your adventure with us, we will issue a non-refundable credit equal to the dollar amount associated with the number of days not used. In both cases, these credits will be lifetime/transferable but non-refundable.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Departing From a Trip: Once a participant has joined a trip and the trip has begun, no refunds or credits will be issued, regardless of the reason for departure. Costs associated with assisting a participant with evacuating from the wilderness will be passed on to the participant. Travel Insurance is strongly recommended.
Infectious Illness Policy (including COVID): Any participant on any program/trip with any sign/symptom of a potential illness will not be able to participate, and no refund or credits will be given. Many forms of Travel Insurance cover these circumstances. We ask that you screen yourself and/or your child before participating and contact us to cancel if any sign of illness is present. Health screenings can be expected in all youth programs.
Half Dome & Other Summits: Reaching the top of a summit, such as Half Dome, is risky and can be made far worse by inclement weather. While we aim to get everyone to the top, summiting is not guaranteed. Lightning and rain can be deadly on exposed summits, and our experienced guides may have to call off a summit bid if weather conditions are unfavorable. You will not be allowed to summit using a Lasting Adventures permit should the experienced guide decide the conditions are not favorable.
TRIP CHANGE/CREDIT POLICY
Once you book a trip with Lasting Adventures, the value you paid is valid towards switching to another trip in the current or the coming year, pending available spaces on the new trip. Changes to your booking and conversion to credit must occur more than 30 days before your original start date. Changes within 30 days are subject to fees. Once changed to a lifetime/transferrable credit, credits are non-refundable and are a dollar-for-dollar value.
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