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
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 30 days before your trip date and receive a full, lifetime, transferable credit.
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 30 days before both the current and the new trip dates, subject to our guide’s availability.
Meeting Location: Sunrise Lakes Trailhead at 8,150′
High Point: Clouds Rest Summit at 9926′
Elevation Gain/Loss: +/-1,776′
For a detailed map with elevation profile of the tentative itinerary, click here: Map.
The Clouds Rest hike begins at 7 a.m. at the Sunrise Trailhead parking along the west shore of Tenaya Lake. This is right off of Highway 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 12.5 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 uphill 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.
Options: If time permits, an additional side hike of 2.5 miles can be added to the Sunrise Lakes area.
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, we book all of our Day Hikes as private and do not have an option to join a group. The only exception is our Half Dome in a Day hike in Yosemite, which allows up to 5 guests and 1 guide per trip.
Unfortunately, no, we do not schedule half-day tours. However, as every Day Hike is private, you can modify and customize your day with the guide as needed upon meeting and/or throughout the tour. For example, if you need (or prefer) to end at a specific time, just let the guide know when you meet, and they can make that happen.
Yes, and lucky you, as you will have a private guide for that day.
Yes, see here for our Day Hike Equipment List.
Our Guides will supply trekking poles, the gloves for Half Dome cables, and will also carry first-aid supplies and water purification devices for water along the way. They also carry bathroom supplies (toilet paper, trowel, hand sanitizer), bug repellent, suntan lotion, and they are always armed with fun, natural facts and stories from the park.
No, and we suggest you bring your own trail lunch, snacks, and full water bottles.
Yes, parking is always available at our meeting point, and your vehicle can remain there throughout the day.
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.
See our Day Hike Cancellation Policy on our Terms and Conditions Page, which is summarized below:
Availability
