By: Half Dome: If you're planning to hike to the top of Half Dome, you need a Half Dome permit, which you can request on your wilderness permit application. Much like Half Dome, the views from the summit are certainly worth the climb (and then some). Hike Half Dome & Cloud's Rest on this Yosemite backpacking adventure. But one definite advantage of Clouds Rest is the fact that it has a smaller summit. Plenty of water sources. Make sure to take in the view as you gain elevation on your way up to Sunrise Lakes. First of all, you can do it early in the season when Tioga Pass Road is closed. A tough choice, but in the end you can’t go wrong as they both offer the best Yosemite views you can experience. A wonderful experience hiking to the summit of Half Dome and Cloud's Rest along some of the most spectacular mountain vistas in the world. There … In fact, up to the cutoff to the Half Dome Trail, it is the same hike. To celebrate the holidays t, How do you maintain your backpacking lifestyle as, The many shades of one of earth’s most majestic, HOLIDAY GEAR GIVEAWAY 🙌🏼🎁🎄☃️ Sitting at over 1,000 feet above Half Dome, Clouds Rest is one of the quintessential hikes in Yosemite National Park. Clouds Rest is at a higher elevation, so we felt more breathless at first, but otherwise it is significantly shorter and easier than Half Dome. View from Olmsted Point looking south across the northern face of Clouds Rest. Groveland, CA 95321 800-513-8651 [email protected]. But what they should really be asking is, “Have you done Cloud’s Rest?” This rocky ridge, though taller than Half Dome at 9,931 feet, sits in the shadow of its more famous cousin. Even though there isn't a permit required for Clouds Rest, rest assured that you will not have to deal with a mad rush of people trying to scramble the last section of the trail. Definitely doable. Clouds Rest vs. Half Dome: Which One Should You Hike? * Lasting Adventures offers guided hikes of both of these, and if you just can’t choose, we also offer the Clouds Rest to Half Dome backpacking trip so you don’t have to! I've met folks that did it almost every way imaginable. That's why we send you the best local adventures, stories, and expert advice, right to your inbox. Alas- You CAN and should do them both! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Four weeks ago, I tried to summit half dome and gave up half way to sub-dome since I could not handle the height. The trail starts at the top of Yosemite Falls and makes it way to North Dome with views of Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Valley, and major peaks like Clouds Rest, Half Dome, Sentinel Dome, and Glacier Point. By using this form you agree with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. You'll be able to get to the summit quicker and spend more time soaking in the immense beauty that is Yosemite National Park. Learn how your comment data is processed. To ce, If you’re looking for a unique charity for Givin, It’s the most colorful time of the year 🎶 The, Giving thanks every day for the places we love to, Dreaming of days and places like this! While this is a well traveled trail, the length and intensity of the trail itself will scare away most people looking for a leisure day hike. No permit needed Half Dome, as infamous and drawing as it is, will have to be ignored. Clouds Rest mountain got its name in the 19th century from the Mariposa Battalion. It is also a simpler option as you don’t need a permit to go to the summit as you do for the Half Dome hike. Of course, if you are in great shape, you can do Cloud's rest from the valley, it is about 4 miles and 1200 feet of elevation more than doing Half Dome. Half Dome and Clouds Rest Save Seen from Glacier Point. (The easy way, really, thought, is to overnight in the backcountry, which also makes it easier to get a Half Dome permit. Show us by creating an adventure. Five miles in, the route steadily ascends to a ridgeline. This is a concern since cars parked on Tioga Pass Road after sunset later than October 15 can be cited or even towed. I have done Half Dome 6 times (I think you have done it 70 or more!). Follow Bigfoot 26,275 views. Our route heads to the summit of both Clouds Rest and the iconic Half Dome. Half Dome sits well below the apex of Clouds Rest, and the jaw-dropping 360degree view encapsulates some of the finest vistas in the entire Sierra Nevada Range. Half Dome may be the more famous hike, but Clouds Rest looms quietly in the background-as if pulling the strings from it’s lofty, innocuous perch. Permits are given away in a lottery system for each day, allowing for roughly 225 hikers and 75 backpackers to hike to the top of Half Dome daily. It was a 30 mile day, that is the most I have ever hiked in one day, and maybe ever will. Day 1: Sunrise Lakes > Clouds Rest > Wilderness Camping. This is a strenuous, no joke hike though, so don’t take it lightly if you choose to do it. The trailhead for Clouds Rest is just 16 miles from Yosemite's eastern entrance at Tioga Pass, meaning you can stay in the far less busy Tuolumne Meadows area and skip the craziness of the valley. From Clouds Rest's airy and cozy summit, the most undeniable natural feature is the Northwest Face, a stunning 5000-foot drop into Tenaya Canyon. Yep, us too. But alas, sometimes in life you simply cannot have it all. 7 hrs RT if you are slow. Excitement For the excitement factor, Half Dome wins in the sense that it has the cables and - love them or hate them - they certainly get everyone’s heartbeat going. Tour buses, stores, museums, it can be a little hectic to say the least. Yes, you need someone you can trust to … Clouds Rest … Park near Tenaya lake and hike towards Sunrise. If you’re looking for a less crowded hike, Clouds Rest is for you; however, if you’re looking to summit one of Yosemite’s best known peaks, Half Dome is a better choice. Of course, if we had our choice we would hike both no question. The final approaches and summit views of both Clouds Rest and Half-Dome. Climbing along evergreen stands, isolated, alpine lakes and the eroding curvature of Tenaya Canyon, you may begin to feel you're the only person left in the world. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures. Toward the trailhead, Tenaya Canyon adorns a tableau that resembles an ethereal painting more than reality. It is quite long this way (~23 miles and nearly 6000 ft elevation) but great! The next day, I'll take off from Sunrise Lake and hike over Cloud's Rest (I hope it's clear), then down to the JMT. Get out the, Happy International Hiking Day! Please explore responsibly! While both of these hikes are strenuous, they also provide incredible views of Yosemite National Park.  If you’re looking for a less crowded hike, Clouds Rest is for you; however, if you’re looking to summit one of Yosemite’s best known peaks, Half Dome is a better choice. To reach the Clouds Rest viewpoint, you must also navigate an exposed knife-edge of granite plates that is not for the faint of heart. If you want more of a challenge getting to the summit of Clouds Rest, you can start your hike at Happy Isles just like Half Dome. Yosemite Valley is congestion city most of the time. Backpacking With A Baby Part 2 | Gearing Up, A Guide’s Take: Subtle Features Of 2020’s Best Backpacking Gear, How to Go Backpacking With Young Kids: 3 Key Factors, MERRY CHRISTMAS, CAMPERS! That said, the route over the ridge is more manageable and less dangerous than Half Dome's cable route. We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. $179.00 per adult More info Time of year open to the public: May be inaccessible in the winter. Long day hike from the Sunrise Trialhead to the tops of Clouds Rest and Half Dome A more recent, later in the season hike of just Clouds Rest is here I've climbed Half Dome once a year for the past 7-8 years and decided to tack this years trip onto my weekend plans. With an elevation over 1000 higher than Half Dome and massive bare walls that slope thousands of feet down into Tenaya Canyon, Clouds Rest is an impressive peak that can be seen from all over the park, including Tunnel View and Olmsted Point. If you're slow and careful, you shouldn't feel like you'… Absolutely correct, do both. The dropoff to the south is less extreme, but it wouldn't require special talent to wind up just as thoroughly and symmetrically dead by falling off that side. + Save to a List. Use poles. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. When looking at Half Dome from the valley, you can see Clouds Rest immediately to the left. This iconic granite dome is something people from all walks of life recognize (does The North Face logo ring a bell) and while Half Dome is definitely a hike worth taking on, if you're looking for a less intense, just as insanely beautiful day hike, here are 5 reasons to take look into hiking Clouds Rest. Round trips vary depending on what trail head you're starting at, but Clouds Rest is roughly a 14.5 mile round trip with far less elevation gain. By using this form you agree with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service . Clouds Rest is the neighbor of Half Dome, located immediately to the North of Half Dome. Learn More. Once you reach the top, you'll actually be sitting close to 1,000 ft. above Half Dome. The hike up to Clouds Rest is a difficult yet rewarding one. The next day, I'll hike up Half Dome, then down to the Valley where I'll meet my wife. Sure, it doesn’t have the grandeur that Half Dome has, but having been up both of them, I can say that the view from Clouds Rest is the better of the two. Finally, the Spine will come into view.  Be wary of the 1,000 ft drops on either side as you make your way across.  Enjoy the views of Half Dome and the Valley from the top of Cloud’s Rest before heading back down. And as a day hike, it’s not easy, but is much less brutal than Half Dome— half the climb, no cables or stairs, a little less mileage. On a different day in a different year, some friends and I hiked from Toulumne Meadows on the John Muir Trai, took a detour over Clouds Rest (seen here on the left) and then climbed Half Dome. 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