Cloud’s Rest Trail: A Guide To The Best Hike in Yosemite National Park- Clouds Rest Hike is one of the must do hikes if visiting Yosemite National Park in California. This 12-14 mile round trip hike can be a hard hike to accomplish but so worth it. This hike will give you 360 degree views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and more. This is also a great alternative if you did not get into the Half Dome ticketed lottery. This hike may seem intimidating but is really for any hiker with some determination and stamina. This article will give you all the information you need to complete the Cloud’s Rest Hike, where to stay, how hard, how long, tips, tricks and much more.
Stats
Length: 12.5 miles (20.1 kilometers) round trip
Time: 6-8 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation Gain: 1,775 feet (540 meters)
Trailhead: Sunrise Lakes Trailhead/Tenaya Lake Picnic Area West Side
Overview
Other Options to Hike to Cloud’s Rest
Other Hikes In The Area That You Might Like
Other Articles You May Be Interested In
When To Go
The best time to go on the Cloud’s Rest hike is June through October. We went at the very end of September and a few weeks later there was a snowstorm that closed Tioga Road.
Tioga road can get snow before the valley and can close to visitors before the Yosemite Valley does.
Going in the shoulder seasons provides cooler weather and less crowds but you will need to keep an eye on storms.
Thunderstorms are another event you might want to avoid. There are not many areas for coverage as a lot of it is granite stone along the trail.
Where To Stay
We booked this trip just a few months out and had a hard time finding affordable accommodations. We ended up in Mariposa, California. We enjoyed our time there and there were many options for restaurants. It was about a 1 hour drive to the Yosemite National Park entrance and about 2 hours to the Cloud’s Rest Trailhead Parking Lot.
We stayed at the Gateway to Yosemite AirBnB.
How Hard Is The Hike?
This hike is considered difficult because it needs stamina, it is a long hike. Most of the hike’s elevation climb is in the beginning, so if you can get past that you can do the entire trail. I was about 14 weeks pregnant when I hiked this trail.
Besides the length of this trail the end has a narrow ridge which can look frightening to many that are afraid of heights. I believe that the narrow ridge looked worse in photos than it actually was in person. But it doesn’t come close to Angels Landing or Half Dome hikes.
The narrowest part of the trail is about 15 feet wide. Even though there are drop offs on both sides it is a sloping drop. Just stay in the middle and avoid a big crowd coming through. It is not a long distance until it widens back out.
How To Get There
To get to the trailhead you will need to go on Tioga Road. This road is above the Yosemite Valley and typically takes longer from the main entrances to get to.
We used the Yosemite Valley Central Entrance since we were coming from Mariposa, CA. From the entrance it took us about another 1 hour and 10 minutes to get to the trailhead. So make sure you plan for that extra time.
From the West Entrance it may take 1 hour and 40 minutes.
From the East Entrance it may take only 25 minutes.
You will need to get a National Park entrance day use ticket or use an America the Beautiful Park Pass for this hike as it is in park grounds.
When we went in the Fall of 2021 they were still using the reservation system during the busy season. They ended reservations in October and used them again in the winter for the famous Horsetrail Fall glow.
I would believe that they would continue to use the reservation system in the high season, check their website to see if you need one.
The Route
Parking
When we went on this trail in the Fall of 2021 they were doing construction on a new parking area for the trailhead. We ended up parking across the street from the trailhead, making sure we were pulled far enough off from the Tioga Road.
On Google Maps this is labeled the Sunrise Lakes Trailhead.
There are vault toilets to use before heading onto the trial.
Start
Make sure you read the trail markers along this trail as there are a few times it does split. As long as you pay attention the markers are pretty clear.
After leaving the parking lot the beginning mile or so is fairly flat and a nice warm up. It starts with a boardwalk.
The first split comes up quickly. The left goes to Tenya Lake and the right goes to Cloud’s Rest.
Depending on the season there will be a river crossing. It was dried up when we went but there are rocks to cross over on to keep your shoes dry.
The Incline
After a few more rights along the trail you will start the hardest part of the Cloud’s Rest trail. This is about 1.5 miles into the trail.
For the next mile you will gain about 1,000 feet in elevation. It is tough, take your time. Plan for a few rest breaks, water breaks and bring some snacks.
After this section of the trail you will have no problem with the rest. You may seem like you have many more miles to go but the views get better and the incline is way less intense.
Giving your muscles a break you will go down hill a bit before getting to a small unnamed lake.
After the lake there will be some slight uphill treks. This will be nothing compared to before. The views become more scenic but a little bit more in the open. This would be a good area to reapply the sunscreen or wear a hat.
The Narrow Ridge
Eventually you will start to see more of the famous Yosemite granite rock while you come out of the trees. Pictures make this section look pretty scary for someone that is afraid of heights. I am not usually and looking at the hike before coming I was a little nervous. But seeing this in person I felt like it was not nearly as bad as it looked before.
There are drop offs on both sides of the rocks heading out to Cloud’s Rest but they are for the most part gradual and the trail is wide. So stay in the middle, wait for a crowd to pass if you need to and take you time.
If you have good footing this part of the trail will be easy. The thinnest part of the trail is about 15 feet wide, and it is a rather short section of the path.
The trail widens as you get further out on the trial. There are lots of different sections you can hang out on, eat lunch and take some pictures. It was pretty quiet on this trail in the fall, but still hot as there is not a lot of shade at the end point of Cloud’s Rest.
The End of the Trail
Here we took some photos, ate, and walked around. We even could see a few people hiking Half Dome, we wished we would have brought some binoculars.
Once ready you can take the same trail back to your car.
Other Options to Hike to Cloud’s Rest
A Through Hike
You can continue this hike down to Yosemite Valley if you have set up transportation and are prepared for the long trek. This will take you down past Half Dome Trailhead and then down into the Valley (you would still need a permit to go on the Dome part of the trail).
You can also hike from the Yosemite Valley up to Half Dome. It would be quite the uphill climb I would suggest going From Tioga Road down to Yosemite Valley.
Split it into a Two Day Hike
We saw a few people setting up camp along the Cloud’s Rest Hike. It would be awesome to spend the night here checking on the dark sky and stars at night.
Tips For The Hike
Leave No Trace
Make sure you practice Leave No Trace 7 principles to leave minimal impact on the trails.
Be Bear Aware
Make sure you are Bear Aware while in any part in Yosemite. We did not carry bear spray while on any hikes in Yosemite. We did not see any moose or bear along these hikes. Stay alert, make noise, and seal food in containers. I also used a bear bell since we are usually pretty quiet hikers.
Watch For Weather
There is not much storm coverage at the top of this trail. Make sure you keep in eye on the weather before heading out on any of these hikes.
Go Early
Going early will help you beat the crowds and the heat. And maybe even give you a better chance at seeing some wildlife if you are interested in that. Going early also helps you secure a parking space as well.
What To Bring
Water– we each carried 2 liters of water in our hydration bladders with an additional collapsible water bottle on most longer hikes.
Hiking Poles– my husband never used hiking poles but I find them very valuable to me knees for those uphills and downhills at the beginning of the high elevation hikes.
Layers– You never know what the weather and high elevation hikes may bring you. Dress in thin layers and make sure you bring a raincoat as well.
Sunscreen– Sunscreen is essential, being on the rock face with not much shade can be a bad combo on a sunny day.
Bear Spray– We did not bring any during this trip but some people like to, and I had attached a bear bell on to my backpack.
Bug Spray– Although we didn’t seem to get bitten by bugs much during this time of year it is always smart to carry some with you.
Hiking Shoes– Good sturdy hiking shoes are a must. I love my Ahnu’s.
Snacks/Food– This is a long hike, we packed many snacks such as granola bars, jerky sticks, fruits strips and more. We also packed a sandwich to eat at the top.
Sunglasses/Hat– Again it is very bright at the top of some wide open areas. I would pack sunglasses and maybe even a hat if you are sensitive to the sun.
Other Hikes In The Area That You Might Like
Mt. Watkins– This was one of my favorite hikes in Yosemite. I think because we only saw maybe 5 other people on this trail. It was so peaceful and only about 6.2 miles round trip. It is along Tioga Road, giving you amazing views of the Yosemite Valley below.
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