Clouds Rest Hike Guide

12.5 miles - Hard Effort
6-8 Hours (Total)
3,200 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 9,926 feet
No Dogs Allowed

The Clouds Rest hike in Yosemite is a favorite of the park rangers; you get incredible panoramic views from over 1,000 feet above Half Dome. And unlike Half Dome, for the Clouds Rest hike, no permit is needed, the distance and climbing is manageable, and you don't have to navigate anything like the anxiety-inducing cables section. It's considered one of the epic Yosemite hikes and is definitely worth the effort.

In this Guide:

Video and Turn by Turn Directions for the Clouds Rest Hike
Parking and Trailhead for Clouds Rest
Gear Recommendations and What to Expect on the Hike
Clouds Rest Trail Maps

Quick Links:
Parks Pass - Snag Permits - Park Website - NOAA Weather Report - My Apr 2024 Gear

The last ridge to Clouds Rest gets a bad rap for being scary. While not an ordinary experience, the ridge doesn't offer nearly the level of the danger or anxiety that the cables on Half Dome do. I'll talk about the ridge later in the guide so that you can master it without fear.

Where Does the Clouds Rest Hike Start?

Like most destinations in Yosemite National Park, you can reach Clouds Rest from various trails and routes. The most common and shortest route, which I cover in this guide, starts from Tenaya Lake, which is off Tioga Road in the northern section of the park. Depending on the traffic, it's roughly an hour from the Yosemite Valley to get to the trailhead. And in the winter, the Tioga Road is often closed because of snow. Check the Yosemite NP website closures page for current conditions.

Use this trailhead address:
Sunrise Lakes Trailhead, Tioga Pass Rd, Lee Vining, CA 93541

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 2 — The Sunrise Lakes Trailhead parking area is in a turn-in from Tioga Road, and offers a decent amount of parking. People visiting Tenaya Lake and doing overnight backpacking trips also use the parking lot, so it can be full. There is overflow parking along Tioga Road around the parking area.

The trailhead has a primitive toilet, food storage lockers, and bear-proof trash receptacles, but no water.

Gear For the Hike

This is a tough hike and I recommend having proper hiking gear when heading to Clouds Rest. There is a tough climb and about 50% of the trail is exposed, so bring 3L of water. There are water sources along the trail if you want to treat and refill. Good hiking footwear is a must and trekking poles will help on the climbs. In the spring and early summer the mosquitos and bugs can be intense; bring some repellant with you just in case. As someone said in the hiking forums, "I wanted to lay down and let the mosquitos fly me to the summit."

Gear That I Love Right Now

Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.

Garmin InReach Mini 2If you are out of cellphone range the Mini 2 will reliably allow you to hit SOS via satellite. You can see my review here.

HOKA Speedgoat 5These are a great balance of comfort and performance. The high stack height leaves my feet feeling great after a hike.

Check out the complete list here.

Clouds Rest Trail Maps

Like most trails in Yosemite NP, the trails to Clouds Rest are well-traveled, well-maintained, and easy to follow. The only thing to note is that the mileage markers on the (metal) trail signs don't match with the current trail; they are longer. I'm not sure if this is something the park is going to fix, or if they do it to scare folks a bit, but just something to note as you hike along.

Use This Map:
View in CalTopo | PDF Map | GPX File

How Will You Navigate?

Using the Apple Watch for Hiking

Garmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For Hikers

How To Read a Topographic Map

Garmin GPSMAP 67i Review

Elevation Profile

The hike to Clouds Rest is not a straight uphill. The hardest part is the initial climb. After that you have some rolling terrain and then the final climb to the summit, which is not as steep or tough as the first climb. This is a one-way view of the hike FYI.

The high elevation can make this hike seem much tougher than it would be at sea-level. People have been evacuated on this hike because of altitude sickness. Check out the section on altitude sickness on my guide to Mt Whitney so that you can stay safe.

Hike Landmarks

Landmark	Distance	Elevation
Trailhead	0	8170
Start of First Climb	1.5	8200
First Summit	2.5	9220
Pond	3.6	8960
Last Climb Start	4.2	8880
Start of Ridge	5.9	9620
Clouds Rest	6.2	9926

3D Map

How Dangerous is the Clouds Rest Hike?

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 30 — Although the final push to Clouds Rest is exposed, it's not super-narrow if you follow the trail, which goes to the left of the actual spine in the narrower parts. The view here, which is probably 20 feet wide, is generally as narrow as you will experience.

Having hiked Half Dome and Clouds Rest many times, I can confidently tell you that Clouds Rest is much LESS scary if you have a fear of heights. Here's what you need to know.

The "spine" section of exposed trail over granite is roughly the last 0.3 miles of the hike to Clouds Rest.
On the right of the spine is Tenaya Canyon, a steep drop, and on the left is a gentler slope with some talus and vegetation (before a steep drop).
You don't actually hike on the literal "spine" the entire way. The trail goes on the left side of the spine on the narrowest section, away from any steep drop. I'll show you pictures in the directions below. Stay to the left and you're fine. If you do follow the spine all the way, you will be on a narrow section about 3-4" wide with a steep drop on the right side.
I would (anecdotally) say that the trail never is really less than 5' wide, which is wider than the main Grand Canyon trails. Most of the time it is much wider.
There is always a trail. You are never hanging, jumping, or inching along a ledge or cliff edge.
I encourage you to watch the 360 video (link below) so you can look down and get an idea of what it's like.
If you experience fear, just go a few steps at a time, pause, look ahead for the trail, and continue. Don't look around at the horizon.
The actual summit is not narrow and is wide enough for lots of people.
If it's very windy, it can be a little nervy. I've crawled when winds were 30mph up here.
If there are thunderstorms, it's not safe to be in this exposed location.
In modern times, the only death on Clouds Rest was in 2009, when a woman fell from the summit, not the spine.

Clouds Rest Spine — Here's a view of the spine looking back from the summit. Take the trail to the left (right here in reverse view) of the top of the spine and you'll be fine. You can also see that there is not a sheer drop down to the right in this shot. Just rocks and some trees.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 5 — Stay straight on the main trail, avoiding the trail to Tenaya Lake on the left.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 6 — Hope over the rocks to cross Tenaya Creek. In early spring the rocks can be underwater.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 7 — Another trail to the left, bear right and straight.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 8 — This sign doesn't mention Clouds Rest, but you're still in the right place. Keep going straight.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 9 — One last side trail to the left going to the Tenaya Lake Loop Trail. Hike straight.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 1 — Right after that junction you'll see a trail sign mentioning Clouds Rest (but it's not 7.1 miles from here).

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 10 — Enjoy the next mile or so of flat, shaded trail through the pines.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 11 — After about 1.5 miles you're going to start the hardest climb of the day. It's rocky and steep. Take your time.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 12 — There are some switchbacks and gentler sections.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 13 — And then there are some steep rocky sections. Know that conquering this first climb should be the toughest thing you do on the hike.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 14 — At the summit, hike straight, avoiding the trail on the left to Sunrise Lakes.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 15 — Here's another sign for Clouds Rest at the junction.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 16 — And now you have a downhill followed by some rolling terrain.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 33 — The peak off to the left is Sunrise Mountain, not Clouds Rest, and you don't have to hike up it.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 17 — During the rolling section you'll pass this beautiful seasonal pond.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 18 — And then the trail gets rocky and you start to climb again. From here to the summit, the climb is more fits and starts than a tough grind.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 19 — At the intersection with the Pack Trail, go straight.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 20 — Here's the trail sign at that junction. Not much farther to go.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 21 — Eventually you'll catch a glimpse of Clouds Rest in the distance to your left.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 22 — If you look back to your left you'll also see the dramatic Mt Clark, at 11,527 feet. It's not the highest peak in Yosemite, but it is very prominent. It was named after Galen Clark, the first "guardian" of Yosemite. You can learn more about him in my guide to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 23 — You have one little downhill section before the last push to Clouds Rest.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 24 — When the trail reaches the beginning of the ridge, make the hard left and follow it.

From here on out the trail goes over the granite. There is enough trail traffic here so that you should be able to see footprints in the dirt and smoothing on the rocks to mark the trail.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 25 — Go straight down the middle of the granite, avoiding the right side.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 26 — You'll see a sign for Clouds Rest. Keep heading straight, favoring the left side of the spine.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 27 — You can see that if you get too close to the right side, the drop is extreme. BTW that's Half Dome in the distance to the right.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 28 — Here you can see how the trail follows the left side of the spine. You can also see footprints in the dirt from other hikers.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 29 — More views of the left-side trail, here it's some steps made out of granite.

Clouds Rest Summit — Here you are, the summit!

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 31 — Down to the right are nice views of Half Dome. That little white line up the middle of Half Dome is the cables route.

Clouds Rest Hike Directions 32 — When you're done at the summit, just head back down the same way that you came.

Need More Info?

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.
When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.