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South of the road leading to Sunrise Lakes, you will find a small parking lot. But, the Sunrise Lakes trailhead is the best place if you are looking for a comfortable walk. You can start this hike from multiple locations. However, it is lengthy and a bit difficult considering the elevation, but you can easily find your way through the walk. The hike is very straightforward and uncomplicated. Although, it is ideal to visit the place when there is no cloud in the area as it can easily block the view, which makes this hike worth every sweat. Also, you should avoid heading there if there is snow at the top of the mountain.Īs its name suggests, there will be a lot of floating clouds around the area. Otherwise, I highly recommend hiking when there isn’t rain nor a thunderstorm in the area. Hence, the only time you can visit it is between June and October. Therefore, to visit Cloud’s Rest, Tioga Road has to be open. The Cloud’s Rest trail is located along Tioga Road. You can even complete the whole hike in about 5 hours if your body allows you to. Time Required to Complete the Hike:Ībout 6-10 hours are needed to hike to the Cloud Rest’s summit and back, depending on your pace and the amount of time you need for breaks. The elevation gain is around 2,000 feet (610 meters). The trailhead’s elevation is 8,150 feet (2,450 meters), while the Cloud’s Rest’s elevation is 9,926 feet (3,025 meters). The entire round trip is 14.5 miles (23.3 km) long. Let us get to know some of the vital information regarding this hike. The whole hike is about enjoying the beauty that lies within the park’s wilderness and experiencing Yosemite in the most visual way possible. It offers a wide 360-degree panorama of Yosemite National Park, getting an extending view of many landmarks in the area. The Cloud’s Rest hike is one of the most visually stunning hikes in Yosemite. If you’re not sure about which pack you should get, check out our article about the best hiking backpacks to see which ones are our favorites. Whether you’re going on a quick day hike or a multi-day backpacking trip, you’ll need a reliable hiking backpack to help you carry and store your hiking gear.
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I will try to guide you through both hikes and help you decide which one is the best option for you. But, a detailed understanding is needed for preparing for either hike to be able to enjoy them to the fullest. In contrast, the Half Dome hike is one of the hardest, if not the most strenuous hike in Yosemite and will surely give you an adrenaline rush.īoth of these hikes are highly sought out by adventure lovers around the country as they are two of the best hikes in the whole of Yosemite. The Cloud’s Rest hike is for those who like a relatively safe adventure while fully enjoying hiking through the mountains. That being said, which Yosemite hike is best suited for you: Cloud’s Rest or Half Dome? Known mostly for its waterfalls, the park offers a vast area of wilderness and some of the best hiking trails for adventure lovers. Make your way up the final switchbacks and stone stairs to the summit! For the out-and-back, retrace the trail back down to the Mist Trail sign at Happy Isles (watch out for tourists on the descent!).Yosemite National Park is one of the best places for hikers and campers in the United States. Continue until the trail forks again and follow signs for Cloud's Rest (0.6 miles to go). In about 0.7 miles, take a left at the next fork to get on the Sunrise Lakes Trail (signs for Tenaya Lake).
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Cruise the sandy flats of Little Yosemite Valley and then take the right fork at the Half Dome trail head to stay on the JMT at mile 6. Continue on the switchbacks up the JMT, following it across Nevada falls. After crossing the river, follow the right fork for the JMT (this is the "winter route" up to Nevada falls).
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Run along the paved path following signs for the John Muir Trail (JMT) and Nevada falls. Start at the Mist Trail trailhead sign just across the Happy Isles Bridge/bustop. There is a Strava segment for the ascent ( ), but this route is so good it needs its own FKT route for the out-and-back. Broderick, North Dome, Half Dome, Quarter Dome, Mt. Gorgeous views of the Valley, Nevada Falls, Liberty Cap, Mt. This is a beautiful route from Yosemite Valley up to the Cloud's Rest summit and back down again. Runners should report their actual time from the TH to the top.Ī longer option (20 miles out & back) with a lot more vert (7000') starts at Happy Isle (described by Savanah Bergquist): There is a Strava segment for the ascent, but we note that times reported by Strava are approximate. The trail to the top runs about 6 miles from Tenaya Lake, gaining 1775' in elevation in the process.
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Cloud's Rest (9926') is one of Yosemite's most stunning and expansive view points.
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