Clouds Rest, 9926 feet (3026 m)

Where: Yosemite National Park

Trail head: Near Tenaya Lake on Route 120

Length: 14 miles round trip

Cumulative elevation gain: 3000 ft

Difficulty: Difficult

Reservations required: No

Advance planning typically required for permit: N/A

Permit requirements: Get pass upon entry to Yosemite park. If arriving very early or late, get pass upon exit.

Price: Pay at park entrance, waived with national park pass

Report date: 2006-07-16

Reported by: Silviu

Driving directions: Take Hwy 120 E into Yosemite. Approximately 4 hours from the Bay Area, 5 on a Friday afternoon, depending on traffic conditions.

Maps: LocalHikes.com topo map

Trail condition: Very good. Lots of mosquitos, though, if the creeks around are full of water.

Description and other notes: Located just north-east of Half Dome, Clouds Rest doesn't receive all the attention it deserves. The trail close to the top could be too exposed for acrophobics, but the views of Tenaya Canyon, Half Dome and Yosemite Valley are spectacular. Below the summit there is the impresive 4500-foot-high face of Clouds Rest, the largest granite face in Yosemite. The trail continues to Half Dome and Yosemite Valley, for those who prefer longer hikes (21.2 miles one way from Tenaya Lake to Happy Isles).

Comments

Close to the trailhead, this creek may have to be crossed.

First view of Clouds Rest.

Tenaya Lake from the trail.

Acrophobics may have difficult times close to the top.

Half Dome and Yosemite Valley from Clouds Rest.

Campfire after the hike.