It’s a good idea regardless of your hiking speed or whether you’re planning to day hike or backpack, to get to the trailhead early in the day. Slower groups might find themselves spending upwards of 10 hours on the trail. Fast hikers who have experience with high altitude may be able to day hike the trail in as little as six hours. The amount of time it will take to hike to Clouds Rest depends on the abilities of your group. Hiking on the Clouds Rest trail (Photo: Grant Ordelheide) How Long Does it Take to Hike Clouds Rest? While the elevation gain and altitude will still be challenging, especially carrying a loaded pack, it’s more manageable when you split the trip into two days.ĭay hiking, or backpacking Clouds Rest, is not a suitable hike for beginners or young children. At the summit, you’ll be at almost 10,000 feet above sea level, which can make the hike feel much harder for those who aren’t used to high altitude.Īs an overnight backpacking trip, Clouds Rest is more moderate. The trail is rocky and uneven and much of the hike is shade-less and on bare rock making it quite warm on a hot summer day. At 14.5-miles round-trip, the trail is very long and has some very steep climbs. If you choose to do Clouds Rest as a day hike, most visitors will find it very strenuous. 15, so backpacking is not an option after that. Overnight parking at trailheads along the road closes on Oct. This hike is only accessible when Tioga Road is open, usually June through early November. Choose a site before you start climbing up the narrow ridge and drop your pack to go experience the views before heading back to set up camp. Camping isn’t allowed on Clouds Rest itself and camping opportunities are pretty much non-existent within half a mile of the summit. There are no designated campsites at Clouds Rest, so if you’re backpacking, you should choose a site that looks like it has been used before, making sure to camp at least 100 feet from any water. You’ll gain approximately 2,300 feet in elevation as you climb to one of Yosemite’s most stunning summits. It’s better suited for an overnight backpacking trip so that you can take your time and catch incredible sunset and sunrise views. At the summit, you’ll get a unique perspective on iconic Half Dome and even be able to spot climbers ascending the cables with a good eye or a pair of binoculars.Īt 14.5-miles roundtrip, the hike to Clouds Rest is an extremely long day hike that should only be attempted by experienced and fast hikers on good weather days. This classic Yosemite hike will take you through a beautiful forest, past gorgeous mountain views and up a rocky spine that provides just enough exposure to get your heart pounding without it feeling too scary. If you want to experience similarly incredible views of Yosemite Valley and the surrounding Sierra Nevada as you would from the top of Half Dome, but don’t want to vye for super-competitive permits, hiking Clouds Rest is a perfect choice.
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