Descend Clouds Rest’s southern side to rejoin the JMT. From the lake there’s another gradual ascent up the ridge, with the trees seeming to get bigger as I climb. Clouds Rest is a massive granite peak just northeast of Half Dome.The peak can be seen from Yosemite Valley, and at 9,930 ft. is about 1,080 ft. higher than the more famous Half Dome.The peak offers excellent views of Half Dome and the surrounding area. ( Log Out / (Joe's Guide to Yosemite National Park) I’m sorry….. Did you say parking lot? They seemed to think their car was just 10 minutes away. While one insisted they needed to continue up the trail (towards HSC) to their car, I tried several times to explain going in that direction would take them farther into the Wilderness. After some additional questions, I learned they were returning from Clouds Rest and upon reaching the landing area (where the trails intersect) they asked someone which way the “Sunrise Trail” was. What they meant to be asking was which way the Sunrise Lakes Trailhead was and instead what they got was directions to Sunrise Lakes. Essentially, they turned right when they should have gone straight. Had they not stopped for directions from us, they would have found themselves very far from their cars after dark and unprepared. They were off course, both out of water with no filter, wearing  minimal day packs with 3 miles left to hike and dark approaching. thankfully they caught their mistake early, heeded my advice and got turned back in the right direction with only 1/2 mile of misdirection behind them…….. To the east are some of the higher peaks – Mount Lyell, Mount Maclure and Mount Florence – some with patches of snow still clinging on to the upper slopes. I’m surprised how warm the weather is at the end of August, and even more surprised at how busy the park is. Then, let the climbing begin. After taking a few photos and responding to a few urgent emails (it’s the first time I’ve had mobile reception since I arrived at the park), I continue down the southern end of Clouds Rest. As the John Muir Trail gains altitude and crosses some broad meadows, the extent of the burnt area becomes more apparent. (It’s a hard decision… it would have been a great spot for an extended break to see the changing colours of the distant peaks as the sun sets – but I’ve still got five miles to go.) The path climbs immedately, past a few camping sites and up one of the ridges that surround the grassy meadow. Don't worry about throngs of summit-hungry hikers: Clouds Rest lacks the crowds that nearby Half Dome attracts. Sunrise Trailhead off of Tioga Road, just south of Tenaya Lake: Time Required: 7-10 hours to summit of Clouds Rest and back: Length: 13 miles to Clouds Rest and back: Elevation Change: Roughly 2000-feet of elevation gain in two separate pushes with a 400-ft descent in between. The star attraction is Half Dome, rising above the valley floor. Stay for sunrise or sunset if you can. The trail to Sunrise Lakes is around 3.5 miles. At this time of year, there was no water between the trailhead and the Lake. The trail is well groomed, initially rather flat with only slight undulations, and consists of fairly soft footings. There are brief moments where the trail turns rocky, but never are the rocks loose, and there is plenty of shade. At about 1.5 miles, the ascent begins and with its gain of about 1000 feet in a mile, it is a heart pumping climb. This terrain becomes steps of various sorts with travel along switchbacks to ease some of the pain. When the heart starts pumping, and the lungs start burning, stop and take a look behind you as the views of Tenaya Canyon and the opposite Mountain range begin to come into view. All well worth the effort. During one of these rests, I was lucky enough to watch a tiny ground squirrel jump up on a rock, stand on his hind feet, grab hold of the top of a small grain weed, pull it towards him and eat the tiny little morsels; Very cute. Carrying a 40 lb pack, I was starting to feel it just as the ridge line came into view…… Yes! As you reach the top, you will most likely find many who went before you resting. Drop your packs, drink some water and grab a snack. Hold the snacks tightly, though, because the ground squirrels have grown quite accustomed to eating up there …… They are cute, but bold. ( Log Out / The trailhead begins at Tenaya Lake at the Sunrise Lakes Trailhead. At the bottom of the valley is Sunrise Creek, and also the lowest elevation of the entire circuit I’m doing (around 2,195m or 7,200 feet above sea level). 1. 9. Hike from May Lake Trailhead to Sunrise Lakes and set up camp July 15th (Fri): Leave camp and day hike to the summit of Cloud's Rest Return to Camp at Sunrise Lakes July 16th (Sat): Hike north from Sunrise Lakes to Cathedral Lakes Hike north from Cathedral Lakes to Tuolumne Meadows Set up Camp at Tuolumne Meadows backpackers Campground There are sweeping views as you ascend, but it’s not at all like many descriptions suggest. ( Log Out / Clouds Rest is a large granite peak within Yosemite National Park. We had some options as to how far and how many days we would go. Reach the Clouds Rest summit (9,926 feet). DIFFICULT 216.3 mi. Needless to say, we made it to camp around 11:45 so there was plenty of time to set up, relax by the lake on a toasty rock, or lounge in the hammock. About 4:30pm, while getting water from the lake, we were approached by two young ladies lost. They were headed towards the HSC and opted to ask us which way the parking lot was……. You can certainly do all of Cloud's rest in a day if you're so inclined. Going straight will take you to Clouds Rest, another 4.7 miles (7.5 km) ahead. It starts with the first 2.7 miles of the Sunrise Trail, followed by 2.3 miles of the Forsyth Trail, and finally the actual Clouds Rest Trail for 2 miles. Enjoy 360-degree views of Yosemite, including Half Dome, North Dome, Sentinel Dome, El Capitan, Glacier Point, Cathedral Rocks, Pinnacles, Vogelsang, Tenaya Lake, Olmstead Point, Fletcher Peak, Cathedral Peak, and Unicorn Point. During spring melt, this crossing can be a much bigger obstacle. The Sunrise Lakes Trail is a round trip hike of 14.5 miles that begins at an elevation of 8,150 feet and gains 1,776 feet over 7.25 miles to reach the summit at … There are two ways to get to the summit of Clouds Rest: A 7.2-mile hike from Tioga Pass Road via the Sunrise Lakes Trailhead or a 9.4-mile hike from Happy Isles by way of Little Yosemite Valley. Sunrise Lakes Loop via Clouds Rest Trail. And I use the word “narrow” somewhat loosely: I’ve read descriptions such as “a narrow and knife-edged ridge”. The hill behind the first lake is almost glowing orange from the setting sun. A bit further on there’s a small plateauand another junction, this time a trail to Merced Lakes. This was the least inspiring and hardest part of the walk… while never steep, it was a continuous uphill stretch with minimal shade, and big sections of burnt forest. Drive to Sunrise trailhead (We will be leaving one car at Yosemite Valley). There’s a metal sign which states “Clouds Rest Foot Trail”. You will meet your Lasting Adventures Guide here. After what seems like an eternity, you will make it to the saddle where the trail breaks off to Sunrise Lakes and Clouds Rest. I can see why Yosemite draws such big crowds and I’ve enjoyed my hike, but I’d avoid June-August in future and visit when there’s a few less people around! 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. Tenaya Lake â Sunrise Trailhead â Clouds Rest Trail [< ----- 0.62 Mile ----- >] Tanaya Lake â Sunrise Lakes Trailhead 8,150 ft elev. The Clouds Rest Trail winds its way through wildflower-covered meadows, forests and rocks before it starts the steep switchbacking (at times stair step) climb. As I veer off the path to take some photos of the burnt out valley below, I encounter a friendly ranger who explains there was a huge bushfire in 2013 (Rim Fire) that affected large sections of the park. Half Dome is a constant and unmistakeable beacon that dominates the skyline. More. 5.0 There are two trails that leave from Tenaya Lake, one that leads to the north and one to the south. The track follows the edge of the lake, and after taking a few photos I continue to see what photo opportunities the next two lakes offer…. The Clouds Rest hike begins at 7am at the Sunrise Trailhead parking along the west shore of Tenaya Lake. 4. A class 1 hike from the Sunrise Lakes Trailhead (8,160') on CA SR-120, aka Tioga Road, just southwest of Tenaya Lake. If you detour to visit Sunrise Lakes it will take up a few hours more. This is Yosemite glacial geology at its finest. Turn left to go to the Sunrise Lakes instead. You just follow the narrow granite ridge up to the top. Friday: Wake up early and hike Cloud's Rest to observe the sunrise. There’s just 2.5 miles left to get back to the car at the Sunrise Lakes trailhead. BUY PHOTO: An early morning stroll through the lovely granite formations. It was only four miles to Cloud’s Rest from here, but would feel like the longest four miles of my life. My permit begins at Tolumne meadows, and I plan to camp at Glen Aulin the 1st night. The peak off to the left is Sunrise Mountain, not Clouds Rest, and you donât have to hike up it. Moral of the story…. ( Log Out / At the Clouds Rest summit, a large open and rocky area, there’s a fair number of people enjoying lunch – although it’s not crowded. You can hike the Cloud's rest trail from Tenaya lakes and back in one long day (14.5 miles). It’s been an exhausting walk, with Clouds Rest and Sunrise Lakes the highlights – and a few uninspiring sections between. There’s no traffic on the road and the mist is rising off the meadows along the road. steps, rocks, sandy paths, dirt etc. It’s a nice variety making the experience not at all mundane. About 2 miles in, the trail will begin to climb in a gradual fashion with the trees becoming more scarce as you gain altitude. Still an easily maneuverable and wide trail but more exposed so be prepared for heat if the sun is shining. As you approach Clouds Rest, you may notice the effects of the altitude and you will begin climbing switchbacks on the granite. Keep an eye out for opportunities to make your way to the edge to get your first glimpse of Half Dome and Tenaya Canyon. Looking back at Tenaya Lake, from where you most likely started, is quite a treat and an accomplishment for sure. As you approach the Clouds Rest sign, the trail can be easily lost but if you look closely you will see steps and routes that are fairly easy to follow. From the sign, you get a great look at the ridge that stands between you and the top. Many get nervous here, and some choose to quit, as it is definitely a ridge with drops to both sides. That being said, even at its most narrow spot there is plenty of room to safely maneuver your way across the firmly placed boulders.  I encourage you to press on, even if having to do so on all four. I think we lucked out because the trail, and even the summit was very quiet this day with minimal use by other hikers. As we made our way to the top, for a moment we found we were the only ones there. With clear blue skies we had amazing views of Tenaya Canyon to our right, Yosemite Valley to our left and of course Half Dome in all its glory. With binoculars, you can actually watch folks climbing the cables of Half Dome while you enjoy your snack or lunch. Standing about 1000 feet higher than Half Dome, there are many (myself included) who would say this is a better hike. Yes it lacks the iconic cables, but no special permit is required and Half Dome is in the view. Prepared with lunch, after taking our many photos, we found a spot and simply enjoyed being. Hiking guide and photographs for the hike to Clouds Rest starting at the Sunrise Trailhead off of Tioga Road, offering great views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley! The trail was flat for a few miles, then climbed steeply before reaching the short detour trail to Sunrise Lakes. Break Free From Your Story © 2020. The completely still water reflects the sky and surrounding pine trees, and makes a good spot for a brief stop. From Sunrise Lakes, we retraced our steps back to the trail junction with all the signs. It was not yet open for the season. The day ended perfectly for us with a quiet evening eating dinner and watching the sunset from our “back deck”. Glorious day. Instead, I cross Sunrise Creek, after re-filling my water bottles, and take the John Muir Trail back towards Sunrise Lakes. Clouds Rest and Sunrise Lakes Loop is a 23 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Yosemite Valley, California that features a lake and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. From the trailhead, you start the hike by following the trail markers for Sunrise H.S.C. There expansive view over the partk, with Yosemite Valley stretching to the south as far as the eye can see. This is undoubtedly, the easiest route up Clouds Rest starts from Tenaya Lake, a 7-mile YDS class 1 route along hiking trails usually done as a dayhike. There’s one tent up neat the track, while the previous lake had a cluster of tents at the northern end. I make an early start to hopefully avoid the crowds, leaving Tuolumne Meadows Lodge just after sunrise for the Sunrise Lakes Trailhead. The path descends gradually through tall pine forest, soon meeting again wth the main trail that makes its way to Half Dome (my intended next destination) and then onto Yosemite Valley. I’m surprised how few people I see on the trail, which at times is almost hard to follow, considering it’s one of the more famous long-distance trails. There are multiple ways to reach Clouds Rest, but this route from Tioga Road is the easiest and most direct. Distance: 14.5 miles (23.3 km) round trip Trailhead Elevation: 8,150 feet (2,450 meters) Elevation Gain: 1,775 feet (540 meters) After a bit less than a mile of gradual descent, I reach a small spur that faces Half Dome on the other side of the valley. And now you have a downhill followed by some rolling terrain. Hereâs another sign for Clouds Rest at the junction. Clouds Rest is a great hike if you are unable to secure a permit for Half Dome or if you are looking for a longer trail with more elevation gain. There’s no path or signage from here – but none is needed. It’s nice, but not as breathtaking as the first one. jthomas346 1 year, 7 months ago Day 1 Yosemite. Take the Sunrise Lakes trail from Tenaya Lake. 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