Clouds Rest

One of the more historic and unknown mountains in Yosemite is Clouds Rest. The mountain’s current name comes from Lafayette H. Bunnell, who was the doctor of the Mariposa Battalion which explored Yosemite Valley and Yosemite in the nineteenth century before it became a National Park. Bunnell (whose name now graces the Bunnell Cascade along the Merced River in Little Yosemite Valley) named the mountain such because when he viewed it after a snowstorm, the clouds appeared to “rest” upon the mountain. At 9,930 feet of elevation, and with a distinctive knife-like arete ridge, Clouds Rest can be viewed easily from Yosemite Valley and various other peaks in the park, particularly as it towers above nearby Tenaya Canyon.

A iconic, challenging trek through Yosemite’s high country

The "younger" brother of the world famous Half Dome, Clouds Rest is in fact a solid 1,000 feet taller despite receiving significantly less attention.

Looking to tag a life-list summit without queuing up? Pass on Half Dome, and opt for the 12-mile climb to Yosemite's unsung granite peak.

Incredibly stupendous side-on views of Half Dome are the highlight of this hike. Near Yosemite Valley, California.

Sitting at over 1,000 feet above Half Dome, Clouds Rest is one of the quintessential hikes in all of Yosemite National Park. Sure, it doesn’t have the grandeur of completing it that Half Dome has, but having been up both of them, I can say that the view from Clouds Rest is the be

The best place to enjoy the view of Half Dome from the top. Cloud's Rest, a massive granite formation just northeast of Half Dome in Yosemite...

Why hike to Clouds Rest? ... Turn a complete circle and you'll be able to see any number of Yosemite landmarks, including Tenaya Lake, Half Dome, Mt. ... Getting There: The

Clouds Rest: Hiking to One of Yosemite's Best Viewpoints The 13 mile out and back hike to Cloud's Rest off Tioga Pass is one of the better hikes in the natio...

When it comes to classic Yosemite peaks, Half Dome gets all the attention. All the maps and trail guides talk about Half Dome. Every person who finds out you’re in Yosemite has to ask, “Have you done Half Dome?” But what they should really be asking is, “Have you done Cloud’s Rest?” This rocky ridge, though taller than Half Dome at 9,931 feet, sits in the shadow of its more famous cousin. But for those in the know, this is the place with the best views in the whole park — better than Half Dome, and far less crowded on the trail and at the top. If you didn’t win the lottery for the Half Dome cables (and even if you did), put this at the top of your Yosemite list. You can summit Cloud’s Rest on a day hike but it’s most spectacular as an overnighter, which we did after backpacking in from Sunrise Lakes. Despite an elevation change of 2,700 feet, the biggest challenge on the hike was the extra weight in water we had to carry. With no water source near the summit of Cloud’s Rest, we needed to bring enough water for our hike in, that …

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! (Joe's Guide to Yosemite National Park)

51 reviews of Cloud's Rest "DO NOT take this hike lightly. This was a very strenuous and challenging hike. Remember if you're not use to the elevation the air is thinner. Don't be afraid to take breaks. We started right by Tenaya lake. We parked…

Clouds Rest is a mountain in Yosemite National Park east northeast of Yosemite Village, California. Although there are many peaks in the park having far greater elevation, Clouds Rest's proximity to the valley gives it a very high degree of visual prominence.