

This pass gets you into all National Parks, Forests, Monuments, and more, including 2,000 sites for free after a one-time $80 fee. $35 vehicle OR if you plan to visit more National Parks within the next 12 months, I suggest you purchase the America the Beautiful Pass (which can be found at the entrance gates to most national parks). Things to Know Before You Visit Yosemite National Park Entrance Fees “Rule #2–WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT HALF DOME ON THIS TRAIL.”Ĭlouds Rest Trail in Yosemite National Park, seem with clouds above and blue skies.

“Rule #1: We don’t talk about Half Dome,” I said, looking each of my three friends dead in the eye. As we hoisted our backpacks on, I made just two rules for our hike of Clouds Rest Trail in Yosemite. I’ve earned the nickname “Happy Camper” because I’m always trying to keep the mood positive. You feel as adventurous as Burnell while not having to wait in line to climb the stunning summit. I would strongly argue that Clouds Rest offers its own “first choice” worthiness for the smaller crowds and a true connection with the wilderness. While the mountaintop is known as Clouds Rest, it might as well be called “It’s not Half Dome, but.” Many people who either couldn’t get a permit to climb Half Dome or can’t handle the extreme heights choose Clouds Rest as a backup trail. Discovery of the Yosemite, by Lafayette H. Settling down to rest upon that mountain, thereby indicating the snow storm that soon followed. Some of these names were the selection of my comrades-”Cloud’s Rest,” for one because upon our first visit the party exploring the “Little Yosemite” turned back and hastened to camp upon seeing the clouds rapidly You’ll even get to look down on Half Dome since Clouds Rest is 1,000 feet taller!Ĭlouds Rest Trail in Yosemite National Park got its name in the late 1800s from Lafayette Houghton Burnell, as told in his writing collections Discovery of Yosemite. The most common approach is to hike from Tenaya Lake to the top of Clouds Rest, although several different routes are possible.Īt the apex, you’ll stand nearly 10,000 feet above Yosemite National Park with 360° views of the park and beyond. Clouds Rest | Best Hikes in Yosemite National Park (Shutterstock/Pugventure)Īrticle Overview: Hiking the Clouds Rest Trail in Yosemite National Park.Ĭlouds Rest Trail in Yosemite National Park is an excellent and rigorous high-altitude hike, though it’s often treated as a backup plan for the more popular Half Dome Hike.
