We spent nearly an hour trying to identify the many surrounding mountains, although with only limited success. It immediately became obvious why Clouds Rest is such a popular summit: This centrally located peak is an outstanding viewpoint for the entirety of Yosemite National Park. Eileen On Summit Of Clouds Rest Looking Down Tenaya Canyon From Clouds Rest Summit We gained the roomy summit in early afternoon (3.6 hours + 2200 feet from Camp 1), along with a dozen other scramblers who had come up the more-direct southwest ridge. High on the ridge, our route transitioned to a delightful Class 1-2 scramble on a grippy granite sidewalk. Trail Sign On Northeast Ridge Of Clouds Rest Our trail took us to a broad saddle between Sunrise Mountain and Clouds Rest, then back along the northeast ridge of the latter peak. After stashing backpacks here, Eileen and I headed up the left-hand (northernmost) branch toward Clouds Rest-one of the most popular summits in Yosemite. In a short ½ mile, we arrived at Sunrise Junction, where two other trails branch off the JMT in the shape of a trident. We awoke to another warm, sunny morning and were back on the trail at 9:00am. Camp 1 In Sunrise Creek Flats Quartzite Peak From Sunrise Creek Flats Day 2: Sunrise Creek Flats to Merced Lake + Clouds Rest Sidetrip Despite being in the middle of a charred forest, our camp was comfortable and functional. We pitched our tent on a sandy bench with a view of Quartzite Peak across Merced Canyon.

Having previously done it with the cables in place, we both thought “No thanks!”Įileen and I continued up Sunrise Creek until reaching a grassy flat at 7800 feet (7.4 hours + 7.5 miles + 4300 feet from parking lot). Several climbers reported that the Cable Route is doable but much more difficult under these pre-season conditions. Considering that the Half Dome climbing cables had not yet been installed for the summer season (they were installed a couple days later), we were surprised to see many people coming down from Half Dome. The summit has wide-ranging 360-degree panoramic views.The JMT led us upward along Sunrise Creek, past the Half Dome Trail Junction. The Sunrise Lakes Trail is a round trip hike of 14.5 miles (23.3 km) that begins at an elevation of 8,150 feet (2,480 m) and gains 1,776 feet (541 m) over 7.25 miles (11.67 km) to reach the summit at 9,926 feet (3,025 m). There are three main ways to access the summit of Cloud’s Rest via the Sunrise Lakes Trailhead off of CA-120 (commonly known as the Northeast Ridge Route) via the Happy Isles Trailhead in Yosemite Valley (commonly known as the South Slope) or via the Northwest Face of the mountain. Bunnell, a medical doctor with the Mariposa Battalion, notes that his party named the summit Clouds Rest because they returned to camp to avoid a snow storm after seeing 'the clouds rapidly settling down to rest upon that mountain.' RecreationEdit The northwest face, mostly solid granite, rises 5,000 feet (1,520 m) above Tenaya Creek.

There are also several technical routes available.Ĭlouds Rest is an arête, a thin, almost knife-like, ridge of rock formed when glaciers eroded away solid rock to form Tenaya Canyon and Little Yosemite Valley. The summit can be reached by a 7.2-mile (11.6 km) trail hike from Tioga Pass Road or a 9.4-mile (15.1 km) trail hike from Happy Isles by way of Little Yosemite Valley.

Clouds rest summit