Clouds Rest

Clouds Rest's granite summit sits at 9,926 feet — roughly 1,000 feet above Half Dome's, so instead of standing on that famous dome you end up looking down onto it, with Tenaya Canyon and a wall of High Sierra peaks spreading out below. Unlike Half Dome, no permit is required to hike here, which makes it a solid full-day option even during the peak-season cables lottery scramble.

Two Ways In

Most hikers start at the Sunrise Lakes Trailhead off Tioga Road near Tenaya Lake, where the round trip runs about 14.5 miles with roughly 1,775 feet of elevation gain from a trailhead already sitting near 8,150 feet, and takes 8-10 hours. Tioga Road only opens once snow clears — typically late May or June — and closes again after the first heavy snowfall, so this shorter route only works in warmer months. Starting from Yosemite Valley via Happy Isles instead stretches the hike to roughly 18-20 miles round trip with about 6,000 feet of gain, a serious undertaking usually done as an overnight rather than a single day.

The Final Ridge

The last stretch to the top follows a narrow granite ridgeline with steep drops into Tenaya Canyon on both sides — non-technical, no climbing gear needed, but exposed enough that hikers uneasy with heights sometimes stop short of the true summit and still get most of the view. Afternoon thunderstorms build quickly in the high country during summer, so start early and get off the exposed ridge before they roll in.