Clouds Rest Private Hike
Yosemite Valley, CA
5.0 (4 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Spectacular Views
- Long Fulfilling Hike
- Iconic Yosemite Summit
- Amazing Natural & Cultural History
- Top-shelf Backpack & Trekking Poles
- Tasty Trail Snacks & Picnic Lunch
Description
Clouds Rest is a towering summit ridge that looks down on Half Dome and the spectacular Yosemite Valley. It’s the worthwhile destination of this hike, but the entire day is spectacular. We begin our trek along the shores of beautiful Tenaya Lake at an already high elevation of 8149 feet. We follow a level route for the first two miles, passing over the outlet streams of the Sunrise Lakes before a short steep ascent brings us to the south edge of Tenaya Canyon. After a couple of more miles a steady, but not too strenuous climb of 1000 feet in a little over 2 miles brings us to the Clouds Rest summit at 9926 feet above sea level. The vistas from the summit of this Classic Yosemite Peak are an outstanding 360-degree panorama of the surrounding “Range of Light”. One can see many of Yosemite’s most famous features including: Half Dome, the Quarter Domes, Mount Hoffmann, Vogelsang Peak, and the Cathedral Range. Looking straight down you can see Tenaya Creek, 5000 feet below!
(Important: We run hikes in almost all weather conditions and very rarely cancel. See our terms and conditions for information on cancellations and refunds.)
$260-$780 Per Person
Season: July-Sept
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 4
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
The summit of Clouds Rest is significantly exposed to vertical drop offs. To gain the summit requires walking or crawling on large boulders and granite slabs/ridges with exposure at our sides. Not recommend for people with fear of heights.
Hiking Distances:
14 miles
Backpack Weight:
10-15 pounds
Terrain:
Lightly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
3000 ft
Heights Exposure:
Extreme
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 10-15 pound backpack for 10-14 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on lightly rugged terrain
- Hiking through sections with extreme heights exposure
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
- Level 1: around other hikers the entire time
- Level 2: around other hikers most of the time
- Level 3: around other hikers some of the time
- Level 4: see a couple other groups during the hike
- Level 5: most likely to have the trail to ourselves
Learn About Our Private Trips
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Rates
- 1 person: $780
- 2 people: $420 per person
- 3 people: $345 per person
- 4-5 people: $290 per person
- 6-7 people: $260 per person
Private day hike tours are only open to your party.
*Prices do not include guide gratuity
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
This tour is booked on a custom basis for private groups so does not have set dates (requested dates are almost always available). Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to schedule your hike!
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
- A commitment to make the tour as exciting, challenging, informative, and full as you’d like, and as is possible in a day
- Trail snacks and a picnic lunch
- Use of a top of the line, technical day pack
- Use of trekking poles
- Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Yosemite
What's Not Included (Required)
- Lightweight hiking shoes or hiking boots
- Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
- Warm wool or fleece top (Spring, Fall)
- Warm hat and gloves (Spring, Fall, Winter)
- Water bottles or bladder (2 liters total capacity)
- Sunhat
What's Not Included (Recommended)
- A cold or frozen bottle of water or Gatorade (Spring, Summer, Fall)
- Sunglasses
- Knee braces (if needed)
- Sunscreen
- Camera
- Gratuity for your guide
Food: What to Expect
Day hike tours include energizing trail snacks and a delicious picnic lunch. Your guide will customize the food for your hike, but a typical lunch consists of gourmet sandwiches or wraps, fruit, veggies, chips, drinks and a dessert. On wintery or cold days you may be treated to soup or a hot, freshly cooked lunch (if you’d prefer a hot meal, please let us know!)
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Trip Logistics
Where Do We Meet?
This hike meets at Sunrise Trailhead early (around 6:00 AM). Your guide will contact you approximately 7 days before your hike to coordinate the exact time and location of your rendezvous.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis
Weather in the Sierras
Being a high mountain environment, the Sierra Nevada Mountains are prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. This is an exciting aspect of being in the mountains. On trips in June, snow is a possibility, and the rest of the summer rain is always a possibility on your trip. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). See below for average summer temperatures:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||||
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Month
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Valleys
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Alpine
|
||||
|
hi
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low
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hi
|
low
|
|||
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January
|
49°
|
26°
|
45°
|
25°
|
||
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February
|
55°
|
28°
|
46°
|
26°
|
||
|
March
|
59°
|
31°
|
48°
|
27°
|
||
|
April
|
65°
|
35°
|
54°
|
30°
|
||
|
May
|
73°
|
42°
|
62°
|
37°
|
||
|
June
|
81°
|
51°
|
71°
|
46°
|
||
|
July
|
89°
|
57°
|
77°
|
50°
|
||
|
August
|
89°
|
56°
|
81°
|
53°
|
||
|
September
|
82°
|
51°
|
71°
|
46°
|
||
|
October
|
74°
|
39°
|
62°
|
37°
|
||
|
November
|
58°
|
31°
|
51°
|
29°
|
||
|
December
|
48°
|
26°
|
46°
|
25°
|
||
Trip Reviews
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Ryan B
Always excellent from start to finish.
Could not be happier with my guide Daniel Cook. He did an excellent job and made a very challenging hike more than enjoyable and a lifelong memory. Wildland is the only company I will ever use (and I have been using them for about 5 years straight) for guided hikes. Always excellent from start to finish.
Greg T
Great Time!
Great website, super informative, awesome experience!
Scott B.
Great, Knowledgeable Guide
Our guide Kevin was very knowledgeable about the area, was very inspiring to my kids.. Outstanding dude!! Top notch.
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