Yosemite - Clouds Rest and Sunrise Lakes

The summit of Clouds Rest is by far the best view in all of Yosemite. From here you will enjoy the vistas into Yosemite Valley and of course, Half Dome as it comes thrusting out of the ground from the valley floor. Sign up early for this one.

Type of Trip: Backpacking/Camping
Dates: Late June-Early September
Number of Days: 3-4 Days
Total Miles: 25
Difficultly: Moderate
Trip Departure: 10am
Trip Return: 2pm

(B) = Breakfast (L) = Lunch (D) = Dinner

Cost:
4 Day - $950 per person

** This trip can be customized around different starting point and times**

This breathtaking Loop hike offers incredible variety. Enjoy the dramatic vistas from Clouds Rest, swimming in the peaceful Sunrise Lakes, and scrambling around on granite domes. Along the way you will witness meadows blanketed in wildflowers and jagged granite peaks. This loop hike can be run in either direction.

Itinerary - The final itinerary may change due to weather or any unforeseen circumstance(s).

Day 1:
We will meet at the Wilderness Center in Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park at 10am. We will spend a little time fitting packs and going over last minute details before we are off to the trailhead. On today's hike we will leave beautiful Tenaya Lake in the background as we climb gradually to camp (9250ft). Once settled in, there will be opportunities to explore the area and relax. Total of 5 miles hiked. (L) (D)

Day 2:
After breakfast we will leave our packs behind- hiking out of the spruce & fir forest and gaining incredible views of the Tenaya Canyon-Sunrise Mountain area. Our destination is Clouds Rest, (9926ft). We will take time here to drink in some of the biggest views Yosemite has to offer- looking down at Half Dome and all around at the granite domes and peaks Yosemite is famous for. After our spectacular morning hike we will grab our packs and make our way to Sunrise High Sierra Camp (9320ft) swimming in the beautiful Sunrise Lakes on the way. (9 miles) (B) (L) (D)

Day 3:
Today's hike will begin after an amazing sunrise, coffee and breakfast. The vistas just get better and better as we parallel the Matthes Crest, thread the Columbia Finger, and take a breather on Cathedral Pass (9700ft). We will camp near Cathedral Lakes, just below towering Cathedral Peak. There will be opportunity to hike around on the surrounding Granite Domes or relax by the lakes for the afternoon. (5 miles) (B) (L) (D)

Day 4:
We will leave the Cathedral Lakes for our final decent. In route we will take a rewarding side hike to Fairview Dome-offering incredible views of Tuolumne Meadows. We will enjoy lunch together before parting ways. (5 miles) (B) (L)