Clouds Rest Horse Trail near summit

[susykat]

Does anyone know anything about the horse trail near the Clouds Rest summit? Where does it go in relation to the footpath, what is it like and where do you end up? Do you end up near the the other summit approach from the other side?

I've been to CR three times. The first time, when I got to the knife ridge, I was petrified. I've never been afraid of heights my whole life-I still am not sure that I am that I am afraid of heights, but the exposure freaked me out. Somehow, I walked over it, and I remember when I got to the other side finding something to put my back against and sliding down, for the comfort and security of having something there instead of open air. I greatly feared walking back, but somehow that was fine. I think maybe mentally I knew I was getting off the darn thing! I'm a wimp, I guess. I did manage to get a photo to prove I'd actually done it.

I still loved the hike, and of course the views. I went twice the next year, and both times I froze and decided to stop when I felt uncomfortable, before the narrow part. I've just recently read somewhere that the horse trail isn't scary, and am trying to find out more about it. Anyone know?

[hikerlinda]

I came up to clouds rest from Little Yosemite Valley and never hit a narrow ridge but was no on a horse trail. I am thinking the side towards Teneya Lake must be the narrow ledge you are talking about.

[hotrod4x5]

Susykat, is this what you found? http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.as ... HGS372-034

Hikerlinda, the summit is a knife edge with drop-offs on each side, you didn't see that?

[sierranomad]

[LVRAY]

There is nothing on Clouds Rest that I would consider a knife edge. Most of the ridge remains fairly wide and there is never any real exposure to either side. Though the steps on the south side are steep. However, yes, there is a horse trail that avoids having to go over the ridge.

[susykat]

HotRod, yes, that is the description that I found. I guess if I go back this year I'll look for the horse trail.

[bill-e-g]

If you are coming up from the west (from Half Dome let's say)
then you will come across a trail junction and sign.
(I can post it if you like).
The junction is therefore very obvious.

I have never taken that trail myself... why would you? Other than
to mark it off (ok... I need to!)
Anyway, if you come from Sunrise I don't recall seeing any junction...
although last time it was covered in 3 ft. of snow so...

[Enzian]

Coming from the Tenaya/Sunrise side, we saw a place where one could tie a horse if you wanted to ascend the summit. I suppose the junction with the horse trail is right there.

The summit ridge may not be "knife edge", but it is sufficiently exposed at the top to bother some of us with height issues. I got most of the way up but could cross the narrowest part.

On the other hand, the part just below that is lots of fun---like scrambling up rock pillows.

[LVRAY]

Coming from Sunrise Lakes, the junction for the horse trail is just at the base of the rocks that make up Clouds Rest - you are almost to the top at a point where you turn slightly right to continue up. There is a trail marker and the horse trail breaks off slightly to the left and sharply down hill.

I too have height issues (I have vertigo to boot), but Clouds Rest has never given me much of an issues. Nearly 30 years ago I spent a few nights sleeping on it (yes, I know, illegal - but fun). Also slept on Half Dome back when that was legal. Even with my issues, I can still do Clouds Rest, but I can no longer stay long, an hour or two and I need to go.

[susykat]

Yes, the approach would be coming from Sunrise. Thanks. I will look for it next time I am there.

[MumbleyJoe]

This was on my to-do list last week, but we were too exhausted the day it was planned... next time.

I haven't hiked it myself (sadly) but I've spent way too much time playing with all of the official trail data from the NPS and just observing everything. It tooks to me (and again, I haven't been there, just looked over the trail data) that there's two routes around the summit, and the lower one may be where it is considered the horse trail (I can't make that distinction myself). You can see the route overlaid on google maps/earth here:

(d'oh, can't post proper URL)
tylerwestcott dot com /Yosemite /Clouds_Rest_Trail/
http://tylerwestcott.com/Yosemite/Clouds_Rest_Trail/

[sonorasierra]

Just to make it clear. There is NOT a actual horse trail that goes to the summit of Clouds Rest. From Tenaya Lake trailhead when you get to the final Northwest ridge of Clouds Rest, 1/2 a mile from the summit there is a trail junction. This is most likely what was referred to as a horse trail. This horse trail bypasses the summit ridge of Clouds Rest. It bypasses the summit ridge and connects to the trail that descends from the Southwest ridge of Clouds Rest. If you look on a trail map it should be quite clear. I have never climbed Clouds Rest from the trail up the southwest ridge, but looking down that ridge from the summit of Clouds Rest it does appear as though it's less exposed than the Northwest ridge which has given you so much trouble.

Give it a try next time you go. Although keep in mind taking the horse trail to the Southwest ridge trail and then up to the summit will add about one extra mile to the hike.

[hikerlinda]

I did not see that razor edge actually, but I came up from little yosemite valley not Tenya Lake way. I am thinking that scarry edge would be towards the Tenya Lake way. Or maybe I was just too tramatized to notice it. No matter which way you get there it is fantastic. We were surrounded with storm clouds and made a hasty retreat back to our camp site before the thunder and rain broke thru.

[bill-e-g]

Just did Clouds (and a few other things) dayhiking...
As other have indeed mentioned... both sides are WELL signed.
I have to retract what I said about why would you take the
east trail... it is quite nice actually... you get a nice view up
at Clouds from below.
What I did was come from Tenaya and go up and over to where
you start coming back down ... at that point I turned around
and came back toward Tenaya and took the horse/foot trail
around and toward LYV/HD, etc. Highly recommend this route.