Cloud's Rest ?

[ian73]

Hello all,

I'm planning to do the Tenaya Lake to Cloud's rest hike this weekend and thought I'd just fish for any trail updates/tips that people might have before I head out.

One plan I'm considering is heading out early to make a start before sun up.

Q) Is this a safe/reasonable idea? I'll be hiking on my own, and I'm a little unsure how easy the trail is to handle in the dark.

Q) Are the water crossings easily passable in the dark for instance? Will I need to wade through the water or can I rock hop across?

Q) Do bears (and other critters) still generally leave human's alone - even if it's still dark or are they rather more curious in the night?

The other plan would be to extend the hike and continue onto the valley floor via the mist trail, but I'm not sure how people usually get to Tenaya Lake to start the hike.

Q) Is there a bus/shuttle service that would go from the valley floor out to Tenaya Lake early in the morning?

Other than that, any particular tips for weather/conditions from recent hikers?

Cheers
Ian

[balzaccom]

I'll take a stab at these:


Q) Is this a safe/reasonable idea? I'll be hiking on my own, and I'm a little unsure how easy the trail is to handle in the dark.

Yeah--but unnecessary. You can easily complete this hike during daytime hours. The trail is easy to follow, at least once you get across the outlet of Tenaya Lake.

Q) Are the water crossings easily passable in the dark for instance? Will I need to wade through the water or can I rock hop across?

This time of year, and in this dry year, it should be a piece of cake.

Q) Do bears (and other critters) still generally leave human's alone - even if it's still dark or are they rather more curious in the night?

Yes

The other plan would be to extend the hike and continue onto the valley floor via the mist trail, but I'm not sure how people usually get to Tenaya Lake to start the hike.

Q) Is there a bus/shuttle service that would go from the valley floor out to Tenaya Lake early in the morning?

I think so,...but it doesn't leave at the crack of dawn. And if you hike all the way to Yosemite Valley, that's a long hike. THat's the one you should start before dark!


Other than that, any particular tips for weather/conditions from recent hikers?

It's the best dayhike in Yosemite. Enjoy it!

[atomicmonkey]

Hi Balzaccom,
I'm still so blown away at every hike I do at Yosemite, what makes this day hike the best in Yosemite. Would TL to YV via CR still be in your top hikes? Would that hike be much different to a hike like TM to YV via Rafferty Creek or Lyell Canyon?

Thanks!

Also, what is the water like on the Tenaya lake to Clouds Rest hike now during this low water year?

Mike

[AlmostThere]

Um, well, TL to YV via CR involves standing on Clouds Rest, so I would consider it very different.

streams are unreliable even ones that are usually flowing. You'll want to make sure you have plenty of water before you go hiking. I think there is a little water in Sunrise but you'll definitely want a filter.

[SoCalCPA]

I just did this hike a couple of weeks ago - Been to Yosemite so many times and this is the first time I did it - One of the best hikes I have done in the park - It took me less than 3 hours to make it to Cloud's rest from the TrailHead and about the same time back - The first mile is relatively flat which is a nice warmup for the switchbacks you hit around the second mile - most of the elevation you encounter on the hike is right here so you get this out of the way while still fresh -

There is no water from the outlet at Tenaya Lake - it is bone dry - Make sure you stay left on the trail from the trailhead - The signs weren't quite clear and I almost took the wrong trail by going to the right.

The best benefit of going early means you hike up while the day is still cool and begin to hike back while it is still cool - It got pretty hot by 11:00 -

This is a bucketlist hike - Everyone should do this at least once.

[atomicmonkey]

This has really piqued my interest! The trail goes right over the top of Clouds Rest.

SoCalCPA, from my topo map, this does not look like a technical climb, just steep, what are your thoughts?

AlmostThere, is this trail harder than what I am reading on the topo? I don't mind steep up and down, that is why I come to Yosemite.

Everything I hear says similar to you guys saying how great this trail is. I am still so amazed with TM to YV via Rafferty and the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne that I can't imagine something better!!! I am planning next summers trip. I was thinking of TM to YV via Lyell Canyon but the Clouds Rest looks very interesting.

Thanks!!
Mike

PS We just finished the GC of TR, it was truly incredible and very fun but I really missed the higher elevation hiking around Vogelsang and Tuolumne Pass.

[dan]

Yeah, Clouds Rest Trail a neat trail. CRT heads right over the top--the very top is just rock slabs and not a real trail. It's not technical, but you need to take care with your balance and climb up and over the rock slabs for a short distance on top.

The trail along Rafferty Creek is pretty (although it could get hot and sunny), and so is the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. The CRT trail doesn't have much water.

I think CRT it's better than the Half Dome Trail because you can see Half Dome and Yosemite Valley (you can't see Half Dome when you're on it ) and it has fewer people.

[balzaccom]

Cloud Rest is a dayhike---the others are overnighters at least, so I put them in a different category,.

And when you are on Clouds Rest, you are looking down on all those people on Half Dome.

[AlmostThere]

Clouds Rest can be an overnight if you want to make it so. Though you are not supposed to camp near the trail, and the trail runs over the peak, I've spoken to folks who have stayed the night on top of it. It's also easy to find campsites along the way - Sunrise Creek or the scenic point near the junction to the HSC are popular places to pitch a tent. You just need to carry a lot of water to do it now....

We've planned (and scuttled) an overnight that would involve summiting Clouds before. (The road closed, the hiker bus and all traffic stopped running, we went to the southwest part of the park instead....)

Moraine Dome is also a fun day hike. Any of the domes or peaks in the area you can walk up give good views.

[atomicmonkey]

Thanks for the great info!!
I'm starting to think that there are few average trails at Yosemite.
My ten year old son pulls his map out almost every night planning for next summer...I think he is addicted!

Cheers,
Mike

[SoCalCPA]

The switchbacks are continuous and steep but that's the only part - It's actually a nice workout - Everything after that is a gradual incline (except for a small decline after the switchbacks) - What makes this hike great is the top of Cloud's Rest - the rest of the trail has a couple of pretty spots and some views but nothing to write home about - What I loved about this trail was the workout to Cloud's Rest which was invigorating for a 50 year old guy like me and a pehomonal view at the top.

[greentree428]

We are planning a weekend camping trip, and I thought CR might be a good hike.
But since we are staying for 2nights at least, I'm bringing my water filter pump.

Will I have a hard time finding enough running water if we camp along CR trail for a couple days?

I'd love to hear any suggestions on a good loop trail where we can camp out each night
somewhere along the route we plan?

***-Really looking for a loop with streams or other sources to be filtered,
maybe traversing a mountain range from one valley to another?! Ending in YosemiteValley possibly?

This will be planned for the end of this month. Does it starting raining around this time? I'm sure it's gonna be cold at night, but seems like daytime could be a little warm still.

First post ever on the forum and I've never been to Yosemite before so I figure this is place to ask questions.

[AlmostThere]

You should plan to filter water at lakes. I have seen springs here and there but many streams, even ones that are usually running year round, are minimal or dry. You should not have a problem in that area because there are lakes plus the Merced River is always flowing.

You'll need to remember that there is a No Dispersed Camping Zone around Little Yosemite Valley - if you are within 2 miles of the campground in LYV, you need to spend the night in LYV campsites, not anywhere else.

[dan]

The issue of water on CRT has been discussed recently on this thread:
viewtopic/f=8&t=2193&p=8939&hilit=Clouds+Rest#p8939

Clouds Rest has no water because, well, it's the top of the peak. There's limited water on the way.

Usually no rain this time of year, except occasional thunderstorms. But that usually changes quickly by the end of Sept.