HALF DOME SUMMIT & CLOUDS REST HIKE OVERVIEW

Hike Half Dome & Cloud's Rest on this Yosemite backpacking adventure. This is by far the best way to summit Half Dome by exploring the Yosemite high country while also bagging the summit of Cloud's Rest. A wonderful experience hiking to the summit of Half Dome and Cloud's Rest along some of the most spectacular mountain vistas in the world. This guided backpacking tour takes you from the Yosemite high country near Tuolumne Meadows down into to the incomparable Yosemite Valley, a net loss of 4000 feet.

We begin with a night of camping in Yosemite Valley with dinner prepared by your guide. The next day we board the park shuttle up to the Yosemite high country and begin our hiking tour out of the Tuolumne Meadows area. We explore the Sunrise Lakes area before hiking up to the summit of Clouds Rest with it’s amazing vistas and views of Hlaf Dome & Yosemite Valley far below. Then it’s on to our Half Dome basecamp where we make camp near Sunrise Creek. The last day we hike up the historic "cable route" to the summit of Half Dome, Yosemite's most famous summit. After hiking Half Dome, we descend down the famous Mist Trail or JMT into Yosemite Valley.

Along the way we enjoy tranquil alpine lakes, whispering pine forests, great food and good company! Not to mention the summit of Yosemite's most sought after peaks.  All with a net elevation loss of over 4,000 ft. Come hike Half Dome in style with us!

Food, Equipment & Lodging

We provide breakfast lunch, dinner and snacks prepared by your guide and backcountry chef from the time we meet till we part ways. We like to call our food "backcountry gourmet" which includes vegetables as well as freshly baked goods.

To make your trip easier for you we provide all of the gear you will need at no extra cost. We provide high-quality backpacks, sleeping bags and pad, trekking poles, headlamp and eating utensils if needed. We also provide tents, all group cooking gear, first aid kit and water purification for the group. Being a backpacking trip, everyone is responsible for carrying their own gear as well as their share of any group gear. Our guides carry emergency two-way satellite communications devices at all times.

A great way to hike Half Dome in style.

This is a backpacking trip in which everyone carries their own gear and a share of the group gear and supplies.

“Thanks so much for such a wonderful hike down to Yosemite Valley. Everything went so well. The scenery was stunning and Half Dome was so cool!”
— Miriam O.
“I just wanted to thank you guys for all of your help. The trip was unbelievable, way beyond my expectations. Kim was an amazing, very competent and cheerful guide. I had a great time. So thank you! I’ll be booking with you guys in the future!”
— Patrick H.
 
 
 

EXPERIENCE & PHYSICAL FITNESS REQUIREMENTS

  • Previous wilderness backpacking experience sleeping in tents is required with the ability to hike up to 12 miles in a day

  • The ability to carry an overnight backpack for up to 10 miles a day. (We hike slow, but steady!)

  • Very good to excellent physical condition required.



Curious how to rate your physical ability? Check out our Physical Ability Page

2024 Dates:

To Be Announced Spring ‘24!

All dates are subject to permit availability offered 6 months prior.

Have your own permit? Contact us for guiding options!


Custom dates available July- Sept!

 

COST: $1250

INCLUDES

  • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner prepared by your guide while in the field

  • Professional local mountain guides certified in emergency wilderness medicine, food handling & Leave No Trace Principles & trained in local natural history.

  • Backpacks, sleeping bag and pad, trekking poles and eating utensils if needed ($25 cleaning fee for using our sleeping bags)

  • Tents, all group camping gear and permits

  • Park shuttle

  • One night camping in Yosemite Valley with dinner the night before the hike begins

Prefer a private trip? No problem at all. We specialize in designing custom trips for you or your group.
Contact us for a quote!

For more info on this trip please fill out the form below:

HALF DOME HIKE ITINERARY

Half Dome Hike Day 1

We meet in Yosemite Valley at 5pm near our campsite. After a gear check and introductions, we enjoy a campfire and dinner. Camping is provided and there is a trailhead parking area where you can leave your car.

Half Dome Hike Day 2

We board a park shuttle bus that takes us into the Yosemite high country and our trailhead at Tenaya Lake or Cathedral Lakes. We then hike to tranquil Sunrise Lakes where we establish camp for the evening.

Half Dome Hike Day 3

After a possibly spectacular sunrise we hike from Sunrise Lakes and over to the summit of Clouds Rest.  We then hike through some of the most spectacular mountain vistas on the planet exploring the views from Clouds Rest, Yosemite's largest expanse of granite. We descend Sunrise Creek where we establish our camp for the night.

Half Dome Hike Day 4

An early start finds us hiking up the Half Dome trail ahead of the crowds. We ascend the famous "cable route" to Yosemite's most recognizable summit. The views from the top of Half Dome down into Yosemite Valley are incredible. We descend back to camp along Sunrise Creek and then break camp and descend the Mist Trail all the way into Yosemite Valley arriving in the late afternoon.

Itinerary subject to change & camp locations and distances each day remain flexible.