Hike to iconic natural highlights within Yosemite National Park
Explore the spectacular scenery sprawling across Yosemite National Park, view some wild wonders from up close as you snake along the various paths—including the famous John Muir Trail—and marvel at the staggering landscape layered below from atop Cloud’s Rest and Half Dome. That’s right, the 5-day guided Cloud’s Rest and Half Dome Backpacking Trip takes you to two of the most remarkable peaks in Yosemite.
To top it off, before hitting the trails, you’ll spend your first night in the outdoorsy, charming Curry Village with three nights of backcountry camping to follow.
Please check out this blog to find out more about the COVID-19 precautions during the tour.
Highlights of the Cloud's Rest and Half Dome Backpacking Trip
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Cloud's Rest and Half Dome Backpacking Trip Itinerary
Day 1 Head to Yosemite National Park
Go towards Yosemite Valley—via your own mode of transportation—and check into Curry Village sometime after 5 pm. Meet up with your guide and the rest of your group at 6 pm for a brief orientation at the Mountain Shop in Curry Village. After, you can enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants in the area. Do note that you’re on your own for dinner.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Curry Village
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Camp at Sunrise Lakes
Enjoy breakfast on your own before meeting up with your group at the Curry Village Mountain Shop nice and early—7:30 am. From here, you’ll leave your cars in the parking lot, hop into the free shuttle to move towards the trailhead, where your journey begins.
Overnight Location: Camping at Sunrise Lakes
Distance: 4 mi, 1526 ft ascent, 256 ft descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Ascend Cloud’s Rest
Enjoy a delicious backcountry breakfast before packing up camp and hitting the trail. Today you’ll ascend one of the two iconic summits of this trip: Cloud’s Rest, which stands tall at 9,926 feet. Admire the views of Half Dome (tomorrow’s ascent), Tuolumne High Country, and Tenaya Canyon from up high. Consume lunch in this ridiculously magical spot, and then descend to your camp at Sunrise Creek.
Overnight Location: Camping at Sunrise Creek
Distance: 7.5 ft, 1402 ft ascent, 3671 ft descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Hike up Half Dome
Get ready for an epic day of hiking! The path to Half Dome winds off the main trail, so you will drop your bags and hike the remainder with just your necessities. Soon you’ll reach the Cables Route, which will have your adrenaline pumping as you climb the steep rock face using only the cables for support. Breathe in the stunning views of the Sierra high country and Yosemite Valley. After you descend and meet back up with your bags, you’ll have a quick lunch and then head towards your campsite in Little Yosemite Valley.
Overnight Location: Camping in Little Yosemite Valley
Distance: 6.1 mi, 2042 ft ascent, 3107 ft descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Walk the John Muir Trail
Enjoy a final breakfast in the wild with your group before packing up camp and journeying back to Curry Village. Today, you’ll hike a portion of the John Muir Trail, meandering by Vernal and Nevada Falls and the incredibly scenic Merced River.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 3.5 mi, 574 ft ascent, 2660 ft descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cloud's Rest and Half Dome Backpacking Trip Price and Dates
This guided tour in the Sierra Nevada is always run as a fixed-departure tour where you would be joining a group, therefore the price is fixed and only depends on the number of people sharing the room or a tent.
The prices below are per person:
Accommodation on the Cloud's Rest and Half Dome Backpacking Trip
This backpacking adventure will have you staying in a cozy luxurious campground one night. The specialty lodging has modern necessities that will keep you comfy and relaxed. Keep in mind that rooms are double occupancy, but you can always upgrade to single occupancy for an additional fee. Single travellers are also required to pay a supplement. You will spend the remaining 3 nights backcountry camping.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may be swapped for other similar accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement of $165 USD to have a private room in a hotel. Contact us and we can try and match single travelers up, where possible. However, if there are no options, solo travellers will pay a supplement of $80 USD.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Curry Village in Yosemite National Park ★
Curry Village offers a “glamping” experience. They have a combination of rooms: heated tents, unheated tents, cabins, and hotel rooms.
Camping in Yosemite National Park
Revel in the mountainscapes as you camp at lakefront and riverside spots below a blanket of stars.
What’s included in the Cloud's Rest and Half Dome Backpacking Trip?
Meals
4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, and trail snacks along the route are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 1 night in Curry Village. 3 nights of wilderness camping are also included. Accommodations before and after the tour in Yosemite Valley are not included.
Transportation during the Tour
You are in charge of getting to trailhead, however, many shuttles in the park are free.
Also Included
- Guide
- Personal backpacking gear (per request), such as sleeping bags, backpack, sleeping pads, tents, trekking poles
- Group gear, such as stoves, group first aid kit, cooking items, water filters, etc.
- Hot coffee and tea in the mornings
Not included
- Flights and transportation to get to and from Yosemite Valley
- Personal clothing and shoes
- Accommodations before and after the adventure tour in Yosemite Valley
- Personal expenses + gratuities (recommended 10-20% for excellent service)
- Evacuations
- Insurance
Optional Extras
- You can upgrade to a single occupancy in the hotel for an additional fee
- Extra night at Curry Village before or after the tour
Frequently Asked Questions about Cloud's Rest and Half Dome Backpacking Trip
SYMG was started in 1991 by three friends offering hiking trips into California's mountains in hopes of more closely meshing lifestyle with work. The combination proved successful and SYMG has become a leader in the active travel and mountain guiding world, providing carefully planned and executed trips in the most spectacular wilderness areas of California and beyond. Now, 30 years later, we've shown thousands of people the beauty of Yosemite and the High Sierra and have been named one of the "Best Outfitters on Earth" by National Geographic Adventure Magazine.
Learn MoreCloud's Rest and Half Dome Backpacking Trip Map
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