Clouds Rest

The high ridge above Half Dome, Clouds Rest crowns Yosemite's skyline at 9,926 feet, its summit a narrow rock arete with a 360-degree panorama that looks down on the more famous dome below.

The usual approach from Tenaya Lake runs about 14 miles round trip with roughly 1,800 to 3,000 feet of gain depending on the exact start, ending with a short, airy scramble along the granite crest. The exposure is real but the walking is non-technical.

Practical detail: day hiking needs no permit, an appealing contrast to the lottery required for the Half Dome cables; overnight trips need a wilderness permit. Water sources are limited on the ridge, so hikers carry enough for a long, sun-exposed day. Afternoon thunderstorms make an early finish wise.

July through October is the reliable window, after the Tioga Road opens and before it closes for winter snow. Less crowded than Half Dome yet arguably grander in outlook, Clouds Rest rewards the effort with one of the finest vantages in the high country.