Every corner of Yosemite is amazing—but if you want to see the best views and a few hidden local spots, with all logistics handled and an experienced guide leading the way, come join us! In just five days, we’ll hike to legendary places like Half Dome and Clouds Rest, but also explore trails most visitors miss. Each night, we’ll camp under the stars, eat great food, and unwind after a solid day on the trail. This backpacking adventure is the perfect mix of adventure, fun, and classic Yosemite highlights.
Experience Yosemite’s best on this Half Dome and Clouds Rest tour, a 5-day guided backpacking adventure through the park’s most stunning terrain! Perfect for beginners and seasoned hikers alike, you’ll learn essential backcountry skills while exploring alpine lakes, meadows, and granite peaks. Together, we’ll summit two Yosemite icons at sunrise, enjoy backcountry gourmet meals, and let an expert guide handle every detail for an unforgettable wilderness experience.
Meeting in the Valley at Curry Village, we go through our packs and prepare for our trek. Catching the shuttle to our trailhead, we make our way toward Cathedral Lakes and Cathedral Peak—one of the most popular climbs in Yosemite and a personal favorite. After enjoying the riverside jaunt and the high meadows, we make camp.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Hiking: 3.5 mi (5.6 km
Elevation: +1,853 ft (565 m)
Accommodation: Camping (tents)
Onward we go after a glorious breakfast. We make our way to Sunrise Lakes for a dip and some laughs. Sunrise Lakes also offer a great spot to see fascinating geology in the form of batholiths—massive igneous domes of granite that form in layers like onions. It’s the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon swim in a pristine alpine lake.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 4 mi (6.4 km)
Elevation: -1,000 ft (305 m)
Accommodation: Camping (tents)
From camp, we charge up to the summit of Clouds Rest (9,934 ft) along the spine of the mountain. At the top, we enjoy the company of ravens and one of the best views in the park. After a lunch break, we head down to Sunrise Creek Camp. Once all the excitement of Clouds Rest has been properly soaked in, we prepare for our Half Dome hike.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 7.18 mi (11.6 km)
Elevation: -1,222 ft (372 m), -3,035 ft (925 m)
Accommodation: Camping (tents)
We rise nice and early to summit Half Dome, weather permitting, with light packs. This incredible peak is ascended using the Cables—a section of the climb roughly the length of a football field. From the top of the Cables, we enjoy pancakes and the sunrise! After taking in the breathtaking views and a feeling of alpine bliss, we make our way back to camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 7.18 mi (11.6 km)
Elevation: -2,046 ft (624 m), -3,121 ft (951 m)
Accommodation: Camping (tents)
After breakfast and possibly a quick dip in the Merced River, we make our way down the legendary Mist Trail. We first pass the beautiful Nevada Falls to marvel at its cascading waters, followed by Vernal Falls and a few hidden surprises along the way. Into the Valley we go to conclude our hike and celebrate with pizza. This day is special because we experience the trail when it’s less busy! We’ll also show you a few local gems before we return to our cars.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Hiking: 4 mi (6.4 km)
Elevation: –2,269 ft (692 m)
James is a great, personable guide who’s enthusiastic and patient. Really appreciated his balance of adventure with safety and willingness to share his knowledge. Would definitely climb with him again and again!
James is an outstanding guide and really knows his stuff! I hired his services to try climbing outside for the first time. He made me feel very safe and taught me so much. He is also a great listener and has a positive energy that carried throughout the day. He made the experience super fun, and thanks to him I feel confident enough to go back and climb outside again. I strongly recommend him for any outdoors adventures. He rocks! (no pun intended)
Backpacking with James was an excellent experience! I’ve done some backpacking myself, and already knew the basics, but James brought it to another level. Never before had I even considered eating pizza 3 days into a backpacking trip, but James made it happen! He planned every part of our trip but made sure I was informed every step of the way. It made it possible to fit this trip into an already busy schedule and to not worry about a thing. But my favorite part of all is that he let me bring my dog! Overall I’d highly recommend James to anyone who wants to do a backpacking trip, but might need a little extra help to make it happen. You’ll be in good hands!
Included:
Add-ons (available to add at checkout)
Not included:
In order to join this Half Dome & Clouds Rest tour, a good fitness level is required. You need to be able to cover 23 miles (37 km) over 5 days. The most you’ll cover within a day is 7.18 mi (11.6 km) and gain up to 2,046 ft (624 m) in elevation. Learn more about day-by-day distances and elevation changes in the itinerary.
Keep in mind that this is a backpacking trip, meaning that you’ll have to carry your belongings with you.
Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover more Yosemite hiking tours here!
Clothing & footwear
Gear & equipment
Sleeping gear
Cooking & eating
Health & hygiene
Extras for comfort & fun (optional)
What’s provided by your guide
Group sizes and pricing
Half Dome & Clouds Rest tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your Half Dome & Cloud Rest tour is Curry village in Yosemite valley. To get there, most people fly into Fresno Yosemite Airport (FAT). From there, you can take a shuttle service or rent a car to reach Curry village.
You will meet your guide in the morning of Day 1 in Curry village.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Deposits
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
James is a great, personable guide who’s enthusiastic and patient. Really appreciated his balance of adventure with safety and willingness to share his knowledge. Would definitely climb with him again and again!