Clouds Rest： Hiking to One of Yosemite's Best Viewpoints

What's up guys this is Josh from California Through My Lens and today we're hiking Clouds Rest in Yosemite National Park. We're just leaving from the Sunrise parking lot right near Tenaya Lake. Chris and I are hiking to Clouds Rest which is about 12 to 14 miles. This is why you bring an extra pair of shoes or Crocs. It's about a knee deep water crossing right now. Also that water crossing is not usually that intense during the summer. We just had a lot of water this year that's why you had to bring a change of shoes. Also make sure you have bug spray on this trail there are a lot of mosquitoes. We're about three quarters of a mile in and that's Clouds Rest. The first view of Clouds Rest out there. Still six and a half miles to go. We're right at the one and a half mile mark. This is where the trail starts to head uphill. This is definitely a steep uphill and with all the runoff from the snow melting it's pretty slippery and wet too. We just made it to the saddle where it connects with the trail that goes to Sunrise Lakes. There's 1100 feet of elevation in one-ish miles. It's definitely like the toughest part of this trail but we made it onto Clouds Rest. On the back part of the saddle you go down about 200 feet in elevation which means you got to go 200 feet back up on the way back. The last mile and a half has been a gradual up and down but now we're getting to the climb again. We're about two miles away from Clouds Rest. We just had another steep section. I'm walking on a ridgeline and then there's one big final push. That's Clouds Rest behind me. Two things to note. One, this hike is strenuous. Don't take it lightly. Two, don't hike it when it's hot. It's been overcast for us most of the day but anytime the sun comes out it's pretty brutal. See you at the top. Crazy. After four hours of hiking we made it to the summit of Clouds Rest. Panhand Canyon. Half Dome. Thanks so much for exploring Clouds Rest with us. We got to go all the way back to that lake so I'm putting the camera away. We'll see you guys next time.