If you have your sights set on Yosemite’s high granite, you are inevitably going to face the park's ultimate sibling rivalry: Half Dome versus Clouds Rest. On one hand, you have the world-famous Half Dome—an absolute bucket-list trek, provided you can actually beat the steep odds of the daily permit lottery to climb those infamous metal cables. On the other, you have the taller, wilder Clouds Rest, which gives you those same jaw-dropping views without the permit headache, but leaves you with a different puzzle to solve: do you take the grueling, leg-burning classic route up from the Valley floor, or the shorter, high-country approach from Tenaya Lake? Whether you’re trying to navigate the recreational red tape of the Half Dome lottery or debating which trail up Clouds Rest is right for your knees, here is everything you need to know to conquer Yosemite's two crowning peaks.
In the back of your mind…consider…why not do both?
The Ultimate Guide to Snagging a Yosemite Half Dome Permit
Standing on top of Half Dome is an unforgettable experience, but before you can face the infamous cables, you have to conquer the ultimate gatekeeper: the Yosemite permit lottery.
Because the park limits hikers on the cables to roughly 300 per day to prevent dangerous bottlenecks, getting a permit requires strategy. Here is exactly how the system works and how to maximize your chances of winning.
1. The Preseason Lottery (The Main Event)
This is your primary shot at securing a date well in advance.
The Window: Every year, the application window opens from March 1 through March 31.
The Results: Winners are notified by email in mid-April.
How it works: You can apply for a block of up to 6 permits and name up to three specific dates or a range of dates. It cost $10 to apply (non-refundable).
Pro Tip: Your odds drop drastically on weekends. According to National Park Service statistics, weekday success rates are often twice as high as Saturdays. If you can take a Tuesday or Wednesday off, do it!
2. The Daily Lottery (The Last-Minute Option)
Missed the March window? Don't panic. You can still try while you're standing in the park.
The Window: You must apply two days before your planned hike between 12:01 AM and 4:00 PM Pacific Time. (For example, apply on a Thursday to hike on Saturday). It cost $10 to apply (non-refundable).
The Results: Notifications go out on Thursday night, giving you Friday to prep.
The Supply: The park releases roughly 50 to 100 daily permits based on rolling cancellations and seasonal trail conditions.
3. The Backpacking Backdoor (Wilderness Permits)
If you prefer sleeping under the stars to a grueling 14- to 16-mile day hike, this is the best workaround in the entire system.
When you apply for an overnight Yosemite Wilderness Permit, you can add a Half Dome permit directly to your reservation if your entry trailhead logically allows for a Half Dome detour (like Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley or Sunrise Lakes).
This completely bypasses the standard day-hike lotteries and lets you tackle the summit at sunrise before the crowds arrive.
Starting at 6:15am from the trailhead, it took us 8 hours of elapsed time for the whole hike. Half dome is about 18 miles with 4800ft of gain.
Link to alltrails —- > link
After wrapping up Half Dome, we spent the evening relaxing around the campfire with the best kind of campfire food.
The next day Linda enjoyed a day of reading, while I met up with climbing friends for a multi pitch - After 6pm on Manure Pile Buttress (what a name!)
After Six (5.7): High Exposure, Combined Pitches, and Unexpected Aid Practice
There is a big difference between reading about Yosemite’s legendary granite and actually finding yourself on it. For me, "After Six"—the classic 5.7 trad multi-pitch on Manure Pile Buttress was the one I will remember.
We started with a surprisingly quick approach from the parking lot, and before I knew it, we were staring up at the rock. My friend took the lead for our group, linking the classic climb into four long pitches instead of the usual six, while another group of our friends followed close behind as a second party.
To be completely honest, my exposure to trad climbing at the time was pretty much limited to following on multi-pitch routes. To this day, I’ve still never actually gone single-pitch "cragging" on trad gear, so jumping straight onto a Valley multi-pitch was pretty exciting. The very first pitch hit me like a ton of bricks—it felt incredibly stout for the grade, and my head game was tested right out of the gate.
But as we pushed higher, the rhythm clicked. Reaching the summit of the apron was absolutely beautiful, offering that surreal, sweeping view of the Valley floor. The descent was a sweetc Yosemite walk-down: easy in terms of terrain, and stress free all the way. Afterwards, we went to another area of the park to practice aid climbing, I don’t think I will ever be doing that (haha), but it was fun to watch and try a little. Today is supposed to be a rest day, because tomorrow we have Clouds Rest from the valley.
Clouds Rest: The Two Wildly Different Ways to Hike Yosemite’s Ultimate Peak
Ask anyone who has stood on the summit of Clouds Rest, and they will tell you the same thing: it ruins Half Dome for you.
At 9,926 feet, Clouds Rest sits more than 1,000 feet higher than its famous neighbor. From its narrow, spine-tingling granite summit ridge, you get a breathtaking, 360-degree look down into Yosemite Valley, with Half Dome resting quietly below you.
But before you can stand on that giant block of granite, you have to make a choice. There are two radically different ways to tackle this hike: the shorter, high-altitude route from Tioga Road (the East Side), and the grueling, legendary classic route from Yosemite Valley.
Here is how to choose the right path for your adventure.
Option 1: The "Shorter" Route (From Tenaya Lake / East Side)
Best for: Incredible views-to-effort ratio, high-country alpine vibes, and day hikers.
If you want the mind-blowing views from the top without spending 12 hours destroying your knees, this is the route for you. Starting from Tenaya Lake along Tioga Road, you are already starting high in the alpine zone at over 8,000 feet.
What to Expect:
The Warmup: You'll walk along flat, scenic forest terrain past Tenaya Lake before hitting your first real challenge: a series of switchbacks climbing up to the Sunrise Lakes trail junction.
The Ridge Walk: After the climb, the trail flattens out, rolling through gorgeous lodgepole pine forests and high alpine meadows before depositing you at the base of the final summit ridge.
The Catch: Since you start so high, you don't have to climb nearly as much. However, because the trailhead is at 8,150 feet, altitude sickness can be a factor if you haven't acclimated to the thin air.
Option 2: The Classic Route (From Yosemite Valley)
Best for: Endurance junkies, peak baggers, and those looking for a massive physical achievement.
Starting from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley, this route is a beast. It covers almost the exact same path as the famous Half Dome trail for the first several miles, but instead of turning off to the subdome, you continue climbing upward to Clouds Rest.
What to Expect:
The Mist Trail Ascent: You'll start with a steep, soaking-wet climb up the stone steps of the Mist Trail, passing Vernal and Nevada Falls. This section alone packs a punch.
Little Yosemite Valley & Beyond: Once past Nevada Fall, you'll march through the relatively flat, sandy stretch of Little Yosemite Valley before the real, relentless climbing begins through the forest.
The Mental Game: Climbing nearly 6,000 vertical feet over 10 miles is as much a mental challenge as a physical one. Your legs will be burning long before you see the final granite spine.
The Reward: There is an unmatched sense of accomplishment when you look down at Yosemite Valley and realize you climbed all the way from the canyon floor to the highest point on the horizon.
My strava logged 20 miles, 6000ft of gain in an epic 10 hours of hiking. My friend and I met 2 climbers, and they wanted to join. We chatted and got to know each other during the hike. Girl power!
Link to alltrails —- > link
An unforgettable, leg-crushing weekend in Yosemite with Linda. I am happy to hit all the classics: Half Dome, a quick and scenic multi-pitch, and the stunning ridge of Clouds Rest. My legs are officially on strike, but the sore muscles are a very small price to pay for a weekend that perfect.
