This Might Be the Best View in Yosemite! | Hiking to Clouds Rest

We didn’t win a Half Dome hiking permit, but I think we scored an even better view! Hike with us to Clouds Rest where you’ll see all the BEST features of Yosemite National Park from almost 10,000 ft of elevation. (Warning: there might be some tree sniffing along the way.)
Fuel up with yummy Pretzel Bites: amzn.to/3ODZkwK
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[@gjm22]

I would be cracking up if I hiked by 2 people sniffing trees 😂. Great video

[@OpenRoading]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@blackholeentry3489]

In the 80's, my younger brother and I climbed Half Dome a total of six times...never bothered to get permits, just went. One year, late spring snows had delayed the opening of Tioga Pass....we hiked the trail to Tenaya Lake and found ourselves in a totally deserted campground on the lake. The next day, we hiked the 'trail' towards Half Dome, but often fought three feet of snow....especially on the side of ridges facing north. We camped that night near the trail....we had no tents but just threw our sleeping bags down wherever we found some spot without snow. The third night we camped somewhere near the trail leading to Half Dome with early hikers loudly talking waking us up. We got up, donned our threads, walked to the base of Half Dome, went up and then walked down to the valley floor, retrieved our car and left. That was in 1980, and is the last time I've hiked in Yosemite, although have ridden my motorcycles through many times. Shortly my wife and I are going to drive to Roswell, NM, to check out the UFO museum there and will drive through Yosemite on the way there and possiblly on the return also. One way I want to introduce my wife to the Devil's Postpile, which is the most staggering geological site I have ever seen, but my 2nd wife has never been there.

[@ellenclary]

Thank you for the video as I'm planning a Cloud's Rest hike. Keep trying on the Half Dome permit as it's a fun experience. If you can't get a permit consider going on a trip with REI who takes care of all the permit details (for a price). Oh and the tree that smells like vanilla is a Ponderosa Pine. To identify a Jeffery Pine count the needles (3 I think).

[@OpenRoading]

Highly highly recommend the Clouds Rest hike. It's on the long side but the views are sooooo worth it! -J

[@mitchellmysliwiecphotography]

Your wrap-up was spot on. That one is a difficult hike, but not too bad and 1,000% worth it!

[@OpenRoading]

Thanks! This is one of a handful of hikes that I would do multiple times because the payoff at the end is so good. -J

[@tracimoney-honey8545]

love the hike videos! we try our hardest but are not in the best physical shape

[@OpenRoading]

Speaking for myself...I'm certainly not as in good hiking shape as I was when we did this video 😳. I was huffing and puffing in Hatcher Pass in last weeks episode. lol -J

[@comingstobrazil]

Very cool!

[@OpenRoading]

Thanks!

[@connieatkins7390]

Great job filming. Thanks for taking us along.

[@OpenRoading]

You’re welcome. This is one of our all time favorite hikes! -J

[@Renrelo21]

I did Clouds Rest four years ago in October and no misquotes (thankfully). Also, Half Dome twice via mist trail and via John Muir trail. Half Dome is also spectacular. You really need to experience the cables. My friend and I both agree that Clouds Rest is a bit more difficult.

[@OpenRoading]

Whoah! Clouds rest is more difficult than half dome?! -J

[@acatzr800]

Ponderosa pines! I loved visiting Yosemite. We went up glacier point in the other side of half dome. Nothing else I have seen in my life comes close

[@OpenRoading]

Glacier is on our "next time" list. :)

[@lindaundereood1601]

Thanks for taking the time to filmography hikes/travels, I know it's time consuming. Good to see you both are well, stay safe. 🌵🌵🌵

[@OpenRoading]

We enjoy it! We also go on a few hikes without the gear from time to time 😁

[@ervinslens]

Gorgeous place and beautiful shots! Perfect way to walk around and explore.

[@OpenRoading]

Couldn't agree more! We can't get over just how beautiful Yosemite is!

[@shannondaring]

You kids are cute. 😉 This looks like an awesome hike, love the solitude.

[@OpenRoading]

Well...You just made our top friends list for calling us kids! I'm about to hit 40 (Joseph) so anyone who calls me a kid is an instant friend! 😂

[@maryklouzek1802]

Thank you for sharing the beauty!

[@OpenRoading]

Our pleasure!

[@octaviomorales9925]

Awesome video! A buddy and I just hiked up to Half Dome on April 30th with the cables down. We are both retirees in our 60’s. My buddy made the ascent up the cables using a climbing harness, sling, carabiners, and prusick knot to attach to the cables. I chickened out! Videos don’t do justice to the immensity and steepness of the dome face! Snow on the subdome made that portion of the climb treacherous for us old codgers! I was curious about what camera equipment you used to record your videos? Just an iPhone and selfie stick? Kudos on the video quality (production/editing)!

[@OpenRoading]

When we did this video we were actually using a Sony handycam (consumer grade) and a couple of gopros (generation 5 I think). All our videos now are Iphone 13 and 15. 😁 We're gonna try for halfdome again in the future and I'm thinking we may try to do the shoulder season. I just want to be with someone who knows what they are doing! 🙂 -J

[@JeffreyFrenster]

Thanks for the awesome video folks. So great to see the whole hike. I've got this one on my bucket list. Did you start from Tenaya Lake? I guess it can also be reached from Yosemite Valley but MUCH longer hike.

[@OpenRoading]

Yes! That is the lake we began the hike from!

[@SavorTheJourneyDave]

🚶🥾🚶‍♀️⛰️🚶‍♂️*sniff, sniff* 🌲🌴🌳🎄🎋🐿️

[@softdruid3712]

What week of the year were you here? Looks like a good time to visit. It’s on our list… 😊

[@OpenRoading]

This was July of 2022. There was a good amount of heat in the valley but the altitude was comfortable! -J

[@기매문]

How long did the hike take?? Which month was it?

[@MoniqueNelson-h6y]

FYI...women's deodorant has anti itch in it and on mosquito bites works great...use the solid kind on them. Hope that helps!

[@OpenRoading]

Good to know! Thanks! -J

[@theroundaboutpodcast6722]

I'm sorry if I missed it in the video... What time of year did you go? Were going in a few weeks and I'm wondering how the bugs will be. Awesome video!

[@KalynBrookeCo]

We went towards the end of June for this one. I think if it's a bit colder, the bugs won't be as bad? They also thinned out once you climbed a bit higher in elevation.

[@OpenRoading]

The higher-up part was key. Literally once we got halfway up sunrise we had no more issues with bugs.

[@OpenRoading]

And now...I have a new podcast to check out. 😂

[@2dog_bronco_livin768]

I wanna know who the music is by in this video

[@OpenRoading]

A bunch of artists. We purchase our music through Envato which is a place where independent artists can earn money by selling their songs for use on places like youtube. -J

[@dansabean4748]

The deets? Really? I expected more from you Joseph...

[@OpenRoading]

🤣Clearly you have forgotten what I was like on that trip to Africa....

[@donniereiter3646]

Glacier Point is better than Half Dome and Clouds Rest combined

[@OpenRoading]

That's on our list to go see! It was closed when we were there. 😞 -J

[@joemanpjg]

Spectacular views here.. Glacier Point, the views from here unbeatable especially of Half Dome...

[@Live-_-4-_-God]

🦟 🦟 🦟 🦟 🦟 🦟 🦟 🦟

[@OpenRoading]

So glad it was only for a portion of the hike! 😂😂