Explore the most popular
YOSEMITE ACTIVITIES
“The story is, a man came up to Yosemite and the ranger was sitting at the front gate and the man said, “I’ve only got one hour to see Yosemite. If you only had one hour to see Yosemite, what would you do?” And the ranger said, “Well, I’d go right over there, and I’d sit on that rock, and I’d cry.”
– Nevada Barr
nearly the size of Rhode Island, Yosemite can take years to fully explore but even weekend stays will give you a taste of Yosemite’s most popular activities.
HIKING
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK HAS OVER 800 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS. WHILE SOME OF OUR GUESTS COME WITH A PERMIT TO MAKE THE 14 MILE TREK UP HALF DOME, MOST SPEND THEIR DAYS EXPLORING SHORTER AND YET EQUALLY STUNNING HIKES. BRING THE HIKING BOOTS AND IMMERSE YOURSELF IN ONE OF YOSEMITE’S MOST POPULAR ACTIVITIES.
Henness Ridge Fire Lookout Trail
This unmarked trailhead starts at the end of Azalea Lane in Yosemite West. Using the asphalt access road to the right, hike past the water towers and continue 0.7 miles to the Henness Ridge fire lookout tower. Built in 1939 by CCC, this is one of only four of this style of tower ever built in California.
4 MILE TRAIL
Starting on the Valley floor, 4 Mile takes you from the valley floor to the south rim at Glacier Point. The climb rewards you with breathtaking views of Yosemite Falls and the Valley floor below. The end of the trail brings you to the spectacular views of Glacier Point and the reward of ice cream and other snacks at the Glacier Point Cafeteria.
THE MIST TRAIL
Beyond Curry Village is the trailhead for the Mist Trail which takes you to the top of Vernal Falls. At only three miles roundtrip, it is one of Yosemite's most hiked and popular trails. To leave the crowds behind, continue through to Nevada Falls another 3 1/2 miles away. The views and the serenity are worth the work
PANORAMA TRAIL
At 16 miles roundtrip this is probably the longest "day hike" in the Yosemite Valley area. The 5 to 7 hour hike, though, rewards you with a perspective on the Valley Floor that only a fraction of Yosemite's visitors get to see. The magnificent views from this North rim trail may be the best in Yosemite.
SENTINEL DOME TRAIL
You can get the Dome experience without the 14 mile trek to Half Dome. Off Glacier Point Road, you will find the parking lot for the Sentinel Dome and Taft Point trailheads. The Sentinel Dome trail is kid friendly with the trail meeting an old road which is easy to traverse. A scramble up the Dome itself will lead to specular views of Half Dome and Clouds Rest beyond it. It is considered one of Yosemite's most popular spots to view and photograph the night sky over Yosemite Valley.
ELIZABETH LAKES TRAIL
No trip to Yosemite is complete without a hike to a postcard worthy lake and Elizabeth Lake is just such a spot. The trailhead begins out of Tuolumne Meadows campground and trail signage will direct you. The first mile of the 2.3 mile trip gains most of the elevation and can be moderately strenuous, but the views make it one of Yosemite's favorite hiking activities in the Tuolumne Meadows area. The lake itself is stunning surrounded by granite peaks including Unicorn Peak.
trail riding
Wawona Stable
In Wawona, Wawona Stable offers mule and horse trail rides within Yosemite. Riders 7 and older are welcome and experience is not necessary. These 2 hour or full day rides provide access to areas where most hikers never go.
Yosemite Trails
Yosemite Trails has a long "cowboy" history in the Yosemite area and that experience makes it the perfect outfit to lead your Yosemite trail ride experience. The Mariposa Grove Giant Sequioa Trail Ride is an extremely popular Yosemite adventure.
winter activities
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK IS A DIFFERENT AND MESMERIZING WORLD DURING THE WINTER MONTHS
BADGER PASS SKI AREA
The Badger Pass Ski Area is Yosemite's family friendly skiing and snowboarding venue. Five lifts serve beginner to intermediate skiers and snowboarders. The Yosemite Ski School is the perfect way to start in the sport with instructors from around the world. Tubing, Ranger guided snowshoe hikes, and access to cross country trails with world-class views round out Badger Pass Ski Area offerings.
CURRY VILLAGE ICE RINK
The first ice rink in Yosemite Valley was constructed in 1929 as part of a bid for the Olympic Winter Games. Today, the rink offers skaters the unique opportunity to skate while enjoying views of Half Dome and Glacier Point. Without question, this is Yosemite Valley's most popular winter activity. Skates and helmets are available at the rental shop. There is also a fire pit perfect for warming up and making an after skate S'mores snack.
ROCK CLIMBING
YOSEMITE MOUNTAINEERING SCHOOL & GUIDE SERVICE
Yosemite, with its granite walls, has become a playground for the world's best climbers. You don't have follow the routes of climbing greats like Royal Robbins or share El Cap with the likes of Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, or Kevin Jorgeson to have a great time. Yosemite Mountaineering has full day classes for all skill levels providing a truly unique Yosemite experience. They also offer group hikes, guided backpacking trip, and cross country ski lessons.
DINING
WHILE CLOUDS REST RETREAT BOASTS A SPACIOUS, MODERN STOCKED KITCHEN, YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF WANTING TO SAMPLE YOSEMITE’S POPULAR DINING OPTIONS.
THE AWAHNEE DINING ROOM
The Awahnee Hotel is the crown jewel of the national park lodges and its dining room offers an elegant setting for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It has been host to the likes of Queen Elizabeth II, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Steve Jobs, and Barack Obama.
THE MOUNTAIN ROOM
The Mountain Room Dining and The Mountain Room Lounge both offer the opportunity to relax with spectacular views of Yosemite Falls. The lounge is the perfect place to relax around a circular fireplace and enjoy an end of the day cocktail.
START YOUR YOSEMITE ADVENTURE HERE
CLOUDS REST RETREAT IS THE PERFECT “BASE CAMP” FOR YOUR YOSEMITE EXPERIENCE. MOST OF YOSEMITE WEST’S CABIN HOMES ARE LOCATED ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD’S STEEP DOWNWARD SLOPE. CLOUDS REST RETREAT IS IDEALLY LOCATED ON THE PRIME, FLAT LOOP OF YOSEMITE WEST – YOSEMITE’S MOST POPULAR NEIGHBORHOOD WITHIN THE NATIONAL PARK GATES. END YOUR DAY OF YOSEMITE ACTIVITIES IN THE SPACIOUS COMFORT OF CLOUDS REST RETREAT