Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Sleeping on top of Yosemite: is Cloud's Rest the best backcountry campsite in the park?
Most people hike Cloud's Rest and go home— we camped near the summit to catch Yosemite sunrise and sunset, and let's just say it was one of the most unforgettable backpacking experiences we've ever had.
Every year, thousands of hikers make the journey to Clouds Rest for one of the most spectacular views in Yosemite National Park.
Most turn around and head back before sunset (and few want to start the Cloud's Rest hike in the dark to catch sunrise!)
We got fortunate to score Yosmite wilderness permits to backpack to Clouds Rest, where we hiked off trail to find a remote (and legal!) campsite near the summit. After setting up our tent along one of Yosemite's most epic ridgelines, the day hikers started to disappear, one of Yosemite's most famous viewpoints transformed into something entirely different.
From golden hour above Half Dome to sunrise over the Sierra Nevada, this was a side of Clouds Rest that few people get to experience.
Would you spend a night here?
#Yosemite #CloudsRest #Backpacking
Sleeping on top of Yosemite: is Cloud's Rest the best backcountry campsite in the park?
Most people hike Cloud's Rest and go home— we camped near the summit to catch Yosemite sunrise and sunset, and let's just say it was one of the most unforgettable backpacking experiences we've ever had.
Every year, thousands of hikers make the journey to Clouds Rest for one of the most spectacular views in Yosemite National Park.
Most turn around and head back before sunset (and few want to start the Cloud's Rest hike in the dark to catch sunrise!)
We got fortunate to score Yosmite wilderness permits to backpack to Clouds Rest, where we hiked off trail to find a remote (and legal!) campsite near the summit. After setting up our tent along one of Yosemite's most epic ridgelines, the day hikers started to disappear, one of Yosemite's most famous viewpoints transformed into something entirely different.
From golden hour above Half Dome to sunrise over the Sierra Nevada, this was a side of Clouds Rest that few people get to experience.
Would you spend a night here?
#Yosemite #CloudsRest #Backpacking
