We came from Tenaya lake and it was my favorite hike in Yosemite. The trail and the rock…read moreformations were utterly stunning. Summit allows you to have an amazing view of Half Dome. Please come and create your own adventure.

My first hike in Yosemite, and it happened to be this one...I didn't know what I was getting myself…read moreinto. Cloud's Rest is a strenuous and challenging hike that will exhaust you for a couple days or more! This hike isn't for beginners, if you want to attempt this, you will have to actually enjoy hiking. Cloud's Rest takes around 6-8 hours to complete and is a 14 miles hike with an elevation gain of 2,700 ft. Parking - We arrived around 9:30 AM and found parking at the Sunrise Lakes Trailhead. The earlier you arrive, the better, to avoid crowds and get a good spot to park. There is one pit toilet at the trailhead and would be my first stop after arriving because you're going to be consuming plenty of water during this hike, including many more bathroom breaks in nature. Don't be afraid to take plenty of breaks during the hike, rest stops are great to enjoy some snacks and water. After crossing the wooden bridge, follow the signs pointed towards Cloud's Rest and you'll be right on your way! What I like about this hike is the changes in scenery throughout the hike. It was like a different hike every couple of miles! The first part takes you through a forest-like scenery and then the incline switchbacks, which were extremely tiring and difficult. After conquering that part, the trail takes you through a well-deserved flat area with a nice view of a lake. The final stretch includes a steep, straight incline and then finally the granite steps, which requires a bit of climbing to reach the summit. The views are spectacular at the summit, you will be able to see Half Dome and the Yosemite Valley. We arrived at the top around 1 PM and took a lunch break as well as many pictures. The descent was just as challenging as the ascent, if not more, because you're already pretty tired. Take your time and pace yourself, I think we took ever longer breaks on the way down. Overall, if you're looking for a challenging hike in Yosemite, Cloud's Rest is that hike! Great views at the summit and changing sceneries makes this hike a great one to reflect back on and tell stories.

We took the Sentinel Meadow/Cook's Meadow Loop on our second day since it was an easier hike (~2…read moremiles). We drove around the Yosemite Valley area too: stopping by the Tunnel View of El Capitan & bottom view, Happy Isles Bridge near the Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls, and view of the Yosemite Valley. This Sentinel Meadow/Cook's Meadow Loop isn't "marked," but there is a path for you to walk. During winter/off-season, some areas on the path have black ice, so be careful. This loop gives you different vantage point of Yosemite Falls (Upper & Lower), takes you through the old Yosemite Village (last standing building is the Chapel), and decent views of all the granite rock mountains. We also took the Lower Yosemite Falls trail to get a closer look at the waterfall. It's an easy trail that isn't too long. Restrooms are available near the Yosemite Lodge/Lower Yosemite Falls trail.

We arrived into the park on a Thursday at about 7:30am and parked at the lot in front of Swinging…read moreBridge to do this loop (with Lower Yosemite Falls added one easily). Since park access is restricted because of COVID-19, there were plenty of parking spaces for us. This is a very easy hike - I'd label it more of a causal walk. A lot of this trail is shaded, only the portion between Sentinel Bridge on Southside Drive back to to Swinging Bridge parking lot was very exposed and sunny/hot. This walk is great because you get to see a lot of things - Swinging Bridge, Cook's Meadow, Yosemite Falls, Sentinel Bridge, the chapel, Merced River, and views of all the granite giants like Half Dome. We took our time, and Including the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail, it took us about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Along the wood boardwalk (which we had to ourselves), my husband spied a bear casually walking along the meadow. My son found some baby ducklings in a pond just off the Merced River too.

Bucket List: check…read more Not as scary as others say but expect the worst and it's better than what you hear. Started at two am, had some rookie hikers which slowed the pace but all but one made it to the top. Very difficult if you're not equipped properly. Advise LOTS of water, good shoes, poles, snacks, grippy gloves and a positive attitude. Gorgeous views. Plenty of parking in the early morning. There are few but minimal bathroom stops along the way.

Amazing, well maintained trails to get to Half Dome. We parked in the Curry Village lot and started…read moreour hike just after sunrise. This trail is a steep incline almost the entire way. I was pleasantly surprised that there were at least 3 bathrooms on the way up, the last one about 3 miles from the subdome at the backpackers campground. You hike up past 2 waterfalls on the way up. Lots of beautiful views. Bring lots of water and snacks/food that you may need for a full day. Permits are required and can be lotteried for on the recreation.gov app to climb the subdome and cables. I did not do the subdome and cables, but my hiking partner did. The park estimates that the subdome (30 mins up, 30 mins down) and cables (30 mins up, 30 mins down) will take 2 hours.

Awesome company! Very impressive, professional and knowledgeable staff and guides! Would use this…read morecompany again.

I took the Agnew Meadows to Tuolomne mule supported backpack trip in August 2022. I cannot say…read moreenough positive about this trip. "Fred was an incredible guide, naturalist and cook! Tremendous experience, focus on safety, knowledge of the region, mountains, flora and fauna - and an amazing menu planner and cook. A great guide - oozes depth of experience in both guiding and safety - with a focus on all of the participants. He helped all of us achieve our goals on this trip. Chris was incredibly positive and supportive - developed great rapport with all of the guests - and a phenomenal backcountry cook! Strong sense of safety and responsibility for guests on the trail - and delight to be around. The food was amazing! I could not believe how delicious our meals were in the backcountry. " Definitely recommend!!!

Beautiful area for an intermediate hike to sentinel dome or Taft point. It's a lot going uphill do…read morehave good shoes and be ready for that. You have amazing views at the top. It's the easiest place for a hike there. The parking lot area is large but fills up fast. There are some bathrooms. It's a good place to start the different hikes

We did the Sentinel Dam hike for the first time and wow have been we missing out. This is a very…read moreeasy trail with a surprisingly grippy steady walk to the top of the dome. Love the woods and birds on the start of the trail and then the views on top of the dome are just insane. Take binoculars and take your time to enjoy the views.

Had an amazing full day trip to the Kings Canyon area with Luke in July. i'm a beginner Flyfisher,…read moreso asked Luke to help me troubleshoot a couple issues with my casting. He quickly diagnosed the underlying causes and made the right recommendations to remediate. By the end of the day, I was much more confident and had caught several native rainbow trout to show for it!

Sierra fly Fisher / Luke provides an exceptional, guided, first time fly fishing experience in…read moreYosemite valley featuring patient instruction on casting and water approach. They offered top-tier gear, including waiters and rods, and leads the trips to scenic and crowded spots for catching wild trout in Yosemite.

The view for El Capitan can all be done while driving - no need to hike to this one unless you…read moreprefer! If you'd like to park there is a small parking lot where you can park and walk closer to get a picture of this beautiful view. If you take the gps to tunnel view it will take you exactly to the spot of photos I have attached to this review. I'm sure there are opportunities to get closer to El Capitan but this is an easy way to get a view and some pics!

Stunning! Even in December. TIP: Wear comfortable ( and sensible) walking shoes and layered…read moreclothing.

Review for Lasting Adventures and Guide Isaac V…read more Backpacking Half Dome with Lasting Adventures was an unforgettable experience, made even better by our incredible guide, Isaac V. It was just my spouse and me on the trip, which made it feel really personal and special. Isaac was not only knowledgeable and professional but also had a great personality that made it easy to talk openly and honestly with him. He gave us the confidence we needed to take on this adventure and was encouraging every step of the way. Thanks to his guidance and support, this trip was a true success. We would absolutely recommend Lasting Adventures--and Isaac specifically--to anyone looking for a meaningful and empowering outdoor experience. We're already looking forward to doing another trip!

I did the guided 3-day yoga and backpacking retreat at May Lake/amount Hoffman in Yosemite and it…read morewas AMAZING. The location was so beautiful and serine, and not far enough to scare off an absolute backpacking beginner like me! I kinda pinched myself several times to make sure it was all real. The yoga instructor Britta was fabulous. She had amazing insight, knowledge, and overall her "do what your body tells you" guidance approach to yoga was above and beyond what I expected. She's also just such a warm and encouraging person, which helped me engage spiritually and openly in every practice. Also, I loved that she guided us how to use yoga in our hikes and various activities throughout the day (like breathing technique and TOE YOGA!) The guide Dawson was so chill, knowledgeable and an ASTONISHING cook! I went in expecting to eat nothing but berries and raw avocado, but he made delicious meals I'd gladly eat any day anywhere (like vegan French toast with berries, chia seeds and syrup...never would have thought that was do-able on a backpacking trip!). His mellow and trustworthy demeanor made everything feel so effortless and eased so much anxiety I had going into the whole thing. Overall, it was the trip of a lifetime in such a beautiful place. I made new friends, I saw new things, I never felt judgement, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!