Clouds Rest Trail vs Half Dome Trail
A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.
Units
| Clouds Rest Trail | Half Dome Trail | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 9.1 mi15 km | 2.0 mi3 km |
| Elevation gain | 1,965 ft599 m | 1,490 ft454 m |
| Typical duration | 1 day | 1 day |
| Difficulty | — | — |
| Route type | Point-to-point | Point-to-point |
| Network | Local | Regional |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Best time to hike | Best from June to September | Best from June to September |
| Route & GPX | Route & GPX |
Clouds Rest Trail vs Half Dome Trail: which should you hike?
At 9.1 mi15 km, Clouds Rest Trail is the longer route — roughly 7.1 mi11 km more than Half Dome Trail (2.0 mi3 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Half Dome Trail is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.