Is there a maintained trail to the top of Gray Peak?

No. Established trails get you partway; the final approach to the 11,573-foot summit is off-trail travel across talus and open terrain, best suited to experienced backcountry hikers.

Do I need a permit to climb Gray Peak?

Yes, if you're camping overnight in the backcountry, which is how most parties approach it. You'll need a wilderness permit and a bear canister, plus the park's standard entrance fee.

When's the best time to climb Gray Peak?

April through October is the general window, though most people go from June onward, once Glacier Point Road opens for the season and snow has melted from the high country.

Gray Peak, Yosemite: Backcountry Peak Climb Guide

Gray Peak is an 11,573-foot summit in the Clark Range, roughly nine miles southeast of Yosemite Valley as the crow flies — though reaching the top takes far more ground than that suggests. There's no maintained trail to the summit; it's a cross-country peak climb that experienced backpackers tackle after days working through the high country near Red Peak and Mount Clark.

Getting There

Two approaches are used depending on the season:

Mono Meadow Trailhead (off Glacier Point Road, when the road is open for the season) is the standard summer and fall route — about 22 miles round trip with roughly 5,300 feet of elevation gain.
Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley is the winter and early-spring alternative, used when Glacier Point Road is closed — closer to 30 miles round trip with about 8,000 feet of gain.

Permits and Planning

Most parties climb Gray Peak as a multi-day trip, camping near Grayling Lake and using it as a base for Gray Peak along with neighboring Red Peak and Mount Clark. Any overnight stay in the backcountry requires a wilderness permit and a bear canister. The final stretch to the summit is off-trail scrambling over talus, so this trip suits hikers comfortable with route-finding, not casual day visitors.

Good to Know

Gray Peak is the fourth-highest peak in the Clark Range, likely named during the Wheeler Survey's exploration of the Yosemite region in 1878-1879. The best window to attempt it runs from April through October, with most climbers going from June onward once Glacier Point Road opens and the high country snow has cleared.

Gray Peak

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