Half Dome
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
| Address: | Half Dome Trail, Yosemite Village, CA 95389, USA |
| GPS: |
37°44'42.0"N 119°30'45.8"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
| Trail Length: | 14.00 miles |
| Trail Type: | Out & Back |
| Hike Difficulty: | Expert |
| Elevation Gain: | 4800 feet |
| Trails/Routes: | 1.9 mi |
Restrooms Waterfalls Streams Trails Rocks National Park
Hike
Half Dome is the most popular and difficult hike in Yosemite Valley. The trail is about 14 miles long with an elevation gain of 4800 feet. There are cables to help you scale up to the summit once you get within 400 feet of it. It takes about 10-12 hours to complete and is essentially straight up the entire way.
Because it is such a dangerous hike, there are many precautions you should take before attempting Half Dome. Leave around sunrise and have a set time to turn back, even if you don't reach the summit. Make sure everyone in your group has a flashlight in case it gets dark before you return. It is also recommended to bring gloves to help improve your grip on the cables and to keep your hands from burning when touching the cables.
In order to reduce the amount of people on the trail creating a bottleneck at the cables, the park has implemented a permit system. You must have a permit to access the cables.
While the hike to get there is dangerous and difficult, the view along the way and especially from the summit is unmatched, offering sites of Vernal and Nevada Falls, Liberty Cap, the High Sierras, and panoramic views of the entire valley.
More Information
Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
- Head northeast on Northside Dr toward Lower Yosemite Fall TrailToll road(0.5 mi)
- Turn right onto Sentinel DriveToll road(0.3 mi)
- Turn left onto Southside DrToll road(1.0 mi)
- Continue straight onto Happy Isle Loop RdToll road(0.4 mi)
- Turn left to stay on Happy Isle Loop RdToll road(0.1 mi)
- Turn rightToll roadRestricted usage road(0.5 mi)
There is a parking lot just outside the trailhead.
Trails
Distance ?
1.9 milesElevation Gain ?
1,837 feetReal Ascent ?
1,904 feetReal Descent ?
67 feetAvg Grade (11°)
19%Grade (-11° to 38°)
-19% to 77%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.
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