Trailspotting Half Dome, Yosemite National Park

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Difficulty: Difficult
Length: 15.5 miles / 24.9 km
Duration: Full day

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Overview: It's difficult to approach Yosemite's Half Dome without a sense of trepidation.

Perhaps it's the 15½ mile hike and 4,800ft elevation gain? Perhaps it's the worry of the vertigo you might experience on the cables? Or maybe it's just the dread of the Yosemite crowds. Whatever your concerns may be, they shouldn't keep you from missing out on one of the best hikes in on the planet.

Be sure to read through this guide carefully, including the tips section, before attempting this challenging hike.

Elevation gain:
• Approx 4,800ft (from 4,000 - 8,836ft)

Tips: Timing Tips:
• The cable route to the summit is open between May and October. Check the NPS website (link included) for exact dates, which are weather dependent.
• This trail is possible as a single day hike only if you get a very early start.
• You could break the trail into two day backpacking adventure by staying at Little Yosemite Valley campground.
• Half Dome makes a great crowd-free moonlight hike, and watching the sun rise from the summit is something else!
• Always bring a flashlight no matter what time you start the hike.

Permit Tips:
• Permits are necessary to ascend the cables on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
• Permits mean planning up to 4-5 months in advance (unless you can source some unused permits, such as using Craigslist).
• Permit days can be less crowded than weekdays because numbers are strictly limited.
• Obtain your permit from Recreation.gov.

The Cables:
• Check weather forecast and keep an eye on the conditions. Be prepared to turn around if the weather deteriorates.
• Don't attempt the cable ascent if Half Dome is wet - stay alive and try again some other day.
• Wear footwear with good grip, as the worn granite here is silky smooth.
• Bring a pair of gloves for the cable (though there's a pile of used gloves should you forget).
• We've seen carabiner/tether arrangements being used on the cables, but they can be problematic since they have to be detached/reattached at each post.

Points of Interest

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Car Parking

Assuming that you're arriving at the trailhead by car, you'll want to park it in the lot opposite the Upper Pines Campground located half a mile from Happy Trails which marks the start of our hike.

The round trip distance to the Half Dome summit is 15 miles from this location.

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Happy Trails trailhead

Welcome to the official start of the Half Dome trail. Here is where bus riders and car users meet up and kick off the hike for real.

Pass by the concessions stand and the bus stop, cross the bridge over the Merced River and pick up the trail to the right, following alongside the river.

The paved route from Happy Trails handles not just the Half Dome foot traffic, but also waterfall lovers who'll be joining your journey for the first few miles.

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Vernal Fall Viewpoint & Water Station

The smooth paved trail ends at a footbridge across the Merced River. From here you get great views of Vernal Fall, and the nearby water station keeps hikers sated from spring thru fall.

Cross the bridge and continue following the river upstream, towards a closer look of Vernal Fall.

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Mist Trail /John Muir Trail Junction

Keep to the left at this junction and continue to follow river along the Mist Trail. The steps may be steep, but its the most picturesque and most direct route up the mountain.

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Vernal Fall & Emerald Pool

Vernal Fall's 317ft drop makes for a dramatic waterfall, and what's more our Mist Trail route brings us up close and personal to it, providing for some incredible vantage points. Although "up-close" can be putting it mildly in spring when the Merced River is flowing at full strength and the Mist Trail more than lives up to its name.

Once you've overcome the countless steps to the top of the falls you'll find a great overlook. Avoid the temptation to explore the river above the falls because of the obvious danger.

Danger is still present a little further upstream at Emerald Pool. Some find the temptation to swim in the cool waters too much of a temptation to resist, but by ignoring the signs which prohibit bathing they're risking becoming a statistic and a victim of the strong currents - roughly one person dies each year at this location.

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Mist Trail / Panorama Trail Junction

Continue onwards and upwards, with Liberty Cap on your left. Your legs might be getting sore from all the climbing, so you'll be pleased to know that after this hill the trail levels out for a mile of easy hiking.

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Nevada Fall

The mist trail provides for some great views of Nevada Fall, but if you really want to experience this 600ft monster at close quarters then you'll enjoy the views from the top.

Reach the top of Nevada Fall on a short detour down the Panorama trail. When the river is calm this is also a great place to soak your feet in the Merced.

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Little Yosemite Valley Camp & Restrooms

Just off-trail towards the Little Yosemite Valley campground you'll find a timber building suitable for answering those calls of nature.

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Half Dome/Clouds Rest Junction

Keep left and continue up the Half Dome Trail, avoiding the branch off towards Clouds Rest.

The trail continues a steady climb through forests of pine. Find your pace and try and stick with it - soon you'll be looking over the whole of Yosemite valley, with the home-stretch in sight.

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Sub Dome

Leg burning steep-stepped switchbacks snake most of the way up Sub-Dome before eventually giving way to an inelegant scramble over smooth, cracked granite slopes.

Almost there now .. after this there's only the cables to go and you'll be victorious!

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The Cables

The final ascent of Half Dome looks crazy, almost vertical when you first approach it. Don't worry though, it only ever gets as steep as 45 degrees and only for a short time.

This final section of the trail is made possible by the cable and post system drilled into the granite face.

Yes, the cabled section has claimed lives in the past, but 50,000 hikers safely make it to the summit of Half Dome every year and there's no reason you can't be one of them. Treat the mountain with utmost respect and caution and you'll do fine.

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