Half Dome Trail is a 16.2 mile out and back trail located in Yosemite National Park, California that features a lake and is only recommended for very experienced outdoorsmen. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible from May until November.
Directions from Arch Rock Entrance: Travel eastward into the Yosemite Valley, 11.5 miles to the Curry Village day-use area. Park your car and take the shuttle to stop number 16, Happy Isles. Head eastward along the paved path that leads along the northern bank of the Merced River.
California Travel and Tourism Commision, P.O. Box 1499 , Sacramento, CA, 95812-1499, Phone: 800-862-2543
Dani Lyn Walker (77)
about 1 month ago
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12 Completed 2 Reviews
this was physically tough but well worth every ache and pain after. Strongly recommend being physically conditioned if doing in one day. it was hot and sunny and worht it. Physicaly one of the hardest things I have ever done and I am very physically active but this certainly challenged my body....loved it! Recommend walking sticks for coming down...lots of pressure on the knees. whitney is on the next one!
Scott Gober (568)
about 1 month ago
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51 Completed 11 Reviews
This is an exceptional hike! The scenery is amazing all the way. It's nice to conquer something I'd looked at from several other visits to Yosemite and said, "one day I'm going to climb that." It's one of those things you just need to do. I'm eager to get back to Yosemite and share the beauty with my kids!
Chris Jacobs (23)
3 months ago
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2 Completed 2 Reviews
For those with a fear of heights, the cables can be pretty daunting. I've done the hike twice and the first time I couldn't make it to the top. Once to the top the view is spectacular and worth a few moment of terror on the cables.
Diane Martinez (34)
3 months ago
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3 Completed 3 Reviews
I did this hike completely unprepared in 10 hours, started late (0830), didn't need a permit in midweek September , one of the hardest and most memorable things I have ever done in my entire life.
Absolutely beautiful, the landscape changes frequently as you go up in altitude. Ended up taking a nap at the summit on large sheet of granite, then climbed up the cables to see the spectacular view of the valley.
Note: bring gloves (with leather and/or padding to pull yourself up the steel cables), bring a flashlight in case you're running late (we came out of it in pitch darkness), your feet will hurt bring your best shoes and use insoles, you'll need lots of water (we ran out and there are no places to refill the higher you go).
Karen Manship
4 months ago
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1 Completed 1 Reviews
tough but worth it!
Molly Taylor (142)
5 months ago
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6 Completed 5 Reviews
this hike was a school trip for my jr. high school, I never finished it and therefore came back as an adult to complete the goal. it was amazing. a must do for anyone who wants to complete something, start a new adventure or feel that they have accomplished something special. it is a pretty tough hike and at many points a mind-game. if you have an issue w/ heights invest in a harness and clip-in at the cables.
Tyler Harding (5919)
7 months ago
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39 Completed 42 Reviews
I completed this hike in September 2010 on a beautiful warm day. We started early morning while it was still dark in the valley and did the whole thing in one day, returning to our car after dark in the evening. By far this is the most incredible hike of my life. There are out of this world views the whole way. The mist trail is a must...it is steeper and shorter but worth the walk past a monster waterfall (Vernal Falls). I would highly recommend making this a two day trip. Day one I would hike to little Yosemite camp and then go to the top of the dome the following day from there. Don't forget to get a permit - a ranger will check it before allowing you to go up subdome to the half dome.
Lulie Newcomb (45)
7 months ago
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1 Completed 1 Reviews
We trained a couple months for this after doing the Yosemite Falls trail spur of the moment in July. We chose the easy way, camping mid hike at the backpackers camp. What a fun hike! And being able to break it up into 4 segments with rest made it so easy.
We used harnesses with 2 carabeeners on the cables, which i recommend because all the folks that didnt ( mainly the girlfriends following their burly boyfriends up the cables) looked very tired and stressed out. It allowed me to just squat under a cable and hang out as people passed, which was quite fun! There was no fear at all of instant death.
We took the falls trail up ( its rather like a million stairs) and the Muir trail down. We were lucky to have perfect weather the whole time, and we missed the advancing snow by a week!
Jim Johnson (109)
7 months ago
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6 Completed 6 Reviews
On 10/27/11at 530 am My Dad, Jeff and I left Fresno and drove the Curry Village parking lot. We stepped off on the Half Dome trail head at 830 am. We took our time and made our way to Nevada Falls, we spent some time here and before we left we refilled our water supplies. We ended up at the seven mile point and had lunch overlooking Half Dome. At 3:15 we stepped off for our hike back to the truck. We finished the last 2 miles of the hike in the dark. The day was amazing and we had perfect weather
Justin Camp (723)
7 months ago
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8 Completed 6 Reviews
What can I say? The Half Dome hike is awesome. It's a stunningly beautiful grind.
Kara Gasca (137)
8 months ago
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6 Completed 2 Reviews
The most beautiful hike I have been on! Great scenery and lot's of wildlife to be seen from the trail. It's pretty challenging but well worth it!
Bruce Hildreth (85)
8 months ago
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3 Completed 2 Reviews
It doesn't get any better than this. An all day adventure with out of this world views.
Brent Stout (36)
9 months ago
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0 Completed 1 Reviews
Great hike in an absolutely beautiful location. We hiked in the evening to the backpackers camp in Little Yosemite Valley where we spent the night. Return hike was on Saturday down the Mist Trail which is very crowded with day hikers making it a little difficult with a backpack, this is the reason I gave the hike four stars instead of five.
Obediah Racicot
9 months ago
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42 Completed 13 Reviews
Great hike. Go early in the day to beat the crowds.
Aaron Bertalmio (566)
11 months ago
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11 Completed 14 Reviews
epic day hike. Don't take the JMT detour - pack rain gear if cold and forge through the storm on the mist trail, or swimwear and river shoes if hot and enjoy the spray. Leave trailhead early (6am) to avoid crowds and lightening storms on the peak. You do NOT want to get in line behind literally HUNDREDS of poorly prepared, slow moving amateurs - they will actually clip in and out of the cables both going up AND coming down, making what should be a straightforward scramble up the face into an excruciatingly slow, and more-dangerous-than-it-needs-to-be crawl. For better or worse, you now need permits when cables are up, but beat the crowds by opting for an early season ascent before the cables are up. Bring ice axe and crampons. WARNING - must be comfortable with 3rd-4th class scrambling.
Peter Lauer (112)
11 months ago
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13 Completed 2 Reviews
Just love this hike... Best of all time.... Need to start early and get to the cables before the crowds
Jessica Dunlap
12 months ago
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10 Completed 8 Reviews
No words can describe this hike in a way that does it justice. We did this as a 3-day backpack trip, camping in Little Yosemite Valley. I recommend this approach, as we left our campsite for the Dome when most people were coming down. We were at the top of Half Dome just before sunset and there were VERY FEW people. (most people tackle it all at once and set out from the trailhead around midnight to catch sunrise from the top, meaning lots of crowds) I also recommend hiking poles, They will help alleviate some strain on your legs, and they give your hands something to do, rather than just hang there at your sides for several hours.
This is by far the most difficult hike I have accomplished, mostly because the cables were frightening for me (fear of falling, not so much a fear of heights). But I pushed through and got to the top. TRULY THE MOST AMAZING FEELING when I reached the top - pride for pushing through, awe at the view, a feeling of being special for joint the ranks of those who did it, etc. Like I said, no words can really describe it. If you have the desire to do this hike, then go do it - you won't be disappointed.
Bill Silva (2637)
about 1 year ago
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230 Completed 29 Reviews
One of the most memorable day activities i've done. 16+ miles with an elevation gain and loss of approximately 8,000'. Incredible wildlife (bear/bobcat/deer), awesome views and great trail interaction with fellow hikers. Bring plenty of water, most folk ran out of water before they reached the summit and still had 8+ miles on the return leg to go. Trail ran the return leg (8+ miles) back to Happy Isles.... Much fun. Two major options to do, head up from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley or begin from Glacier Point via the Panorama trail. Both equally fun and challenging. Have done both more than once and recommend doing both to compare the differences.
Greg Cherry (535)
over 1 year ago
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1 Completed 12 Reviews
Very challenging for the novice I was back then, i was unprepared for hike but was determined to make it to the top. to all the senior citizens that were passing me , thanx for motivation, lol
Jay Sharky (806)
over 1 year ago
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24 Completed 7 Reviews
The hike up to the summit of Half Dome is truly an epic hike. Come prepared, you're going to spend a long time on the trail without any place to get more water. There is one fountain, but its early on in the hike, well before you get to Vernal Fall. I took along a 2 liter bottle of water and two 32 oz bottles of Gatorade and went through all of them by the time I got back. The hike starts out easy enough on a flat stretch of dirt path before quickly turning to paved path and starting an upward climb that will take you to Little Yosemite Valley. On the way there, you'll pass by Vernal Fall and head up a long set of switchback stairs to get the to top of Nevada Falls. You can relax a bit as it levels off after that until you start going up once again at the other end of the valley. The path then takes you up the mountain towards Half Dome. This stretch is actually a little bit easier than the rocky stairs you have to climb to get to the top of the falls, at least until you get to the "Mini Dome" where a fresh set of steps await you. These are steep and uneven are are the hardest part of the hike. Once you've made it over the top, the cable climb up to Half Dome awaits. Gloves are available at the start of the cables, but you might want to consider bringing your own. The gloves I picked out were thin from wear and one of the fingers had a hole. There are so many people making this trip that you'll have people backed up on the climb up to the summit. I went on a Tuesday and I'd have to say there were easily a hundred people making the trek. If you're afraid of heights, the cable climb could be a challenge. I don't have issues with heights so I found the climb wasn't that difficult. Once you're at the top, enjoy the amazing views and the excitement of having made it HALF way through this epic journey. Remember, you're just at the top, and you have another 8.1 miles to go to get back down. The fact that you're coming down makes it easier, but leave yourself plenty of time to make it back before dark. I picked a 3 pm turn around time, so if I wasn't on the cables going up or at the summit by 3 then I was going to turn around and head back. Interestingly enough, some people were still headed up as I was coming back down and I had made the summit around 2:30. This is truly one of the greatest hikes I have ever done, and I highly recommend training and taking it on just once in your life. As luck would have it, I came across a group being guided to the summit by a very professional guide. If you're considering making the hike, take a look at their website: http://yexplore.com and see if a guided trip would be right for you.
Michael Green (48)
over 1 year ago
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3 Completed 1 Reviews
This is one of the all-time epic day hikes (it can also be done as an overnight backpacking trip staying in Little Yosemite Valley before an early morning summit - great way to beat crowds). Very strenuous, but you are constantly rewarded with heart-stopping, world class views of waterfalls, deep valleys, forests, meadows, unbelievable granite formations, even a swimming hole or two. This is not an alone with nature hike, as hundreds do it every day and you'll be surrounded by fellow hikers all day. All ages and abilities are capable as long as they have the mental determination to do it. If you live nearby and have never attempted the Dome, you owe it to yourself to try this once in a lifetime hike. Note that as of the 2010 season, you must have a permit even to day hike it on the weekend or holidays.
Petrina Daw
almost 2 years ago
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7 Completed 7 Reviews
Absolutely stunning. A challenging trail that takes your through valleys and across ridges, with stunning vistas and dramatic granite faces. If you want to be surrounded by the awe and majesty that is mother nature, this trail is an absolute must!!
Richie Greenberg (445)
about 2 years ago
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5 Completed 9 Reviews
You want see nature at its finest; this is the place as long as your in good shape. This is a demanding trail with beautiful views, bring your camarea.
Chenendez
over 2 years ago
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Completed Reviews
Non-sense laden Mist Trail with unnecessary up and downs. Most literature is wrong. This is at the minimum a 15 miler, even by Mist, and 5,200 ft gainer. Though closer to 5,500 with all the loss and re-gains, and expect 17+ miles if you start from the Happy Isle parking lot. Trust me.
This path should be renamed to the Horse Feces Trail. You will encounter a significant stretch that is deposited with fresh horse crap as well as weeks old ones that no one bothered to clean. You will spend a great deal of energy maneuvering around this. Now I know why they call it manure. Maneuver, manure. Get it? We all spend good money to get in the park, but some people think it's a better idea, since they already have your money, to allow h
carabiner
almost 6 years ago
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Completed Reviews
I highly recommend the Half Dome hike to anyone seeking a fairly challenging climb. Although some might be able to complete it without much preparation, I encourage the general population to plan it out a bit before doing it. There's a photo-by-photo blog/guide that can assist you in getting a feel for what to expect for the Half Dome hike and Half Dome cables before going. I used it for planning out my recent climb... turned out to be very accurate and helpful.
jack mehaff
over 6 years ago
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Completed Reviews
WONDERFULL was my experiences at half dome it is one of the most wonderfull beautiful places in the world not only the fall but a the top of half dome we got to the top in little over 4 1/2 hour not to bad we were in good shape make sure to bring extra water because on those hot days it goes faster than you think. When we were coming down people were even asking us for extra water be prepared
AL
almost 7 years ago
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Completed Reviews
After reading the book Shattered Air by Bob Madgic, I had to climb Half Dome. The book is about the two guys who were hit by lightning twice at the top and died in July 25, 1985. Since that day, camping on top of Half Dome was disallowed. I hiked this yesterday with my 11 yr old son. I took us 13 hours round trip because he had to take numerous breaks and we spend time on the Nevada and Vernal Falls on the way down. The view is magnificent from the top. The cables were awesome. It's like riding a roller coaster except you are in control. Let go of the cables and death is certain. I'm sore from the hike but I have already planned to come back next year as soon as I reached the top.
Mark & Carrie
almost 8 years ago
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Completed Reviews
Wow, This is by far the best hike we have ever done.We did this in a little bit over 11 hours.We logged a little closer to 19 miles but we added some distance to our hike by going to the top of Nevada falls twice.A couple recommendations, 1 is not to do it on a weekend, as there were too many people on the cables( we went on the outside of cables up and down) 2, get more than 2 hours sleep the night before, Carrie! lol
M. Piazza
about 8 years ago
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Completed Reviews
This is THE premier day hike in Yosemite. I would say a once in a lifetime hike but you'd be crazy not to make this hike again and again and again...
A. Riedel
almost 9 years ago
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Completed Reviews
This is an incredible hike, but the constant up,up,up is drudgery, even though you are among the most beautiful waterfalls anywhere in the world. It is much better, a little longer to make this trip a shuttle from Glacier Point to the valley, that way you get it all. A grand view of all that you will see at the start, and a downhill hike all the way back. All the people in your way doesn't make this one any easier. It's a butt-kicker any way you slice it. The view from Half Dome is one of my favorite spots in the world.
Alex Ainley (11)
about 1 month ago
1 Completed 1 Reviews
Please remember to pack a head lamp or flashlight! Leading 20 people down from Vernal Falls after dark with one light is very unnerving. Great hike for moderate to experienced conditioned hikers. It would entertain you to know a little history of HD16.2 before you trek it... And it is not just a one day trip, you can pack in and stay a night!