North Dome (via Yosemite Falls) Trail is a 17.5 mile trail located near Yosemite National Park, California that offers scenic views and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible from April until October.
Directions from Arch Rock Entrance: Follow Highway 140 into the Yosemite Valley. Six and a half miles from the entrance station the road splits. Take the right fork, which becomes Southside Drive, to the Yosemite Lodge parking area. The trail begins from the western side of the lot behind the lodge.
California Travel and Tourism Commision, P.O. Box 1499 , Sacramento, CA, 95812-1499, Phone: 800-862-2543
Lonnie Saechao (393)
over 1 year ago
N/A:
4 Completed 8 Reviews
Great 8 mile hike to do. Easy yet rewarding with an excellent view of Half Dome. The majority of the trail is an easy elevation gain and decline. However, there is one point on the hike, roughly the last mile or half mile where you'd have to descend along rocks which may take some more time to accomplish. But overall, great hike, bring water, sun block and a lunch.
Nelson
almost 7 years ago
N/A:
Completed Reviews
Hiked up here from Upper Yosemite Falls trail on 6/4/2005. Reached the top of Upper Yosemite Falls and had dinner and hiked to about 1/2 mile past Yosemite Point before spending the night. The next day was a delightful hike to North Dome, mostly in shade with a couple of small climbs in deep lush forest. Views from North Dome is truely incredible. See Illilouette Falls across the valley. Full view of Half Dome, Mt. Starr King, the Clark Range, and Yosemite Valley. Also good views of Clouds Rest and Tenaya Canyon.
Steve Goldschmidt (305)
over 1 year ago
5 Completed 5 Reviews
What can be said other than WOW! I did not hike this from Yosemite Falls. I hiked it from the Porcupine Creek trailhead on Tioga Road.
The first 3.5 miles or so is a simple walk in the Yosemite woods, which is beautiful in and of itself, but then suddenly you reach a clearing at the top of the hill and there is Half Dome staring at you through the trees. From there the trail scurries down some granite for another mile and you reach the plateau that is North Dome, some 7500 ft above Yosemite Valley.
The views here are unmatched. If you get far enough out along North Dome you can see Half Dome in her entirety, from the base of the valley to the top, and you are seeing it from a unique angle. Just stoic and iconic. On a clear day like the day I hiked here, you can look to the right and see the entire Yosemite Valley below - the Merced River, El Cap, Nevada Falls. To the left is the immensity of Tenaya Canyon and Clouds Rest. The scale of the Valley is in full display and it was actually a little disorienting at first. Bring some food, plenty of water, a camera, and give yourself time to enjoy the moment. Once you are hanging out on North Dome it will be hard to pry yourself away. On the way back I also took the 0.6 mile detour and checked out Indian Rock, a unique granite structure with a 15ft tall archway. Worth the time to check it out and it provides you one last glimpse of Half Dome before you descend onto the backside of the hill.
In my opinion North Dome is a "Cant Miss" hike in Yosemite. Its only moderately difficult - you lose about 560 ft getting there and are hiking at a higher altitude than most of us are used to. There are a few sections right near the dome that are a bit steep and rocky but nothing sketchy. For what you are going to experience when you arrive, it is a small effort for a maximum Yosemite moment!
I was lucky enough to hike on a warm November day and was all alone the entire time, never seeing another hiker the whole day. I enjoyed the solitude but I imagine that on most days you will have a bit of company, especially once you arrive on ND.
I also had the unique experience of hiking this trail for the first time a few weeks ago with my girlfriend on a cloudy and misty day. We got to the dome but could not see anything except the granite below our feet. No Half Dome, no valley...nothing but clouds. To return on a clear sunny day and realize what surrounded us that we were not seeing that day made me laugh out loud.