Half Dome

The Route

This is a full-day commitment starting from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley. The trail climbs relentlessly for 8.2 miles and 5,400 feet of gain to reach the summit at 8,800 feet. Most hikers tackle the Mist Trail for the first section, which means granite steps slick with waterfall spray—beautiful in May and June, treacherous when wet.

The character changes as you climb. The lower trail winds through mixed forest past Vernal and Nevada Falls. Above Nevada Fall, you enter Little Yosemite Valley, a relatively flat stretch that serves as the staging area for the final push. From here, the trail turns to granite slabs and boulder fields as you approach the subdome, then the cables.

The cables themselves are the crux: 400 feet of steep granite with steel cables and wooden planks every 10-20 feet. You're essentially doing an assisted scramble with significant exposure. The Park Service installs the cables around Memorial Day and pulls them after Columbus Day.

Permits & Planning

You cannot summit Half Dome without a permit, period. The park issues 300 permits per day—225 for day hikers, 75 for backpackers. Your best shot is the preseason lottery that runs through March, with results in April. Success rate hovers around 22%. If you strike out, there's a daily lottery available two days before your intended hike date, but the odds drop to about 19%.

Plan for 12-16 hours car to car. Most people start in darkness to reach the summit before afternoon thunderstorms roll in—and thunderstorms make the summit genuinely dangerous. The cables can become lightning rods, and wet granite turns treacherous.

Parking fills early at the Valley trailhead near Half Dome Village. From there it's a half-mile walk to Happy Isles and the actual trailhead. The shuttle system doesn't start until 7 a.m., so early starters need to drive and walk.

What You Need

Water is critical. The Park Service recommends a full gallon for this hike, and that's not conservative advice. There are water sources along the route, but don't count on them late in the season.

Gloves are essential for the cables—leather work gloves or climbing gloves. The steel cables will shred your hands otherwise. Grippy shoes matter too; approach shoes or sticky rubber hiking boots perform better on granite than standard hiking boots.

The summit runs 15-20 degrees cooler than the Valley and can be windy. Pack layers even on hot days.

The Reality

This hike has a reputation for a reason. Sprained ankles on the Mist Trail granite steps are common. Dehydration and exhaustion knock people out regularly. The cables section intimidates some hikers enough that they turn back after making it that far.

But the summit delivers. You're standing on top of the most recognizable granite monolith in North America, with the entire Sierra spread out in front of you. The view takes in Yosemite Valley 4,800 feet below, the Cathedral Range, and on clear days, the Coast Range 150 miles west.

Start early, bring more water than you think you need, and respect the afternoon thunderstorm window. This isn't a hike to attempt casually, but it's the experience that defines Yosemite for many people.