As one of the most popular hikes in Yosemite National Park, Half Dome draws more people each year than any other summit. Practically encircled by steep cliffs, the 14-mile round-trip trail is a rigorous and beautiful hike to one of America’s unique icons.
For 60 years, via the Mist Trail, aspiring Half Dome hikers began and ended their explorations at Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall. Nowadays, visitors to Yosemite typically park near the Happy Isles Trailhead and hike up Mist Trail to Vernal Fall for day hikes before tackling Half Dome.
However, following an incident this summer when a teenager died after hiking Half Dome without proper equipment or preparation, park officials are urging future hikers to plan their trip carefully and get permits online in advance before heading out to make sure they’re legally obliged to.
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What is Half Dome?
Half Dome is a giant rock that dominates Yosemite Valley. Located at the center of the park, it’s one of the most visited spots in the United States, drawing over 1.5 million people per year.
If you’ve been to Yosemite, you’ve likely seen the enormous granite slab looming over the park. Located about 14 miles from the park’s entrance, Half Dome stands 4,799 feet tall and is more than 3,000 feet wide.
In 1924, it was declared a National Monument, making it the second-oldest national monument in the country, only behind Grand Canyon. It also was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.
The summit is surrounded by steep cliffs and snowcapped granite. From the trail, the massive rock resembles a mountain that’s been split in two. Half Dome’s sheer size is the main reason it’s often referred to as a “buttress” in reference to its shape.
In order to hike to the top of Half Dome, you’ll need to be able to climb a rock. There are a few places on Half Dome where hikers can use equipment to assist them in scaling the sheer face.
What To Pack
Weather in Yosemite varies from year to year. Snow is common during the winter months, but Half Dome isn’t the only place in the park to hit snow.
When hiking in the park, it’s important to dress properly to deal with unpredictable weather. Half Dome is often called the “steepest recorded climb of the century” for a reason.
During winter, the rocks tend to be covered in snow, making the climb much easier and potentially hazardous.
Bring gloves and a jacket for the trip. In summer, Half Dome tends to be hot and sweaty, so bring plenty of water.
What to Expect
If you’ve been to Yosemite before, you know what to expect. However, just because you’ve been there before doesn’t mean you know what to expect.
The weather in Yosemite varies from year to year, and you may find yourself hiking on a different trail in the park then you did the year before.
Because the trail to Half Dome is one of the most popular hikes in the park, it tends to be very crowded during the summer.
When the crowds arrive, you’ll find yourself in a tightly packed group of people who are all focused on reaching the top of Half Dome as quickly as possible.
As a result, you’ll often find yourself on a trail that’s not as well maintained like the others.
Be sure to keep up with the group, as you won’t be able to get off the trail.
To help you stay on the trail, park officials recommend using designated points of interest to navigate along the way.
It’s also important to remember that Half Dome is a mountain, not a flat, flat rock. It’s not uncommon for hikers to lose their footing on the steep trail.
If you do slip and fall, you may need to be rescued.
Rescue teams are on hand during the summer to assist those who slip and fall, but they may not be able to get to you in time.
In the summer, hikers often choose to travel on the Mist Trail, which has much less traffic.
In order to reach Half Dome, you’ll need to hike from the base of the mountain to the summit.
Best Times To Go
In the summer, Half Dome is much busier than it is in the winter. Because of this, it’s often best to visit the park in the early morning or late afternoon.
If you hike during the morning, you’ll have the trail to yourself. If you hike in the evening, you’ll likely find the trail to be much less crowded.
During the winter, the climb to Half Dome is much easier. Because of this, you’ll likely be able to hike the trail in much less time than you would during the summer.
Hiking Half Dome is more difficult in the winter because you’ll need to contend with snow.
If you do decide to go in the winter, be sure to bring appropriate gear.
Snow will make the trail much harder to follow, so it’s important to bring a map and compass.
You’ll also need to bring extra clothing to protect yourself from the cold.
How to Get There
If you’re driving to Yosemite, you’ll need to take the main park entrance. The drive from the San Francisco Bay Area to Yosemite is approximately 2.5 hours.
Once you’re in the park, you’ll need to drive about 20 minutes to get to the trailhead. The parking lot is located at the base of the mountain.
Parking is free, but it’s not uncommon for the lotto to fill up quickly.
Once you’re in the parking lot, you’ll need to pay $30 per car to hike the trail.
If you’re planning to hike Half Dome with a group, you’ll need to pay a reservation fee of $5 per person.
This fee will be added to your reservation fee and is not included in the $30 trial fee.
Park officials recommend that you use the Half Dome reservation system to book a spot.
Best Trails
There are several other trails that lead to Half Dome, but most are not suitable for hiking.
In the summer, the Mist Trail is the most popular trail in the park.
The trail is located on the east side of the mountain, making it much less crowded than the trail on the west side.
Because the trail is located on the west side of the mountain, it’s often much less crowded in the summer.
The Mist Trail can be accessed from the Mist House, which is located on the south side of the park.
How To Get a Half Dome Hike Permit
If you’re planning to hike Half Dome, you’ll need to purchase a permit in advance.
Park officials recommend that you use the Half Dome reservation system to book a spot.
To reserve a spot, you’ll need to pay $5 per person. If you have a reservation, park officials will let you know when you can expect to arrive at the trailhead.
In the summer, the permit process can take several hours. This is because the trail is very busy and hikers often have to wait in a long line to purchase a permit.
If you decide to hike Half Dome without a reservation, you’ll need to pay $30 per car.
You’ll also need to pay $5 per person to hike the trail.
Pre-Season Permit Lottery
If you’re planning to hike Half Dome during the summer and you haven’t pre-registered for a permit, there’s a chance you won’t be able to secure a spot at the permit lot.
Park officials recommend that you book in advance for access to the lottery to ensure that you’ve been selected.
Daily Permit Lottery
Once you’re in the lottery, you’ll need to complete a permit application online.
You’ll need to enter the date you plan to hike Half Dome, as well as your name, email address, phone number, and the number of people in your group.
Park officials will then select up to 1,000 permits to sell at the trailhead.
To avoid the long lines, make sure you apply for your permit at least 24 hours before you plan to hike Half Dome.
If you have an online reservation, park officials will let you know when you can expect to arrive at the trailhead.
Permit Jumping
In recent years, some hikers have been caught using the permit system as an advantage.
Those who can get to the trailhead before everyone else in line can quickly hike Half Dome without spending long lines at the trailhead.
In 2013, four teenagers were charged with jumping a line of permit buyers. They were issued trespassing tickets and had to be hospitalized.
The Park Service and rangers have made special efforts to crack down on those using the permit system with illegal gains.
Half Dome With a Wilderness Permit
If you plan to hike Half Dome with a wilderness permit, you’ll need to apply for a backcountry permit online in advance.
To reserve a spot, you’ll need to pay $5 per person. If you have a reservation, park officials will let you know when you can expect to arrive at the trailhead.
You’ll need to have at least $40 for food and water, as well as $25 for a permit.
In the summer, the permit process can take several hours. This is because the trail is very busy and hikers often have to wait in a long line to purchase a permit.
If you decide to hike Half Dome without a reservation, you’ll need to pay $30 per car.
You’ll also need to pay $5 per person to hike the trail. Make sure that you read up and pre-prepare before your trip and check out the hiking itinerary to make sure you’re hiking at the right time of the year.
Using Your Permit
The permit allows you to access a part of the park where the access trail is closed to the public.
You can use your permit to access any trail within the park, but you can only hike the trails on the Half Dome Trail for a total of 14 days.
In the summer, the permit system can take several hours. This is because the trail is very busy and hikers often have to wait in a long line to purchase a permit.
Part of Half Dome is protected by the Yosemite Wilderness. The Half Dome wilderness area is located in the center of the park and is approximately 60 miles from the nearest town. The wilderness area covers 2,974 acres of the park. The area is home to 5,580-foot-high Mount Hoffman, the highest peak in Yosemite National Park.
The wilderness is home to a rich ecosystem and is protected from development. This wilderness area is home to wild animals, including mountain lions, bears, and bobcats.
The wilderness area is closed to the public, but hikers can enter the wilderness area using a wilderness permit.
The wilderness area has several hiking trails, including the Wawona Meadow, Cathedral Peak, Bridalveil Creek, and Mariposa Grove.
You can also hike to the base of Half Dome from the wilderness area. The Half Dome trail begins at the Wawona Meadow trailhead.
No Permit Hiking
If you plan to hike Half Dome without a permit, you’ll need to hike at least 3,000 feet above the valley floor to be able to hike the summit.
The Yosemite Wilderness is a great place to hike, and it’s one of the most popular hikes in the park.
You can hike the trail to the base of Half Dome from the Wawona Meadow trailhead. This is the shortest route to Half Dome, but it’s also the most crowded.
You’ll need to make sure you hike at the right time of the year. If you plan to hike in the winter, you’ll need to make sure you have the proper equipment and clothing.
Alternatives For When You Can’t Get a Permit
If you have a wilderness permit, you can use it to access any trail within the park.
However, you can’t hike the Half Dome Trail, so you can’t hike to the base of Half Dome. If you don’t have a permit, you can hike to the base of Half Dome from the Wawona Meadow trailhead.
You’ll need to make sure you hike at the right time of the year. If you plan to hike in the winter, you’ll need to make sure you have the proper equipment and clothing.
Gear You Need For Half Dome
Hiking Half Dome is not for everyone. The elevation change is huge, and you’ll be hiking at least 3,000 feet above the valley floor.
If you’re a beginner, you should wear hiking boots and pack light. You’ll also need to wear clothing that will keep you warm.
You can also wear a jacket, but make sure that it’s windproof. It’s also a good idea to pack a fleece sweater or sweatshirt to keep you warm in the cold winter months.
For other hiking essentials, you’ll need the following:
- Warm clothing
- Lightweight hiking boots
- Rain jacket
- Water
- Hiking poles
- Headlamp
- Camelbak
- Sleeping bag
Specific Gear For the Cables
For Half Dome, you’ll need to be extra careful to make sure that you have the right equipment. The cables that run up the center of the trail are not something you want to mess with.
The cables are attached to a harness that is designed to hold hikers firmly in place. You’ll need to clip into the cables, but if you misjudge the height of the cable, it can pull you off balance and even cause serious injury.
Hiking Half Dome can be dangerous, and you should be prepared for all possible situations. The cables should be your first line of defense against anything bad happening.
Where Does the Half Dome Hike Start?
The Half Dome hike begins at the Wawona Meadow trailhead. You’ll need to park at the Wawona Meadow trailhead, which is located in the Yosemite Valley.
The hike to the base of Half Dome from the Wawona Meadow trailhead is a 4.5-mile round-trip hike. The trail is fairly steep and has a few elevation changes.
You’ll be hiking above the valley floor, so you’ll need to make sure you bring along the proper equipment and clothing.
You can also hike to the base of Half Dome from the Wawona Tunnel trailhead. The hike to the base of Half Dome from the Wawona Tunnel trailhead is a 5.6-mile round-trip hike.
You’ll need to make sure you hike at the right time of the year. If you plan to hike in the winter, you’ll need to make sure you have the proper equipment and clothing.
Where Does the Half Dome Hike End?
The hike to the base of Half Dome ends at the Half Dome Village trailhead. This is a 1.5-mile round-trip hike.
You’ll need to hike from the Half Dome Village trailhead to the top of the mountain, but you’ll be going down the other side.
There is no turnaround point on the trail, so you’ll need to be careful not to get lost.
Where To Stay
You’ll find plenty of lodging options in Yosemite Valley and the Wawona area.
You’ll need to make sure that your accommodations are located within Yosemite Valley to hike the Half Dome Trail.
A popular, reasonably priced hotel is the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls. There is also a campground located within Yosemite Valley and Wawona, and lodging can be found along Highway 41 within Yosemite Valley.
Things To Keep In Mind
Hiking the Half Dome Trail is a relatively strenuous hike. You might want to go in mid to late summer. The air in Yosemite Valley is cool and clean throughout the year, so you might want to bring a scarf or a light coat.
For the first mile of the hike, you need to work to keep an even pace. As you near the top of the mountain, the trail becomes steeper. The trail is often very crowded. It’s a good idea to make sure that you get your permit at least a month before you plan to hike.
Conclusions
The hike to the top of Half Dome is a great adventure. It is one of the most popular hikes in Yosemite. You can get up close and personal with the views from the top of Half Dome. The views are amazing. You’ll need to hike with the proper equipment and clothing and make sure that you’re prepared for all possible weather conditions.
