The hike to Half Dome is one of Yosemite’s most challenging and most memorable hikes. On this hike you get to walk on some of Yosemite’s most popular hiking trails, view the Vernal and Nevada waterfalls, and walk through shady forests of Sequoia trees. But the best part of the trail is the final climb on the Half Dome cables and your reward from the top, one of the best views of all of Yosemite.
If you are planning to hike to Half Dome, here is what to expect, from start to finish.
What is Half Dome?
Half Dome is one of Yosemite’s most recognizable landmarks. The top of this granite dome sits 4,800 feet off of the valley floor at a total elevation of 8,844 feet (2,695 meters).
There are several ways to get to the top of Half Dome. Most people get here by hiking the 17-mile round trip route from the valley floor and taking the cable route to the top. Rock climbers scale the vertical face of Half Dome to the summit.
Half Dome Permits
You must have a permit in order to climb the subdome and the Half Dome cables. Permits are awarded in a preseason lottery for the entire summer hiking season.
A maximum of 300 permits are awarded per day, with 225 for day hikers and 75 for backpackers.
The sign posted before climbing the subdome.
As the Half Dome hike grows in popularity, the chances for being one of the lucky lottery winners decreases. We have a detailed guide about the permit process and how to increase your chances of winning the lottery.
You can also get more information on the National Park Service website.
Hiking Half Dome
This post covers the one-day hiking route we took to Half Dome. We hiked up the Mist Trail and down the Muir Trail, one of the most popular hiking routes to Half Dome.
Half Dome Hiking Stats
Distance: 17 miles round trip
Total Ascent: 5,457 Feet
Difficulty: Extremely strenuous
Length of Time: 10 – 14 hours
Permits: You must have a permit to climb the subdome and the Half Dome cables.
When to go: The cables are up (conditions permitting) from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. It is possible to climb Half Dome when the cables are down, but that is beyond the scope of this post.
Please note: If you read other blogs and information provided by the National Park Service website, you will see the distance for this hike ranging from 14 to 18 miles. Choosing the Muir over the Mist Trail can impact these variations. We hike with a Garmin GPS and use the stats it outputs for these hiking posts.
Elevation profile
Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.
The Route to Half Dome
The photo below was taken from Washburn Point, very close to Glacier Point. In this photo you can see most of the hiking route to Half Dome (the yellow dots). The trail starts at the valley floor (not visible in this photo) and climbs up next to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall. It passes behind the Liberty Cap, through Sequoia forests, and then up the far side of the subdome and Half Dome.
Half Dome Step-By-Step Trail Guide
The Trailhead
The hike starts on the Mist Trail. The closest parking is the Yosemite Valley Trailhead Parking, located just past the Half Dome Village. From this parking lot, it is a half-mile walk down a service road to the Happy Isles Bridge and the start of the hike.
You should consider starting the hike as early as possible, sunrise or even earlier. If you are staying in Yosemite and will be using the shuttle bus for transportation, they do not start running until 7 am.
Our day started very early. We stayed in Mariposa, located one hour west of Yosemite. At 4 am we rolled out of bed and at 6 am we started the hike.
Vernal Falls
The first part of the Mist Trail is a paved, asphalt trail that constantly gains elevation. It is steep at times. From the trailhead to the top of Vernal Falls, it is 1.5 miles (2.4 km).
Just past the Vernal Fall footbridge, only 20 – 30 minutes into the day, is a water fountain. This is your last chance for drinking water on the hike, unless you plan on purifying water from the Merced River. This is also your last chance for flush toilets.
Past the footbridge, the trail climbs steeply and steadily to Vernal Fall. And this is where you see how the Mist Trail earns its name. Long, slippery staircases wind uphill along the river and the falls. During this part of the hike, you may get drenched by the mist. In July, this mist is refreshing and it kept us pleasantly cool. During cooler months, you may want to bring a poncho with you to keep you dry.
Once at the top of the falls, there’s a spectacular viewpoint and a great place for a photo op.
Nevada Fall
The climbing continues up to Nevada Fall. The trail winds through shady forests and more staircases constructed out of rock and boulders. From Vernal Fall to Nevada Fall you will hike 2 miles (3 km).
The trail splits near the top of Nevada Fall. Go left to continue onto Half Dome. You can go right, hiking 0.2 miles (0ne way) for an optional detour to the top of Nevada Fall. However, if you choose to hike down the Muir Trail at the end of this hike, you will pass this same viewpoint.
We chose to walk the short distance to Nevada Fall. It was a beautiful morning with hardly anyone on the trail, so we wanted to see the falls before the crowds arrived.
The Trail to the Subdome
After Nevada Fall, the trail levels out for a little bit. Enjoy this…soon the climbing starts again.
After passing Little Yosemite Valley, the trail climbs through a forest of Sequoia trees. It’s not a hard climb, just a constant, steady uphill walk. Occasionally, through the trees, you will get a glimpse of Half Dome. If you look closely, you may even be able to see climbers on the cables.
The Subdome
Climbing up the subdome is difficult. We named this part of the hike the Ass-Kicker Stairs because that’s exactly what they are.
By now, we were at 8,000+ feet. And we were tired. We just hiked for three and a half hours uphill.
These steps seem huge and by now it didn’t take much to get us out of breath. We’d walk up a short ways, take a brief rest, and then continue on again.
It’s slow-going, but the view that awaits you is so awesome.
From the top of the subdome, you get your first close up view of the Half Dome cables. Now the real fun begins!
The Half Dome Cables
It took us 4 hours to hike from the start of the Mist Trail to the top of the subdome. Even with kids, this is a very fast pace. We are not “stop and smell the roses” kind of hikers. When we hear that it takes 10 hours to finish a hike, we see that as a time to beat. That’s just how we are.
Our climb up the cables was quick since there were very few people in front of us. I knew to expect a steep incline and slick surfaces, but even so, the difficulty of this climb took me a little by surprise.
This climb is hard! Don’t underestimate it.
The granite surface has been worn smooth by the shoes of the thousands of people before us. The climb is so steep that we pulled ourselves up more with our upper body strength than by walking up with our feet.
It took us roughly 20 minutes to climb the 400 feet up the Half Dome cables. With very few people in front of us, we only had to take several short breaks as other hikers climbed down past us.
It’s a relief to finally reach the top. We made it!! Now we could take in the view and enjoy our accomplishment.
For more information on climbing the Half Dome Cables, read our post filled with photos and what to expect on the cables.
On Top of Half Dome
Initially, we planned on a longer stay here than what we actually did. But rain clouds were in the area, and now knowing just how steep and slippery Half Dome is, we did not want to be on those cables if it started raining. After a few photos we headed back down the cables.
Climbing Down the Half Dome Cables
During our brief rest on top of Half Dome, many more people arrived at the cables. It took longer going down since now we had to wait to leapfrog around other climbers. But that gave us more time to enjoy the view and take photos. For us, being on the cables was thrilling and we loved every minute of it.
Now that there were more people on the cables, our descent took a total of 45 minutes. By the time we were on the subdome, it did rain, just a little bit, just enough to justify our decision to descend early.
Hiking Back to Yosemite Valley
To get back to the Yosemite Valley, you must retrace your steps back down the trail towards the Mist Trail.
Muir Trail or Mist Trail?
Once you are at Nevada Fall you have a decision to make. You can hike down the Mist Trail or the Muir Trail.
If you continue down the Mist Trail, you will completely retrace your steps to the valley floor, descending on those steep, wet stairs next to Vernal Fall. Also, the trail will now be filled with many more hikers, now that it is early or late afternoon.
Or, you can veer off onto the Muir Trail. The Muir Trail adds an extra 1.5 miles to the hike, but it is less steep than the Mist Trail. Plus, the Muir Trail gives you a great view of the back of Half Dome, as well as the Nevada Fall. If you want to see a different view of Yosemite and don’t mind a longer but less steep descent, consider the Muir Trail.
We hiked down the Muir Trail.
The first mile is spectacular. We loved the views of Half Dome, Nevada Fall, Liberty Cap, and down to Yosemite Valley. Because of these views, we were glad we chose the Muir Trail. But it does add extra distance to the hike, and most of the trail is long, steady switchbacks for four miles, all of the way until you get back to the Vernal Fall footbridge.
Most of the Muir Trail is monotonous, and if you are like us, by this point, you just want to be done. We practically jogged down the trail because we wanted to get done quicker.
By now, it was mid-afternoon and temperatures in Yosemite were in the 90’s.
By the time we reached the end of the trail, once again back at the Happy Isles Bridge, we had hiked for 8 hours and 50 minutes, including time for stops. Somehow, Kara managed to hike the entire 17 miles on her very young legs, a major accomplishment. Tyler did even better, carrying extra weight on the trail and setting our fast pace.
Hiking Half Dome is an accomplishment to be proud of at any age. And once you do this hike, you will never look at Half Dome the same way again.
Want to see more? Check out our Half Dome video:
Should you Hike Half Dome?
Do not underestimate this hike! Over twenty people have died hiking Half Dome (either from falling off the cables, having a heart attack, being struck by lightning, or from failed base jumps).
If you have a fear of heights, you should not do this hike. The trail up Half Dome is very steep and very slippery. This is not the place to confront your fears.
You must have a very good level of physical fitness. You will be climbing (and then descending) 5,500 feet. Most of this climb comes before the subdome. If you are fatigued by the time you get to this point, it only makes the hike more dangerous. Once you are on the cables, it is a very strenuous climb to the top. You will need to be able to pull your body up using your upper body strength. This is not to be underestimated. If you do not think you are fit enough or have enough upper body strength, go no farther than the subdome. And just remember, once on top of Half Dome, you still have at least four more hours of hiking to get back to Yosemite Valley.
Young children should not do this hike. Again, this hike is dangerous and not a place to bring young kids. In our opinion, the youngest age we would recommend is 12 years old, and only if they have lots of hiking experience.
If you are traveling with kids, it is safe for them to hike to the subdome. They can wait here with an adult if someone in your group wants to hike up the Half Dome cables.
At the time we did this hike, Kara was almost 13 and Tyler was 14.
If rain clouds are in the area, do not climb the cables. Half Dome is not a place you want to be in with rain, wind, or lightning. People have died on Half Dome from being struck by lightning.
For more information on the climb, watch this video on the National Park Service website.
What to Bring on the Hike
Hiking Shoes. You need hiking shoes or boots for this hike. No tennis shoes and no running shoes. You need to wear shoes with good traction to minimize slipping while climbing the cables.
Water. The National Park Service recommends 4 liters of water per person for this hike.
Gloves. Gloves are a necessity for climbing and descending the cables to protect your hands.
Your Half Dome permit. Make sure you have this packed in your backpack. You will also need to bring a government issued ID that matches your name on your permit.
Sunscreen. There is shade on the trail, but the cables and Half Dome are totally exposed and most likely you will be here midday.
Harness and Clips. This is the best way to stay safe while climbing and descending the cables. If you plan to do this, you will need a harness, carabiners, and a Y-shaped lanyard. We did not use a harness and clips on the cables, but if we did it again, we would.
Hiking poles (optional). Hiking poles take about 30% of the weight off of your legs as you descend, easing knee pain and other symptoms. I use Black Diamond Distance Z poles and love them. They easily collapse down to fit in your luggage and hiking backpack, plus they are extremely lightweight. The poles come in several sizes, so make sure you pick the right length based on your height.
Alternatives to the Mist and Muir Trails
There are several other options for reaching Half Dome, other than taking the Mist and Muir Trails.
From Glacier Point: 20 miles round trip
From Tenaya Lake: 23 miles round trip
You can break up this hike up into two or three days by camping overnight in Little Yosemite Campground. On day one, hike the Mist Trail to Little Yosemite Campground (4.3 miles), on day two hike 7 miles round trip to Half Dome, and on day 3 hike back to the Yosemite Valley via the Muir or Mist trails.
More Information for Your Trip to Yosemite:
- YOSEMITE TRAVEL GUIDE: Complete Guide to Yosemite National Park
- BEST OF YOSEMITE: Yosemite for First-Timers: Best Hikes, Best Views, and the Best Things To Do
- HALF DOME CABLES: Climbing the Half Dome Cables: A Journey in 18 Photos
- HALF DOME PERMIT: The Half Dome Permit: How to Be One of the Lucky Lottery Winners
- MIST & MUIR TRAIL: Mist Trail vs. John Muir Trail to Nevada and Vernal Falls
- YOSEMITE POINT: Hiking to Upper Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Point
Do you have any questions about hiking Half Dome? Comment below!
More Information for Your Trip to California
NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries.
SAN FRANCISCO: For more information about San Francisco, read our article Best Things to Do in San Francisco and how to cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge.
KINGS CANYON & SEQUOIA: Learn how to spend one day in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK: Check out our Death Valley National Park Travel Guide for important travel information, sample itineraries, and how to plan your visit. For a list of must-have experiences, read our article Best Things to Do in Death Valley National Park.
MORE GREAT HIKES IN THE NATIONAL PARKS: From hikes to the tallest peaks to beautiful coast trails, read our Guide to the Best Day Hikes in the US National Parks. If you prefer to keep your hikes short and sweet, read our guide to the Best Short Hikes in the National Parks.
Are you planning a trip to the United States? Read all of our articles about California in our California Travel Guide and the USA in our United States Travel Guide.
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Comments 108
Is parking at the Yosemite valley trail head open for all? Did you see any (small) RVs parked there. I can’t quite tell if you need a permit to park or how big the lot is. Going first week in October.
Thanks.
Author
The parking should be for everyone and when we did this, no permit was necessary and I don’t think a permit is necessary now, although you could check the NPS website. I don’t remember if I saw small RV’s but it’s been a few years now. However, I do recall that it was a fairly large parking lot so I assume that there would be RV parking there (but that’s just an assumption). The NPS website might also have a section about where to park if you have an RV. Cheers, Julie
Thanks for this detailed write-up! I’m curious–what was the temperature like at the top? I’m planning on going in August (so am expecting to have similar temperatures to when you went in July) and am wondering if I need to prepare for cold temperatures at the summit. Thanks!
Author
We did this in early July. High temperatures in the area were in the mid 90’s. It was cooler at the top but not by much. We were still very comfortable in shorts and a Tshirt. Of course, if you do this on a cooler day (hopefully you do) you might need a light layer once on top of Half Dome. Have a great hike! Cheers, Julie
Thank you for sharing this information about your hike! My son and I are doing this on 9/6/2022. Your post helps me feel more confident that at 64 I’ll be able to do it. I’m excited for the adventure 🤗
Author
You’re welcome! I hope you have a great hike! Cheers, Julie
This is a nice detailed write up. This comment is simply to help balance out a persons perspective, since this labels the hike as “extremely strenuous,” and emphasizes the great difficulty throughout.
In addition to mentioning the extremely rare deaths, and people who don’t make it to the top, perhaps it’d be helpful to others to also mention that people do run up and down this regularly (3.5hrs total for the 17 miles on the strava segment). Or that the cable section has been completed in less than 2 minutes by someone who ran up both Half Dome and Clouds Rest in 5hrs, and at a time when the cables were down!
As far as no one under 12 should do this, my 5 year old daughter did it yesterday with no help or issue. She passed adults both going up and going down the cables, and had enough energy to run down a lot of the way back (kids are often better climbers than adults, from their light weight and constant playing each day.). There were also a number of people that used no gloves, and some were wearing sandles going up and down the cables without issue. (I wouldn’t say this is “extremely strenuous.” People with no training, and no experience do this daily. And if a 5 year old can do it comfortably, begging to do it again the next day, how strenuous can it be?)
When all people hear is how hard it is, they don’t even try, or they get paralyzed at the cables from hearing about the extremely rare deaths. Some adults yesterday had been sitting at the bottom of the cables for hours, too afraid to attempt them, but not wanting to not go up after all the work to get there. Then they saw my 5 year old eagerly go up with no problem, and decided that if she could do it, so could they, and they were right!
It’s fine to express difficulty, but perhaps people benefit more from developing the faith that they can be successful. Perhaps knowing how fast runners do this, or that a 5 year old girl can do this, will help someone with that faith.
Author
Thanks for writing in! And congrats to your daughter! Cheers, Julie
This page made it really easy for me to make it to the Half Dome. Thank you for all your clear detailed tips.
Author
You’re welcome! And congratulations on hiking Half Dome. Cheers, Julie
Hi, I’m wondering about how your children managed to do the hike and carry all their water for the day- did you filter water or rely on bringing all of it?
Author
We brought all of our water for the day but Tim and I carried some of it, to keep their packs lighter.
How much did you take each?
Author
We took 4 liters of water each and drank all of it.
What time of year did you go?
Author
We did this hike in July but we have been to Yosemite in April, June, and July. Cheers, Julie
hello! this is the 3rd time I’ve read your post, im doing this hike in 3 weeks!! so nervous but I was wondering at what point do they check permit?
Author
The check for permits just before you hike the subdome (and there isn’t always a ranger here checking permits). Good luck on the hike! Cheers, Julie
How much water and how much food did you take per person? Did you feel it was enough. My husband, 19 year old daughter and myself will be hiking Half Dome end of July. With it being later in the summer – we want to be prepared for warmer temperatures. Anything you did – workoutwise – in the weeks leading up to the hike that you feel helped? We are very active and have been running/walking/hiking with our backpack. Thank you, Shannon
Author
We all carried 4 liters of water (Tim carried some of Kara’s water since she was young when we did this). We also ate sandwiches for lunch and packed a lot of snacks (energy bars, pretzels, cookies, etc). Tyler and Kara had no training before this, other than being active kids. I was training for an Ironman and biking 100 miles at times and running, with my longest runs only at 10 miles at that point. Before doing this hike, I think you should be able to hike/walk 10 miles with a backpack without feeling tired. If you can do this on hills that would be even better. Cheers, Julie
In 2021, is Yosemite open? Are permits still being offered for the cable trail to Half Dome?
Author
Yes, Yosemite is open. The lottery for the permits was in March so permits for this year have been awarded. The lottery runs the month of March and applicants find out in April if they were selected. You can mark your calendar for next March if you like the idea of hiking the Half Dome cables. Cheers, Julie