How tall is yosemite half dome

Lunges are an obvious exercise, but add some dumbbells or kettlebells to the exercise to improve strength and to increase muscular endurance. Lateral Bounds. Cable Rope Rows. Cardio Training. Why is Half Dome famous? Is climbing Half Dome scary? The climb is hard — but feasible. The cables are scary — but doable. Climbing by night is easier since it is much cooler even very cold on the peak and there are no lines or other people on the cables.

Can you hike Half Dome in one day? The first thing to consider, is getting a permit for a day hike. There are day hiking permits available each day and they are granted by lottery. How many people die on Half Dome each year?

Please let me know if you have any extras. Most amazing hike to date. Spectacular views and very strenuous. Go early or plan to finish in the dark. Have permits for Friday but missing out because of the storm. Use Navigator in the AllTrails app and join the other outdoor explorers who have completed this trail. Length Fees are per vehicle or per motorcycle. If you are entering on foot, horse, or bike the fee is per person. You must obtain a permit to hike to the summit of Half Dome.

Preparation and safety are key to having a fantastic experience. This is a hike that requires users to be in good shape. Most people take 10 to 12 hours to hike to Half Dome and back, depending on the way chosen to come down.

Plan to leave around sunrise or earlier and then have a non-negotiable turn-around time. The trail is fairly well marked but make sure to watch for all trail signs as it can be easy to miss them. The elevation gain is very strenuous, starting with a steep climb to Vernal Falls, followed by another steep climb to the top of Nevada Falls.

There is about 1 mile of fairly level hiking before reaching Little Yosemite Campground, followed by steep switchbacks through the forest. Some steep switchbacks carved like stairs into the rock guide the way up to the top of what is known as Sub Dome. These last feet are the most challenging, but also the most rewarding although you may not realize it until users are comfortably back on the valley floor. The part of this journey that makes the ascent up Half Dome famous is the cable route.

Two steel cables allow hikers to climb the last feet to the summit without rock climbing equipment. The cables are around a degree grade, with wooden supports every 10 to 20 feet to rest and maintain your balance. Using gloves is highly recommended to get a better grip and avoid painful blisters.

Be sure to tightly secure your water bottles and cameras for the climb up because you will want them once at the top. Once you have reached the summit, take the time to rest for a while and take in the incredible panoramic views. Compared to the hike up, the return journey flies by and before you know it you will be back at the top of Nevada falls.

You have 2 options here: the Mist Trail, which is how you came up is about 3. The waterfalls suddenly seem much more pleasant as you hike down compared to the earlier climb, and it's hard to hold back a smile as you reach the Vernal Falls footbridge where you can refill your water there are also facilities here. About 30 minutes later you are back at the trailhead where you can catch a free shuttle to your car or anywhere else in the valley there is a concession stand near the bus stop where you can buy cold drinks and ice cream.

While some can be done as a day hike, a permit is required if you plan on doing a multi-day trip. Permits are able to be reserved up to 24 weeks in advance and up until 4 days beforehand. This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. If you are granted a permit, the fee will need to be paid within 48 hours of your email confirmation.

Backpackers have the ability to spend a night prior to departure or night of return at the Backpackers Campground. Regardless of where you are staying, you will need to get to the Happy Isles trailhead of the John Muir Trail to begin your Half Dome hike.

It's just east of Curry Village. Bus stop 16 is close to the trailhead, but buses do not operate until 7 am - way too late for a successful hike a am start is highly recommended. Near the bus stop is a nice restroom facility and is also a safe place to fill your water bottles. Continue down the bus road until you cross the Merced, then turn right and follow the signs and the crowd along the southern bank. In about yards, you will see a US Geologic Survey river flow gage station.

The roots of this station go back to In , a continuous recorder was installed. Upgrades over the years have brought it to its current functionality and provide park officials with discreet as well as continuous water quality data.

The flood destroyed a bridge at this point; you can see remnants of the foundation. Just past the gage station, turn left and head uphill. You will come to the large reddish mileage marker sign. This is the official start and end of your Half Dome hike. You will have to add all the walking you did from your bed to here for a complete mileage total.

Turn on your GPS here. Although it was named for him after his death, Muir trekked along its path on his many journeys. The trail runs miles on the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Many people begin in Yosemite Valley and hike south to the top of Mt. Whitney, taking about four weeks. The John Muir Trail is a must-do journey for avid hikers. After you've done the Half Dome hike, you may consider tackling it someday. Hailing from Fresno, he suggested a trail along the spine of the Sierra.

He proposed the idea to the Sierra Club who agreed and in , they formed a committee to begin trail planning, together with the State of California. After Muir died, the trail took on his name as a way to honor him. As you walk up the paved path you will get some good ups and downs to warm up. To your left you will a see large 's era rockfall that at one time was the site of a trail to Sierra Point. It has long been closed and is not recommended.

Rattlesnakes abound here and it is pretty rough scrambling. Note the use of singular and plural. If a waterfall drops unimpeded it is a FALL. Grizzly Peak lies just above you and to the left. You can easily see and hear the roaring Merced River to your right. As you continue, the view to the right will open up and you may catch a glimpse of Illilouette Fall streaming down in the distance.

All the falls at Yosemite are fed by snow melt and they are virtually gone by late August, depending on the previous year's snowpack. In well under an hour you will arrive at the Vernal Fall Footbridge.

Cross the wooden bridge midway and you see the foot high Vernal Fall to your left. A water fountain and restroom are located here, just beyond the bridge. This will be your last source of safe water and it will also be your last flushing toilet opportunity. Please avoid climbing on the rocks near the river. Moss covered stones and wet boulders create slippery and dangerous conditions.

It runs at about 43 degrees F. In May and June, flows approach class V rapids under the bridge. Stay safe and keep out of the Merced. If you see someone in need of assistance you can dial to reach emergency support. YOSAR is the group that performs most of the rescues of visitors who run into problems.

Most calls are for problems that arise from dehydration, sprains and broken bones but other times they are a matter of life and death. YOSAR performs about rescues a year, sometimes using helicopters.

As you leave the bridge and head up the JMT, after just a few minutes you will be faced with a decision. To continue straight and get wet from the mist off of Vernal Fall or stay dry and take the longer but dry JMT. If you go straight and through a control gate you will head up the Mist Trail. The control gate is closed during the winter because water off of Vernal Fall freezes on the upper steps creating a dangerous condition.

The trail from Happy Isles to the base of Vernal Fall was constructed by George Anderson on contract to the new state of California in the late 's.

Anderson was a Scottish sailor who worked in the park as a blacksmith, trail builder and jack-of-all trades. Remember his name. Later on you will find out about his singular accomplishment that allows us to get to the top of Half Dome. For now, marvel at the Mist Trail he constructed up to the cliff. Trail crews, the California Conservation Corps and volunteers continually maintain and upgrade the park's trails. Suggestion would be to take the Mist Trail up during your morning hike.

The Mist Trail route to Nevada Fall is 2. If you want to stay dry, then the JMT is the way to go; but you will miss seeing some interesting sights. Later in the day you can return to Happy Isles on the longer JMT to save your knees from the downhill pounding.

A couple hundred yards up the Mist Trail you will arrive at a control gate. It is closed during the winter when the steps ahead might be covered in ice. Regardless of which way you proceed at the control gate, look to your hard right and just a few yards up the JMT you will see a large granite rock to the left of the John Muir Trail.

It is called "Register Rock. At Register Rock people would write their name on the wall and continue on their hike. If you look closely, you can visualize the many now faded entries on the sloping side of the rock. Prior to his efforts, hikers had to go the longer trail - later called the John Muir Trail. He constructed that route on contract to the State. Anderson was a Scottish sailor and blacksmith who imagined visitors wanting to get up close to the many vistas around Vernal Fall.

Modern hikers owe a debt of gratitude to George Anderson as one of the pioneers who helped shape Yosemite. As you head up the nearly steps, pay homage to Anderson who constructed this difficult trail up to the cliff. Stephen Cunningham later built ladders up the Vernal Fall cliff allowing access above the fall.

If you think today's steps cut into the side of top of the wall are scary, imagine going up a ladder system. Those ladders were then updated to a wooden staircase which, in turn, was replaced by the granite steps and railing you see today. In early season months, the spray off of the fall covers the trail and you will be soaked for about 20 minutes.

It is suggested to use a cheap poncho to protect you from the spray. You may even see a circular rainbow in the spray on a sunny day.

Near the top you will be out of the spray and can continue up the remaining steps. Off to your right you will see the Fern Grotto. This overhang is a quiet place to relax if you can negotiate the short climb up and have plenty of time. It is not natural. The use of dynamite carved out the huge gap. It is a wide symmetric fall that is postcard perfect. Stay behind the rail and do not go near the water. In July , a man climbed over the rail and stood in the water a mere 20 feet from the edge and went over to his death.

That July, ten people climbed over the rail and 3 were swept over. Follow the trail signs and stay to the right of the river. You will soon see a composting outhouse to your right. Through the trees to your left, you can see the Emerald Pool. It is a large bulge in the river with an inviting, but deadly area that may seem like a fun place to swim.

This is prohibited due to the cold water, the current and the proximity to the fall just around the corner. As you transition from a dirt trail and begin to hike up granite slabs, you will reach a trail junction that can be confusing. There are two metal signs that both say "Nevada Fall. Under this wooden bridge, the Merced flows down a long smooth narrow chute and into the Emerald Pool.

It is reminiscent of a water slide. The bridge provides a view of the water rushing down the chute. Despite graphic warning signs, people sometimes unwisely go for a swim which results in calls to Yosemite Search and Rescue.

The water is very cold and hypothermia can result quickly. Be safe and please stay out of the water. You will continue your hike towards Nevada Fall through a quiet forested area. As you bend to your right, keep your eyes open for a wide open rocky space that is on pretty level ground on your right. This place has a fascinating history.

To allow access from the valley, Albert constructed a trail that switch-backed from Register Rock up to Clark Point and on to this flat area between Vernal and Nevada falls. Their view of Nevada Fall was recorded on photographs and drew many visitors. Their guest register book is in the collection of the Yosemite Museum. Some travelers stayed overnight before or after hiking to Glacier Point. Emily baked pies, doughnuts, bread and baked beans.

The structure expanded and later included the room original building, a bedroom chalet, a woodshed, an icehouse, a log cabin and a stable. By , the Snows were old and feeble and soon died. It operated under another owner until a fire destroyed it like most other Yosemite Hotels in It was soon deemed a hazard and all remnants were cleared out.

Almost no shard of wood or glass can be found today. Their once clear view of Nevada Fall is obscured by tall trees.

The upper Mist Trail continues the theme of man-carved granite steps. If the lower Mist Trail didn't spread your group out, these steps will. Hiking poles come in handy to help propel you up the steep incline.

The early years saw the trail cut into "zig-zags" to accommodate horses, but today it is frequented only by humans. Pack animals now go up the JMT, bringing supplies and tourists.

You travel far enough away from Nevada Fall to stay dry but you get a pretty good up-close look at the foot gusher. The name in Spanish means "snowy" and the white foam reminded the early explorers of a cascade of snow. John Conway built the upper Mist Trail route. After a long haul up, the trail comes to a "T" with the John Muir Trail. Nearby is a 2-unit outhouse and to the west is Nevada Fall. Although it's only a minute walk over to Nevada Fall, don't waste time, a suggestion is for you take the JMT back home and enjoy the fall later at the end of the day.

It will be a longer walk back than the going down the Mist Trail, but easier on your knees. Take a short rest here; you are now approaching the halfway point of your hike to the top. Named by the first whites to see it the Mariposa Battalion , this valley extends towards Merced Lake. Then with Nevada Fall in view, the trail makes its final big push up several switchbacks that ascend the boulderfield under Liberty Cap.

Just as you think your legs can't do it any more, the trail will top out. You are now roughly feet above the floor of Yosemite Valley, but you still have feet more of elevation gain to get to the top of Half Dome! At the trail junction, turn left and head northeast towards Little Yosemite Valley. After a brief section of uphill just under Liberty Cap, the trail begins a leisurely descent into the lovely forested valley. Enjoy this section of trail as it is the only level hiking you will experience all day.

At the trail junctions, follow the signs that point to Half Dome. The backpackers' campground at Little Yosemite Valley is popular for those doing Half Dome as a two-day hike. After roughly a mile in Little Yosemite Valley, it's time to work hard again as the trail heads north and zigzags its way up the forested slopes, ascending roughly feet in two miles to reach the top of the ridgeline. Along the way, you will pass one last junction with the trail that continues up to Clouds Rest.

This section may seem unrelenting, but keep a slow and steady pace and allow for plenty of short breaks if you are out of breath from the elevation.

Once you are heading east on the ridgeline, the forest will thin out a bit and you will see great teaser views down into Tenaya Canyon to the right north. Soon enough, you will see your final destination straight ahead: Half Dome with the round "Subdome" in front of it. The Subdome is the rounded shoulder formation of bare granite to the east of Half Dome proper, and as you approach it, it will look intimidating and improbable, but once you're on it, it will seem quite reasonable. A ranger is usually stationed at the base to check permits.

The ingenious trail is akin to a giant staircase, zigzagging its way up the cracks and features of the steep and exposed formation. The number of extra permits awarded will vary depending on their estimates of how busy the trail will be.

Here's the park service's explanation of the extra permits:. The daily lotteries will have an application period two days prior to the hiking date with a notification late that night. So, to hike on Saturday, you would apply on Thursday and receive an email notification of results late on Thursday night. Results will also be available online, or by phone the next morning. The application period will be from midnight to 1 pm Pacific time. You can request up to six permits per application.

The NPS website has the official details about the lottery process plus a page showing graphs of the number of permits requested for each day. The permits for the trip leader and alternate cannot be transferred, though the trip leaders can bring along anyone they want for the remaining permits.

This policy, instituted in , is intended to prevent permit hoarding and scalping, which were reportedly widespread during When you enter the lottery, you have to enter somebody's name as the "trip leader", and you can optionally list an alternate trip leader as well.

If neither the trip leader nor the alternate are present on the hike, none of the permits will be considered valid and your group won't be allowed past the permit-checking station at the base of the subdome.

For the two-days-ahead permits, apply sometime before 1 p. Pacific time two days before the day for which you want a permit apply on Thursday if you want permits for Saturday, for example. Up to six permits i. Applicants are only awarded permits if the full number of requested permits is available for one of the requested dates, and though you're allowed to ask for multiple dates, you'll only be granted permits for one of them and possibly none, obviously.

For the main lottery, you can request up to seven dates in your application you'll only be awarded permits for one of them , but you're only allowed to enter the lottery once. If you enter more than once, all your applications will be discarded.

The park service's permit information page doesn't currently prohibit parties from trying to increase their odds by having each member of the party enter the lottery, though, and presumably applying for the March lottery wouldn't prohibit you from entering the various two-days-ahead lotteries as well. Ask for permits for the least popular days. Saturdays are by far the most difficult days to get permits for. For a Saturday hike, you can enter the lottery Thursday until 1 p. More details here.

You'll need phone or, preferably, Internet access, which is available in Yosemite Valley in a handful of places. If the Half Dome permits are gone, all the wilderness permit reservations will also be long gone, but the park service holds back some wilderness permits for first-come, first-serve requests starting at 11 a. For the two starting from Tuolumne Meadows, your permit to stay in the Little Yosemite Valley campground will be for the second night out on the trail.

Check the park service's wilderness permits , trailhead information , and Half Dome permits for backpackers pages for the official details.

These Half-Dome-included wilderness routes are, not coincidentally, the most popular, and it won't be easy to get a permit. For years, crowds camped overnight outside the wilderness permit offices to increase their chances of getting permits, but starting in , the park service tried to discourage this behavior by waiting until 11 a.

They're all long, challenging, and equally as scenic as Half Dome, but they don't require permits. Clouds Rest in particular has parallels to the Half Dome hike.

From the summit you're actually looking down on Half Dome, some two miles away and a thousand feet below you, and you have to traverse a harrowing stretch along a narrow ridge with fatal dropoffs on either side to get to the viewing area at the end of the trail. For the six miles beyond the footbridge, there's no potable water along the trail - not even at the Little Yosemite Valley campground, which technically isn't quite on the trail anyway.

It's illegal to abscond with any of the park's natural artifacts, such as rocks, pine cones, or giardia, so don't try to drink from the river without using a filtration system. Scenery Factor: Unsurpassed. Half Dome Photo Gallery All the views with none of the terror. Trail Map It's good to know where you're going.