Rising nearly 5,000 feet above the Valley floor, Half Dome is one of the most sought-after landmarks in Yosemite.
Despite an 1865 report declaring that it was “perfectly inaccessible, being probably the only one of the prominent points about the Yosemite which never has been, and never will be, trodden by human foot,” George Anderson reached the summit in 1875, in the process laying the predecessor to today’s cable route.
Scrambling to the top of Tuolumne’s granite domes can be fun and exhilarating. Wear proper foot gear and do not go up anything you aren’t sure you can get down from. Climbing lessons are available from the Mountaineering School in Tuolumne Meadows. Call 372-8435 for details and rates.
Today, thousands of people reach the summit. For most, it is an exciting, arduous hike; for a few, it becomes more of an adventure than they wanted. Indeed, park rangers assist hundreds of people on the Half Dome trail every summer.
Much of the hike to Half Dome is an adventure into Wilderness, and, while there is nothing you can do to guarantee your safety, below you will find some tips to reduce your risk and have a safer, more enjoyable hike.
Trailhead and Parking Information
Most people begin the hike from Happy Isles (shuttle stop #16), which is about a half-mile from the trailhead parking lot or about 3/4 of a mile from Curry Village (parking available).
Shuttle bus service doesn’t begin until 7 am, so if you’re arriving prior to then, you can walk on the road (closed to all but authorized vehicles) from either parking area to the trailhead.
The nearest campgrounds are Upper, Lower, and North Pines Campgrounds, but reservations are very difficult to get in summer. Camp 4 walk-in campground is also busy. The nearest campgrounds outside Yosemite Valley that may have some first-come, first-served space are Bridalveil Creek, Crane Flat, and Tamarack Flat Campgrounds.
Permits to hike to the top of Half Dome now required.
A permit is required to hike to the top of Half Dome on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays when the cables are up (but not on other days).
For more information about Half Dome, visit www.nps.gov.
