Half Dome is one of the most famous mountains in the entire country, and the hike to its summit is one of the most iconic. A true bucket list trail for most hikers, this awe-inspiring adventure guides you past cascading waterfalls, though sequoia forests, and onto barren granite rock faces. To reach the summit, however, you’ll have to ascend the steep, 45-degree incline with the help of metal cables. For those who successfully hike Half Dome, they’re rewarded with jaw-dropping views of Yosemite National Park and a newfound sense of pride in accomplishing this feat.
There is lots of planning and preparation that goes into hiking Half Dome. So in this guide, I go over what you need to know for a successful summit, and share my experiences scaling this famous mountain. If you hope to hike Half Dome someday, then continue reading!
Half Dome Statistics
Mileage: 14 to 16 miles depending on which route you take
Elevation Gain: 4,800 feet
Summit Elevation: 8,800 feet
Time to Hike: about 10 to 14 hours
Number of People Who Hike Per Year: About 50,000
Are Permits Required: Yes
Sections of the Half Dome Hike
There are several routes to reach the summit of Half Dome. Many people opt to hike up the Mist Trail and down the John Muir Trail. Here’s a breakdown of each section of the hike.
Mile 0 to 2.6: The Mist Trail
Starting at the Happy Isles Trailhead, you’ll hike along the Mist Trail to begin your journey to the top of Half Dome. This popular trail features hundreds of granite stairs and will route you next to Vernal and Nevada Falls, two of the park’s most iconic and powerful waterfalls. Since it’s a popular day hike in it of itself, expect lots of crowds. Also, the stairs are often wet from the waterfall spray, so be careful where you step.
Mile 2.6 to 4.8: Little Yosemite Valley
Past Nevada Fall you’ll connect with the John Muir Trail and enter Little Yosemite Valley. This section is much flatter, offering a nice change of pace from the constant uphill of the Mist Trail. It’s sandy and exposed though which can pose a challenge, especially when it’s hot. Luckily, the Merced River is nearby giving you easy access to cool off and fill up on water. In fact, it’s the last reliable water source on your way to the Half Dome summit. Once you pass the Little Yosemite Valley Campground, you’ll start your climb to the top.
Mile 4.8 to 6.5: The Climb to Sub Dome
This section of trail takes you along many switchbacks through the forest as you continue your climb. It’s an uphill slog with minimal views to reward yourself with—just put one foot in front of the other as you slowly ascend. At around mile 5, you’ll leave the John Muir Trail and start heading along the Half Dome Trail. As you approach Sub Dome, you’ll start to see rangers checking for permits.
Mile 6.5 to 6.8: Sub Dome
Now completely above the tree line, you have to get past Sub Dome before you even have a chance at scaling the cables. Similar to the Mist Trail, this section features many granite steps, but now at over 8,000 feet in elevation. Be careful when hiking, as several areas are especially steep. It’s also completely exposed, so head back if the weather gets bad. You don’t want to find yourself vulnerable during a thunderstorm.
Mile 6.8 to 7: The Cables
After scaling Sub Dome, there’s only one more trial ahead of you: the cables. It’s the most infamous part of your Half Dome hike where you scale 400 vertical feet up a 45-degree incline with the assistance of two metal cables. Though deaths are rare, it’s still a dangerous ascent and you’ll need to tread carefully. Take your time, make sure you have proper safety equipment, and always stay inside the cables.
Once you’ve made it past, you’re just a few steps from the summit of Half Dome! Enjoy some of the best views Yosemite National Park has to offer and revel in tackling such a momentous challenge. When you’re ready, head back down the cables to start your descent back down to the valley floor.
John Muir Trail Alternate
Reaching Nevada Fall on your way down, you can stay on the John Muir Trail instead of hiking down the Mist Trail. It adds about a mile to your hike, but the trail is much more mellow and easier to navigate as it bypasses the stairs you tackled on the way up.
Safety Considerations
Hundreds of people hike Half Dome each day without any issues. Still, hikers suffer from injury and (although rare) death on this trail, so you need to take safety seriously.
More often than not, the ailments that people experience on this hike have nothing to do with the cables. These include dehydration, exhaustion, and injuries like sprained ankles or slips (especially on the steep section like the Mist Trail or Sub Dome). To minimize your chances of getting hurt, make sure you’re in good enough shape to complete this strenuous hike, pack plenty of food and water, and have the proper gear.
Also, check the weather forecast before you go. If it looks like it might storm, then it’s best to save this hike for another day.
Navigating The Cables
The cables are the most daunting part of the entire hike to the top of Half Dome. However, with the proper gear and mindset, you’ll be able to reach the summit.
Equipment
To hike the cables, make sure you have sturdy shoes. Most people like to have gloves as well, although I didn’t personally use them on my attempts. Many people recommend Nitrile Work Gloves, and they will help you grip the metal cables more easily. You may also find a pile of glove at the base of the cables that others have left. While this kind gesture is meant to help future hikers, it violates Leave No Trace. Be sure to pack out your gloves and leave Half Dome as pristine as possible.
While most people do just fine with shoes and gloves, a few will also bring a harness. In my opinion, they are unnecessary. They tend to be bulky which adds less room to an already crowded situation and fussing with carabiners adds an unneeded level of complexity.
Scaling the Cables
When it’s time to actually scale the cables, there are a few tips that will help you out.
First, take your time, though you’ll likely move slow regardless if it’s crowded. Do your best to climb at a pace that feels safe and secure—it’s not a race to the top. Also, along the path are planks where you can place your feet and rest for a few moments. Finally, keep both hands on the cables as much as you can.
When it’s time to descend, I’ve found that hiking backwards is easier than hiking face first. Though the movements of the crowd may force you to turn a certain direction, if you can try to face Half Dome when moving down the cables.
When to Turn Around
If you start to see storm clouds up above, then turn around. The granite mountain gets very slippery when wet and becomes extremely dangerous. In fact, most deaths on Half Dome’s cables section occur when the rock is wet and slippery.
You also should turn around if you’re feeling unsafe, exhausted, or starting to panic, as you need to be fully alert when hiking the cables. There’s no shame in not making it to the summit—Half Dome will always be there.
Permits and Red Tape
You’ll need to navigate through a few layers of red tape to hike Half Dome.
Entering the Park
It costs $35 per standard vehicle to enter the park, which is good for up to 3 days. An annual pass costs $70 and allows unlimited visits 12 months from the month the pass was purchased. An Interagency Pass, like the America The Beautiful Pass, is also accepted.
Normally during peak season, you’ll need an entrance reservation to enter the park. Luckily, your Half Dome permit will cover this requirement. You can find more information on the park’s entrance reservation page.
Half Dome Permits
Due to increasing popularity, Yosemite National Park implemented permits in 2010 to hike to the top of Half Dome when the cables are up. This system was put in place to help preserve the landscape, prevent overcrowding, and improve safety. The park allows about 225 day hikers and 75 backpackers each day to reach the summit, and permits are available via recreation.gov.
Day Hiking Permits
The permit schedule for day hikers is broken down into two parts.
Preseason Lottery
The preseason lottery application window runs from March 1 to March 31 Eastern Time on recreation.gov’s Half Dome Permits page, and 225 permits are available each day. Each application can have up to 6 people and you can choose up to 7 dates. Permits are not transferable, but during the application process, you can name an alternate in addition to the main permit holder. One of you has to be present (along with your photo ID) when showing your permit to a ranger for it to be valid. Note that you’re only allowed to be listed on one application as a permit holder or alternate, otherwise, Yosemite National Park will cancel all your permits.
Application results become available in mid-April and you should receive an email notification letting you know the outcome. You also can go online or call recreation.gov to find out its status. If you are successful, congratulations! You have until mid-May to accept and purchase your permit. If you’re unsuccessful, you can try your hand at the daily lottery.
Daily Lottery
A limited number of permits are also available during the hiking season via recreation.gov’s Half Dome Permits page. The number varies based on cancellations and expected no-shows. The application opens up two days before the hiking date between midnight and 4 PM Pacific Time, and results are announced via email that night. For example, to hike on a Friday you would need to apply between midnight and 4 PM the Wednesday before.
What Dates to Choose
Yosemite National Park has a helpful webpage displaying the Half Dome permit statistics. Not surprisingly, the weekends receive the highest amount of applications with Tuesday and Wednesday receiving the lowest. If you have flexibility on when you can visit, aim for a midweek hike.
Backpacking Permits
To hike Half Dome as a part of a multi-day backpacking trip, you’ll need to obtain a wilderness permit starting at the following trailheads:
You can add Half Dome to your itinerary when your permit is issued—you don’t need an additional reservation. Unfortunately, all other trailheads are not eligible for Half Dome backpacking permits.
Obtaining a Yosemite National Park Wilderness Permit.
From late April through October, sixty percent of wilderness permit reservations are available via a lottery 24 weeks in advance of your start date on recreation.gov. Any remaining and unclaimed reservations become available the Friday following the application closure on a first-come, first-served basis and can be claimed up to three days in advance. The remaining forty percent are released on a rolling basis seven days in advance. Visit Yosemite’s Wilderness Permit Webpage to learn more.
If this all feels intimidating, don’t fret! We are here to help you plan an epic trip to Yosemite, including guidance on snagging coveted Half Dome permits. Click the button below to learn more and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!
Backpacking Versus Day Hiking
An important decision when choosing to hike Half Dome is if you want to tackle it as a day hike or as part of an overnight backpacking trip. As someone whose done both, here are the differences and what to expect with each choice.
Day Hike Half Dome
If you choose to day hike Half Dome, you’ll be in good company. Most people attempt to climb this iconic mountain in a single day. First, it’s a much shorter time commitment, leaving you with more time to explore the park. Also, without the need to carry a tent, sleeping bag, and additional gear, your pack is much lighter. Logistically it’s simpler as well, as you have fewer things to worry about.
However, this option comes with its own challenges. Because of the intensity of this hike, expect to start at or just before dawn. It’s also a very long day on trail, and you’ll need to have solid physical fitness to complete it in one day. Finally, you’ll have less flexibility if the weather starts to take a turn.
Backpack Half Dome
In addition to a day hike, you can opt for a multi-day backpacking trip to tackle this trail. You can spread out your effort over two or more days, allowing you to take your time and enjoy the hike. You also won’t have as many limitations when it comes to submitting, which could be helpful if you’re dead-set on reaching the top. And you’ll also get to enjoy Yosemite’s stunning backcountry.
Unlike day hikers though, you’ll have a much heavier pack as you’ll need to carry supplies for multiple days. This option is also logistically more complicated and a longer time commitment, giving you less time to see other parts of Yosemite if that’s your goal.
Gear You’ll Need to Hike Half Dome
It’s imperative that you pack the correct gear when climbing Half Dome. Here is what you should have for your trip.
Food, Water, and Electrolytes: Bring plenty of snacks, about 4-6 Liters of water or more, and electrolyte packets (like nuun or LMNT). You also should bring a water filter and fill up at Little Yosemite Valley.
Essential Hiking Clothes: Make sure you are wearing proper hiking clothes that are breathable and moisture-wicking. You’ll also want to pack an extra layer and rain gear in case the weather drops or it starts to storm.
Proper Hiking Shoes: Good, sturdy hiking shoes are essential, especially when scaling the cables.
Headlamp: Just in case you have to hike in the dark.
First Aid Kit: For any emergencies.
Trowel and Toilet Paper: If duty calls while in the wilderness.
Gloves: To help you grip the cables.
Backpacking gear if you’re planning on camping in the wilderness.
Trekking poles are also a good option to use, especially since this hike has lots of incline. And though this trail is popular, it’s also smart to bring a satellite phone or personal locator beacon, if you have one.
My Experiences Hiking Half Dome
I hiked Half Dome twice: as a day hike in 2016 and as part of a backpacking trip in 2022. Here are some thoughts about each trip.
My 2016 Day Hike up Half Dome
I hiked Half Dome for the first time in 2016 with my family, though initially, it wasn’t a part of our plans. After visiting relatives in the Bay Area, we drove to Yosemite and spent a few days exploring the park. Along the way, we met a friendly family who described their experience hiking Half Dome a few days prior, and we decided to give it a shot. We were all in pretty good shape coming off of a four-day backpacking trip a few weeks ago and felt confident that we could make it to the top. We applied and won one of the daily lotteries to hike Half Dome and 48 hours later, we were off.
The first few miles were filled with eager excitement as we climbed up the steps of the Mist Trail. The route was crowded, and filled with hikers trying to experience Vernal and Nevada Falls. Though it was a little slow-going, we eventually reached Little Yosemite Valley and the amount of people we saw dropped off dramatically. From this point on, most hikers were either working their way up to Half Dome or on a backpacking trip.
It was hot as we hiked along the Merced River, but we appreciated the flat and wide trail. However, pretty soon we reached a junction and began our second incline. Fatigue started to kick in a bit as we slowly worked our way uphill. We could now start to see Half Dome, but from our vantage point, it still looked very far away. This section of the trail was a true mental challenge—we started to get discouraged at how far we still had to go but tried not to think about it as we put one foot in front of the other.
Finally, we reached the base of Sub Dome and took a well-deserved rest. This was also where a ranger checked our permit. There were several people around who didn’t have a permit and were asking fellow hikers if they had any extra space on theirs.
Similar to the Mist Trail, hiking up the stairs on Sub Dome proved to be a true leg burner. There were also several steep drop-offs, so we took our time and planted our footing carefully. Finally, we reached the cables.
As we got in line to start our final ascent to the summit, it became clear just how steep the incline we were scaling was. Without the cables, you’d need to be a comfortable mountaineer to reach the top. Soon it was our turn and we started pulling ourselves up.
There were lots of people going in both directions, so it was slow-moving. Luckily, there were several wooden planks placed on the granite that worked as footrests and extra support. At one point about halfway up the cables, we saw a man coming down with only one arm. Witnessing his accomplishment despite his limitations gave us the inspiration we needed to reach the top. Soon, we made it to the summit of Half Dome.
We were filled with pride as we stood high above the valley floor, taking in the beautiful vistas all around us. It had been an arduous hike, but we made it. We celebrated, took pictures, ate lots of snacks, and enjoyed our time at the top. But we had to quickly head down to avoid hiking in the dark.
The way back to the trailhead was a slog. Though hiking downhill made things a little easier, our bodies were exhausted and we were ready for a hot meal. Also, since the sun was low in the sky, we didn’t have time for many breaks. We finally reached our car just as dusk was approaching and sat for a few minutes, trying to muster up the energy to drive to our hotel. It was a beautiful day, but we were also completely drained at the end.
My 2022 Backpacking Trip
In 2022, I revisited Half Dome with some friends, this time on a multi-day backpacking trip. Since we were planning on spending the night in the Yosemite backcountry, we didn’t have to leave as early to start our hike. We left the trailhead around mid-morning and began slowly working our way uphill.
As we hiked, I drew parallels between this trip and my 2016 experience. Though my pack this time was much heavier, mostly everything else felt the same. The Mist Trail was beautiful, but the steps were steep and filled with people. And again, once we reached Little Yosemite Valley crowds significantly thinned out.
A welcome change though was when we reached Sub Dome. After the ranger checked our permits, she informed us that it would be smart to stash our heavy camping gear nearby so that we could complete the final push with a much lighter pack. So, we hid our tents, sleeping bags, and other large items and started working our way up the stairs.
The difference was night and day, and I felt a lot safer scaling the steps than I would have with a full and heavy pack. Also, because we started a little later, there were much fewer people on the cables (most day hikers were already on their way back to the trailhead) which made navigating them a lot easier. We had the summit nearly to ourselves and reveled in the sense of accomplishment we felt for reaching the top.
After spending a few moments at the summit, we started our hike back. At the base of Sub Dome, we begrudgingly repacked our backpacks and headed downhill. Compared to my day hike experience, my shoulders were significantly more sore, and at this point in the hike, I was not a fan of my heavy pack. Also, since we started later, we had to headlamp it into camp, though we were thankful we didn’t have to hike all the way down to the valley floor.
The next morning, we awoke to beautiful views of Yosemite and the alpenglow painting Half Dome in a gorgeous, warm hue. Finally, after breakfast, we packed up our bags and made our way back to Happy Isles Trailhead.
What Do I Recommend
As someone who is comfortable in the backcountry and likes options, I recommend tackling Half Dome as a part of a backpacking trip. The additional flexibility and the fact that you don’t have to complete the entire hike in a single day would make the journey more enjoyable for me. However, if you like a mountain challenge, are in shape, or just want to sleep in a comfortable bed at night, then I highly encourage you to hike Half Dome as a day hike! There’s no right or wrong way to complete this feat.
We hope that this guide helped ease your fears and motivate you to hike Half Dome! If you’re looking for extra help planning your trip to Yosemite National Park, then please reach out! We at GoForth are experts at turning your outdoor dreams into a reality, and we’d love to help curate an unforgettable trip. Click on the button below to learn more about our offerings, and contact us if you’re ready to take the first step toward a life outdoors!
