How to Hike Half Dome at Yosemite National Park

Granite rock formations with a pink and purple sunset in the background.

Half Dome… have you heard of it? Of course you have, that’s why you’re here! Half Dome is arguably one of the most well known and iconic hikes in the country. The cool part about it is you don’t have to be a super experienced technical climber to stand on top of this incredible chunk of granite. You certainly can take one of the technical routes, but thanks to the incredible dedication of the Yosemite trail crews, there’s a well maintained hiking trail and only slightly scary set of cables to assist your ascent. Sound good? Let’s go!

Where to Start

First thing’s first. A permit is required to hike to the top of Half Dome. The permit is actually only required for the cables section – you can technically hike all the way to the base of Half Dome before needing a permit, and if you’re backpacking, a permit will be included in your backcountry permit. Get your permit here.

Small Rustic Wilderness Center with oak trees in the background.

Ok, let’s get started. Even though hiking to the top of Half Dome in a day is doable, it’s still a 14-16 mile round trip hike with a nearly 5,000 ft elevation gain. Know your limits and be realistic about your fitness level – if you’re out of shape or not prepared, this one might not be for you. That said, I’m in pretty good shape but by no means am I any kind of super-athlete, and it was tough, but not terrible. And the views throughout the entire hike, from Vernal and Nevada Falls, to Liberty Cap, and the views of Yosemite Valley are phenomenal… like truly life changing.

The hike starts at the east end of Yosemite Valley, at a fun little trailhead called Happy Isles. Plan to start at sunrise or earlier. The entire first half of the hike is uphill, so pace yourself and try to enjoy the scenery along the way. Your first milestone will be the Vernal Falls footbridge, where you’ll get a thrilling view of the waterfall. This is also the last place you have a restroom with plumbing, so use it!

The Mist Trail

From here, you’ll start up the first half of the mist trail – aptly named because in the spring and early summer, you’ll probably get soaked with mist coming off of Vernal Falls. It’s an incredible feeling!

Granite Steps leading up next to a waterfall.

Your next milestone is the top of Vernal Falls. Take a little break here and enjoy the amazing view – it only gets better! You’ll also have a decision to make here (feels a little like the old “choose your own adventure” books!). You can either continue up the mist trail, with steeper vertical gain up the side of Nevada Fall, or you can take the John Muir Trail (JMT), which switch backs up to the top of Nevada Falls. They both get you to the same place, but the JMT is about a mile longer and not as steep. Fun fact: this is why it’s identified as a 14-16 mile hike.

Wooden footbridge over a river and waterfall with granite rock formations in the background under a blue sky.

Little Yosemite Valley

From the top of Nevada Falls, you’ll get a small section of flat trail as you enter into an area called “Little Yosemite Valley”. Enjoy it! That’s all you get until you reach the sub-dome area. There’s a backpacking campground here, and a really cool composting toilet. No joke, it’s up there on the list of coolest places to take a sh*t in the world.

Rustic wood and stone structure surrounded by pine trees.

From LYV it’s a mostly gentle uphill climb through beautiful high alpine forests. This might sound odd, but the smell of this section of the hike is wonderful (assuming there’s not smoke from a wildfire blowing in, or a sweaty hiker right in front of you). It’s a mixture of crisp pine, clean air, and granite. Perfect.

Sub-Dome and Cables Section

Once you’re through this section you get to the granite sub-dome area and the base of the cables section on the backside of Half Dome. It’s really incredible. This is where a ranger will check your permit if there’s someone there, and they usually keep a big box of leather work gloves for hikers to borrow to get to the top. It’s a tough last section to say the least, but I think most people would agree it’s completely worth it. The hike itself is amazing, but standing on top of one of the most iconic features in the United States is unbelievable.

Wire and metal post cables on the granite back side of Half Dome.

Granite rock formations under a blue sky.

What to Bring

The NPS site on Half Dome has some really great safety tips for hikers, I won’t repeat them all here – you should be checking that site anyway for updates and trail conditions, so go check it out! In the meantime, here’s a list of what I recommend wearing and keeping in your pack:

1. Daypack – I like The North Face Basin 36 Pack for dayhikes. It’s not too bulky, but provides good support and lots of space and pockets.

2. Trail Shoes – My faves are the Merrell siren sports. They have excellent grippy soles for all the granite.

3. Sunscreen – Whatever your sunscreen of choice is here, just bring it, and re-apply!

4. Headlamp – Petzl is the best IMO, mine’s the Actik Core, but they have a lot of really good options. Even if you don’t plan on hiking in the dark, bring one! Things don’t always go as planned.

5. Trekking Poles – I didn’t use poles for Half Dome but I certainly think they are beneficial, especially for the descent. I did use them on Mt. Whitney and they were a life-saver! REI has a really good selection – I have the Black Diamond trail poles and love them.

6. Gloves – I just used the gloves at the base of the cables but noticed a lot of people bringing their own. IDK.. other people’s sweaty hands just didn’t really bother me at the time.

7. Water – please bring lots of water. I like using a camelbak bladder that fits right into a sleeve in your backpack.

8. Food and snacks – I like good PB&J on the trail, as well as plenty of trail mix, fruit, beef jerky, etc… you know what you like : )

9. First Aid – I like the Adventure Medical Kits from REI. They’re lightweight, waterproof, and have everything you need for a mini-emergency. Even just being able to patch up a blister can make all the difference.

What to Wear

Depending on when during the season you’re hiking, you’ll either want a warmer baselayer – I like the Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer. If it’s warmer, you might be fine with just a t-shirt, and then keep a warmer layer in your pack. My best find on Amazon yet might be these tri-blend t-shirts, you’ll fall in love.

Then hiking pants or shorts depending on the weather. My go to pants right now are the Prana double peak joggers. They’re soft and comfortable, but also sturdy.

For shorts, I like the Kanab shorts, also from Prana – but I’m also a fan of just good old adidas running shorts, call me old school. And on that note… another old school pick for me is my mid-layer LL Bean pullover. I absolutely love this one!!

As always, I can’t stress enough the importance of checking local conditions, reviewing the NPS website, and even talking to one of the rangers at the Visitor Center before your hike – be over-prepared when it comes to planning.

Have fun and be safe!!