Half Dome, Yosemite National Park

Stunning and exhilarating experience to summit half dome. Permit needed for Half dome. If you’re a solo hiker without a permit, I’ve seen people wait at the base of half dome with the ranger until you meet a groups that has a spare permit. I climbed the cables with no gloves and found it fine. I tried using disposable latex gloves initially but found it didn’t help much, and you get sweaty in the rubber gloves. Took me 10 hours round trip.

We're a family of hikers (including our kids that summited Half Dome with us when they were 7 & 8 in Aug 2021 and did it again Aug 2022) so this review will not be indicative of average family hiking. However for kiddos that have a happy place out on the trail, this hike was an exceptional family activity. Be sure to pack plenty of water as the source along the trail ends when you split away from the Merced River at Little Yosemite. We took 2.5L-3L each and, with the kids, it took 12.5hrs RT (including rest stops) to do the 17.9 mile (up the Mist Trail & back on the John Muir Trail), 4800' elevation gain to the top and back with a long break at the top of Half Dome. I recommend hitting the trail earlier than 7am for ample time to make it up to the summit and back, although pre-dawn would be ideal to stay cool and see VIEWS of dawn. Also plan for shade or stop in the shade, even though this trail has sections that super shady. Be smart! Parking can fill up quickly so we just stayed parked at the campground and hiked to the Happy Isles Trailhead...could bike there and leave bikes at the bike rack. Once past the initial paved trail, you have one last stop for filtered water and there's a restroom. If you're going up the Mist Trail, this isn't the last restroom. This is where the trail splits into the Mist Trail or the John Muir Trail. Many day hikers choose to go up the beautiful Mist Trail and down the longer John Muir Trail. This is what we did because of ME...up the shorter, steep route of the Mist Trail and down the longer, gradual decline of the JMT. (But "me" is also now technically 40½ with 5 total ACL reconstruction/medial meniscus repair surgeries on both knees, breast cancer survivor, recently healed broken big toe, and a destroyed thyroid...but a determination to stay active and "use it or lose it.") We broke the hike up into 5 sections where we planned to rest/snack up: ☝️top of Vernal Falls (take MANY granite stairs up) ✌️top of Nevada Falls (combo of switchbacks and some stairs; you can rest at the bathroom at the top or veer to the right and follow the trail to the bridge area; this is also the junction of the JMT/Mist trails) 3️⃣ end of Little Yosemite area (although this is where the trail splits away from the Merced River so you may plan an extra stop to load up on water using your water filter) 4️⃣ Sub-Dome where you meet the Ranger to check your cable permits (and YES, they check your cable permits!) DEF recommend resting before starting up the MANY, steep granite stairs up the SubDome! 🖐 Half Dome cables are next, but we don't rest here -- we rest at the TOP OF HALF DOME and enjoy the amazing views almost 9K ft up! When you get back to the bottom...head to the Merced River and put your feet (including knees!) in the water and ENJOY 😉 celebrating your accomplishment! Our fav #halfdometraining hikes were Upper Yosemite Falls because there's VIEWS all over, especially of Half Dome. If you can at least make it to Columbia Rock which is 2mi RT with some elevation gain, it's worth those views!! You may even see a mule deer mid-day like we did! Other fav hikes were Mt Tallac (S Lake Tahoe), but message here or @Matlock.Rock to see how we made Half Dome a family hike!

Half Dome ! The best hike in the entire Yosemite valley circuit. The thrill, the view, the feel of achievement everything is out of the world. Definitely need to start very early. Also you need to be in solid physical shape. I got lucky for the permit through a friend, so didn't have any prep, but was able to complete it in 13 hours with an ample amount of breaks. The climb through the first part (until the waterfalls) was pretty quick and solid. And then it starts the never ending walk to the base of sub dome.. The cables on the half dome and the view from the base is intimidating, but once you start the climb and just focus on it, it will not be difficult. And the view from the top is worth every bit. Definitely recommended to start as early as 6in the morning to return before dark.

Incredible experience - Legendary indeed! Extremely painful, humbling on the way up & unmeasurably rewarding at the top!! Something to do at least once in your lifetime - soaking up the views of the Yosemite valley, and reflecting on whatever it is on your mind - guaranteed that you'll walk away with refreshed & nothing will matter more than just being in the moment & enjoying every bit of it!! Get a wilderness permit if you can for the next year. It's much easier than trying to doing it all in one day - and 'easier' is relative depending your fitness level. (the cables go down on Oct 12, this year). You can add half dome to your wilderness permit from the eligible trailheads (Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley of Past LYV being the most popular & 'shortest' ones.. short=17ish miles total) Water. Cant stress enough on planning this well. This can make or break your experience! Grumpy? Feeling Bad - you might need water!! There's only 1 water station about 20 minutes into the trail. The second one is Merced River along the trail, and the last source at Little Yosemite Valley. This is where you refill for multi-night adventures. They recommend Filtration systems because of presence of algae. Generally, fill it from flowing water & not where it's still. Gloves. Real protective gloves, not for the cold, not woolen ones - like worker's gloves. Not optional unless you want to go home with hands full or blisters. Toilets. There's a few on the trail at the waterfalls, and the Little Yosemite Valley. Otherwise pack in pack out - you know what to do(doo) :) All in all, bring your best self. It's physically challenging, but you'll smile all the way down! Hope this was helpful. Good luck & go be wild!!

Words cannot describe hiking Half Dome. I’ll admit it was a lot steeper than I thought it would be. This hike tests you not only physically but mentally every step of the way. We were Vernal and Nevada falls fast, but only then the true grind begins. What seems like a endless forest path lead to granite where the trail slowly vanishes where there is only one way to go. Up. The sides drop off and the true scope of what your about to do comes into form. The cables are steep and exhausting. The true battle though is the metal form of being so close to death and all of it is your hands. I have never felt such a the sense of adrenaline, fear, and finally accomplishment. Come prepared and do your research, because this is one of the hardest hikes and the most rewarding. The wildfires were worrying us but other than a slight fog there was not issues. I would not recommend this to beginners. I would also recommend bringing someone who will push you past your fears. There’s nothing like this hike and you have to experience in person to understand.