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Half Dome, 8,836 ft (2,693 m)
Where:
Yosemite National Park
Trail head:
Happy Isles trail head, at the north end of Yosemite Valley
Length:
17 miles round trip
Cumulative elevation gain:
5000 ft
Difficulty:
Challenging
Reservations required:
No
Advance planning typically required for permit:
N/A
Permit requirements:
Get pass upon entry to Yosemite park. If arriving very early or late, get pass upon exit.
Price:
Pay at park entrance, waived with national park pass
Report date:
2007-07-29
Reported by:
Silviu
Driving directions:
Take Hwy 120 E into Yosemite. Approximately 4 hours from the Bay Area, 5 on a Friday afternoon, depending on traffic conditions. Then, after Clane Flat, take the road to Yosemite Valley.
Maps:
Topozone map
Trail condition:
Very well maintained trail.
Description and other notes:
Maybe the most famous in the whole Sierra Nevada, Half Dome is climbed by thousands of hikers every year. The views from the top are not the best in the Park, but the cables experience is something everyone will remember. Its height of 4737 feet above the Valley makes it inaccessible without any technical help, so cables are installed every summer on its north-east face. Remember to choose the Mist Trail from Happy Isles. During early summer the trail near Vernal and Nevada Falls is a really pleasant experience due to the water drops from these two waterfalls. For those who prefer longer trails or backpacking trips, Half Dome can be also approached from Tenaya Lake via Clouds Rest. Keep in mind that this trail is very crowded and it is common for people to start the climbfrom the Valley at 6am. Even so, usually it is too late if you reach the cables around noon during Saturdays or Sundays and you can experience a waiting line of at least 2 hours. Slow hikers can get a permit to sleep in the Little Yosemite Valley and start climbing close to 7000 ft (camping above 7000 feet is not allowed near Half Dome). More details about Half Dome can be found on
the official web page
.
Comments
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Jacqueline
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It was worth waking up at 4:30 am to miss the crowds!
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2007-10-13
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 View from Half Dome to the Valley.
 The famous cables.
 Clouds Rest and the trail near the cables.
 The trail near the cables.
 On top of Half Dome, looking north.
 Vernal Fall.
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