Getting there
- Flights to Mammoth Lakes (MMH) 65 km from the start
- Flights to Fresno (FAT) 105 km from the start
Treks / USA (California)
Half Dome
USA (California) · Nearest city: San Francisco (also Fresno)
TypeDay hike
Days1
Distance≈ 26 km
Climbing≈ 1,460 m
Highest point2,694 m
Yosemite's most famous day hike, past Vernal and Nevada Falls to the top of the granite dome, with the final 120 m climbed on steel cables.
Fitness
Hard
Best seasonLate May to early October (cables up)
High pointHalf Dome
Watch out: A permit is required for the cables, issued by lottery. Never go up the cables if there are storm clouds.
Why people choose it
It's Yosemite's signature hike: past two big waterfalls and up the famous cables to the top of a granite dome.
What makes it different
- The famous Half Dome cables
- Vernal and Nevada Falls on the way
- View over all of Yosemite Valley
Before you go
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.
Phone and data
Roaming in USA is expensive on most phone plans. A data eSIM bought before you fly gets you online as soon as you land.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
This trek reaches 2,694 m, and many policies stop covering hiking at 2,000 to 3,000 m unless you add an activity upgrade. World Nomads needs its Level 3 activities above 2,000 m, Heymondo its Adventure add-on above 3,000 m, and SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance covers trekking up to 4,500 m.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
In national parks, overnight stays need a wilderness permit and camping is often limited to designated sites. On most national forest and BLM land, dispersed camping is allowed.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Straight lines between stops Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. We don't have the exact trail for this route yet, so stops are joined with straight lines. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Happy Isles → Vernal Fall → Nevada Fall → Half Dome
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- Enter the permit lottery. Places are limited and usually allocated months ahead.
- Best time to go: Late May to early October (cables up).
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from San Francisco.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early and set a turnaround time. Be back down before the weather turns or daylight fades.
- Carry water, food, a warm layer and a rain jacket even on a sunny day.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: Late May to early October (cables up)
June to early July
Early season
Snow on high passes, high creek crossings and roaring waterfalls. Mosquitoes emerge.
Bring
- Microspikes and an ice axe for high passes
- Mosquito repellent
- Waterproof boots
Mid-July to August
Peak season
Stable, dry weather with afternoon thunderstorms over the high peaks. Permits are hardest to get.
Bring
- Sun protection
- Bear canister
- Rain jacket for storms
September to early October
Late season
Clear, quiet and cold at night, with waterfalls reduced and the first snow possible.
Bring
- Warm sleeping bag
- Down jacket
- Headlamp
Be ready for
Chains and cables
Some sections use fixed chains or cables over exposed rock. Go slowly, keep three points of contact, and turn back if it's wet or crowded. Gloves help your grip.
Afternoon storms
Thunderstorms often build after midday in summer. Start early, cross passes and summits before noon, and never shelter under lone trees or on ridges.
Long days
Expect 7–10 hour days. Start early, eat little and often, and know your turnaround time.
What you'll see
8 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the Half Dome
Photo credits: Half Dome with Eastern Yosemite Valley Zuschnitt by Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Nevada Fall, Yosemite NP, CA, US - Diliff by Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Happy Isles by Glenn Scofield Williams from USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Yosemite National Park, Merced River by dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; YosemiteValleyPanorma - Flickr - Conor Lawless by Conor Lawless from North Uist, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Happy Isles Bridge - Yosemite National Park, California, USA by Emmanuel DYAN from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; John Muir Trail - Yosemite National Park, California, USA by Emmanuel DYAN from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Half Dome - Yosemite - panoramio by Pavel Špindler, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
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