Half Dome Trail

Half Dome Trail is a Yosemite National Park day hike to the top of Half Dome via Happy Isles, with a typical round-trip distance of 14–16 miles and about 4,800 ft total elevation gain. Most hikers take 10–12 hours, and the cable section dictates whether the day is straightforward or drawn out.

The route climbs through the Vernal Fall / Nevada Fall corridor on the Mist Trail and then continues onward toward Little Yosemite Valley. From there, the hike turns toward the base of the Half Dome northeast ridge approach leading to the steep “subdome” staircase carved into granite.

The defining feature is the cable ascent up the final 400 ft to the summit. This is a steep, exposed granite climb using two fixed steel cables as handholds, with the cables typically installed from late May to mid-October; outside the cable season, the ascent is not the same route.

When the cables are up, day hikers need a permit, and permits are handled by lottery when cables are available. Rangers check permits on the trail, and hikers without a permit are not allowed beyond the subdome area (and specifically not past the base of the cables).

Cables are meant to be used on dry rock. The guidance is to avoid attempting the summit when storm clouds are in the area or when the ground/rock is wet and slippery; most fatal falls from the cable route have happened when the rock (and cables) were wet.

Expect real alpine logistics: bring plenty of water (the official guidance suggests 1 gallon/4 liters for a top-of-Half Dome day), and carry a good flashlight/headlamp because many people struggle on the descent after dark. Flashlight/headlamp with extra batteries is emphasized for safety.

Half Dome is also historically significant: George Anderson reached the summit in 1875 after constructing a predecessor route involving drilled iron eye bolts, and today the cable route is the standard non-technical way most hikers reach the top each year.

More information: Visitor information, Wikipedia, Half Dome Hike Guide