Half Dome Hike & Yosemite Trails Guide

July 30, 2026

Half Dome Hike: What You Need to Know Before You Go

View of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park

The Half Dome hike is one of the most iconic Yosemite trails, but it is not a casual “let’s see how we feel after brunch” walk. According to the National Park Service, most day hikers begin near Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley and complete a route of roughly 14 to 16 miles round-trip, depending on whether they use the Mist Trail or John Muir Trail portions.

The classic route usually includes:

Happy Isles trailhead
Vernal Fall Footbridge
Mist Trail Yosemite section past Vernal Fall
Nevada Fall
Little Yosemite Valley area
Sub Dome
Half Dome cables
Summit
Return via Mist Trail or John Muir Trail

Half Dome permits

Permits are required to hike beyond the base of Sub Dome and up the cables whenever the cables are up. The National Park Service states that Half Dome permits are required seven days per week during cable season.

Typical cable season runs from late May through mid-October, usually from the Friday before Memorial Day through the day after the second Monday in October, but weather and trail conditions can change that. Always check the official NPS Yosemite Half Dome page before your trip.

Day-use permits are available through a lottery on Recreation.gov:

Preseason lottery: Usually open March 1–31
Daily lottery: Opens two days before the hiking date
No walk-up Half Dome permits: You cannot show up at a ranger station and sweet-talk your way onto the cables

The daily cap is designed to reduce crowding and improve safety. NPS planning materials commonly cite a limit of about 300 hikers per day beyond Sub Dome, including day hikers and backpackers.

Can Beginners Climb Half Dome?

Beginners can technically climb Half Dome if they are fit, prepared, calm with heights, lucky with weather, and honest about turning around. But should a true beginner attempt it as their first major hike? Usually, no.

Half Dome is better treated as a goal hike, not a starter hike.

You should already be comfortable with:

Hiking 10+ miles in a day
Climbing 3,000+ feet of elevation gain
Managing food, water, and layers for a long day
Starting before sunrise
Hiking in heat, sun, and changing mountain weather
Exposure and steep drop-offs
Turning around even when the summit is “right there”

The cable section is the mental crux. The final 400 vertical feet are climbed using two steel cables mounted into steep granite. Wooden slats provide footing, but the rock is polished and can become dangerously slick when wet.

If you are newer to hiking, train first on other Yosemite hikes:

Mist Trail to Vernal Fall Footbridge
Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls
Yosemite Falls trail to Columbia Rock
Sentinel Dome
Four Mile Trail, if you are ready for more climbing
Long local hikes with a loaded daypack before your Yosemite trip

A good rule: if a 10-mile hike with 3,000 feet of gain sounds like a wild punishment from a raccoon court, Half Dome should wait.

Is Half Dome a Hard Climb?

Yes. Half Dome is a very hard climb for most hikers.

The difficulty comes from the combination of distance, elevation, exposure, and endurance. The hiking itself is non-technical until Sub Dome and the cables, but the overall day is strenuous.

Why Half Dome is difficult

Distance: Around 14–16 miles round-trip
Elevation gain: About 4,800 feet
Time: Often 10–14 hours
Heat: Yosemite Valley can be hot in summer
Altitude: The summit is 8,800+ feet above sea level
Cables: Steep, exposed, physically and mentally demanding
Weather risk: Afternoon thunderstorms can build quickly in the Sierra

YosemiteHikes.com describes Half Dome as one of Yosemite’s most difficult day hikes and rates it as “extreme.” That tracks with the lived experience: many strong hikers finish proud, tired, dusty, and suddenly very emotionally attached to pizza.

How Long Does It Take to Walk Up Half Dome?

Most hikers take 10 to 14 hours round-trip to complete the Half Dome hike.

Your exact time depends on:

Fitness level
Crowds on the cables
Weather
Route choice
How often you stop
Whether you descend via Mist Trail or John Muir Trail
How well you manage food and water

A common plan looks like this:

4:00–5:30 a.m.: Start from Yosemite Valley
6:00–7:00 a.m.: Reach Vernal Fall area
8:00–9:00 a.m.: Reach Nevada Fall / Little Yosemite Valley area
10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Reach Sub Dome and cables
Midday: Summit if conditions are safe
Afternoon/evening: Descend carefully back to Yosemite Valley

Start early. Very early. The kind of early where your headlamp becomes your best friend and breakfast is mostly optimism.

The goal is to avoid peak afternoon heat and storms. The National Park Service strongly warns hikers not to be on Half Dome during thunderstorms or when the rock is wet.

How Many Hikers Have Fallen Off Half Dome?

There is no single simple public number for “how many hikers have fallen off Half Dome,” because sources count incidents differently: cables only, summit area, climbing accidents, approach trails, and Mist Trail-related fatalities may be separated or combined.

Here is the most useful safety context:

The San Francisco Chronicle reported in 2024 that at least 15 people have died on the cables and top of Half Dome since 1948.
YosemiteHikes.com notes that there have been more than 20 deaths on Half Dome itself, and more than 60 if the trail leading to Half Dome is included.
Many serious and fatal incidents involve wet granite, storms, slips, or falls near the cable route.

The takeaway is not “don’t hike Half Dome.” Thousands of people complete it safely. The takeaway is: take the risk seriously.

Do not go up the cables if:

It is raining
Rain is forecast soon
The granite is wet
Thunderstorms are building
You feel shaky, exhausted, or panicked
The cables are overcrowded and movement feels unsafe

The mountain will still be there. Your knees and nervous system would like to be there too.

Mist Trail Yosemite: The Classic Waterfall Route

Waterfall along the Mist Trail in Yosemite

The Mist Trail Yosemite route is one of the most popular hikes in the park, and for good reason. It climbs alongside the Merced River past Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall, delivering huge waterfall views and, in spring, a free soaking from the trail mist. Nature’s car wash, basically.

Mist Trail options

Vernal Fall Footbridge

Distance: About 1.6 miles round-trip
Difficulty: Moderate for beginners because it climbs steadily
Best for: A shorter waterfall taste without committing to the full climb

Top of Vernal Fall

Distance: About 2.4–3 miles round-trip
Difficulty: Strenuous for many casual hikers
Watch for: Wet granite steps, slick footing, crowds

Nevada Fall Loop via Mist Trail and John Muir Trail

Distance: About 6–7 miles round-trip
Difficulty: Strenuous
Best for: Strong hikers who want Half Dome-style scenery without the cables

Seasonal Mist Trail notes

Spring: Huge waterfall flow, very wet trail, slippery steps
Summer: Still beautiful, but hot and crowded
Fall: Lower water flow, cooler temperatures
Winter: Ice and closures are possible; sections may be rerouted

Always check NPS current trail conditions. Temporary closures and maintenance reroutes happen, especially around wet or icy sections.

Yosemite Falls Trail: Big Climb, Huge Valley Views

View from Yosemite Falls Trail showing Yosemite Valley

The Yosemite Falls trail is another classic, and it is a great alternative if you do not have a Half Dome permit.

The full hike to the top of Upper Yosemite Fall is strenuous, with around 7.2 miles round-trip and roughly 2,700 feet of elevation gain. It is steep, exposed, and hot in warmer months.

Yosemite Falls trail options

Lower Yosemite Fall Loop

Distance: About 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Accessibility: Paved and one of the best accessible Yosemite trails
Best for: Families, beginners, wheelchair users, stroller walks

Columbia Rock

Distance: About 2 miles round-trip
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Best for: A shorter climb with a big Yosemite Valley view

Top of Yosemite Falls

Distance: About 7.2 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Best for: Fit hikers who want a big day without Half Dome cables

Best season for Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls is usually strongest in spring and early summer due to snowmelt. By late summer or early fall, it can slow dramatically or even dry up. The hike still has views, but if your dream is roaring waterfall drama, aim for April through June.

Best Day Hikes in Yosemite for Beginners

Easy hiking trail in Yosemite surrounded by meadow and trees

Not every Yosemite adventure needs to involve sore calves and existential questions. These are some of the best day hikes in Yosemite for beginners, families, and anyone who wants high reward without a survival documentary vibe.

Lower Yosemite Fall Loop

Distance: 1 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Surface: Paved
Good for: Kids, strollers, wheelchairs, first-time visitors

This is one of the easiest ways to experience Yosemite’s waterfall magic.

Cook’s Meadow Loop

Distance: About 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Good for: Sunset strolls, photos, families
Views: Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Sentinel Rock

This is a gentle Yosemite Valley classic and a great “we just got here” trail.

Mirror Lake

Distance: About 2 miles round-trip to the lake area; longer if doing the full loop
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Accessibility: First paved section is suitable for many strollers and wheelchairs
Best season: Spring and early summer for water reflections

By late summer, Mirror Lake may be more “Mirror Meadow,” but the views under Half Dome are still worth it.

Bridalveil Fall Trail

Distance: About 0.5 miles round-trip
Difficulty: Easy
Good for: Quick waterfall stop
Note: Mist can make the area slick

Sentinel Dome

Distance: About 2 miles round-trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Access: Glacier Point Road, when open
Best for: Big views without a huge hike

Not stroller-friendly, but great for kids who can handle uneven terrain.

Camping and Van-Life Logistics for Yosemite Trails

Campground area in Yosemite National Park with tent and forest

Yosemite is amazing for campers and van travelers, but it is not a “just park anywhere and sleep” kind of park.

The National Park Service allows sleeping in vehicles only in designated campsites. You cannot legally sleep overnight in trailhead lots, pullouts, or day-use parking areas.