An outdoors social network for the traveling & outdoors enthusiast - MyOutdoorAdventure.com
 

Half Dome Trail (Yosemite)

Posted on September 22, 2008 by: Traveler

  • Side profile of Half Dome, as seen from below the summit of Clouds Rest.
  • Sign at the restroom above Nevada Fall.
  • After a minor rise through switchbacks, this junction signals the arrival at Little Yosemite Valley.
  • Taking the left side junction is the most direct route to Half Dome. The right side continues along the Merced River (all the way to Merced Lake) with the next junction to the left being the most direct path into the campground of Little Yosemite.
  • The next couple pics are of Little Yosemite Valley. This is continuing straight at the previous junction along the Merced River.
  • Following the Merced River. By looking at a Tom Harrison Map, you will see this trail parallels the Merced through Echo Valley and onto Merced Lake.
  • Pathway leading to the restrooms at Little Yosemite Valley campground. This is from the left fork at the first junction.
  • Restrooms of Little Yosemite Valley.
  • Community fire pit.
  • Tents at campsites. Yosemite Valley campground is large but still fills to capacity during the busiest season of summer.
  • Campsite at Little Yosemite Valley campground.
  • The paths through Little Yosemite are lined with logs. Here some hikers are entering the campground area from the second junction along the Merced River.
  • By turning right at the previous pic, or continuing straight along the path bordering the campground, the Merced River comes into view.
  • I wish we would have stayed the night at Little Yosemite Valley campground to have the time to go swimming at this spot on the Merced River.
  • Water filter break.
  • To bypass Little Yosemite and continue up the Half Dome trail, take the left fork at the first junction of the Merced River and keep Little Yosemite to the right. This is looking back at the campground area before continuing up to Half Dome.
  • Camping on the summit of Half Dome is no longer permitted because of the actions of a few careless individuals.
  • Far side of Little Yosemite Valley.
  • Continuing up the Hald Dome trail; the next junction on the right will be to a nice campground approximately 1/2 mile away. This is a feasible option in case Little Yosemite is full.
  • Look for this fallen log to the left hand side of the trail. Behind it is a natural spring... filter your water if necessary but this is about the cleanest water you'll drink.
  • Natural spring bubbling up.
  • Now that I know what to look for, I won't miss the spring again... here is the view of the final switchback heading down the trail before the fallen log; now on the right side.
  • Half Dome through a break in the trees.
  • This flat area is just before the true climbing begins. At first it is up the steep stairs of the first hump... the the true test up the final stretch of the cables.
  • Another view of the flat area before the final climb.
  • The first, shorter, hump has large steps to negotiate.
  • At some portions, there are not even steps like this section here where hikers scramble on all four.
  • View looking east from the first hump.
  • Almost at the top of the first hump. Next is a small dip into a saddle between this first hump and the final cable pitch.
  • looking down at hikers in the saddle prepping for the final climb up the cable route of Half Dome.
  • The pace on the cables is hurried at first until the pulling and altitude kicks in. Then the pace becomes a snail's crawl.
  • Hiker Steve Hoffman on the cables of Half Dome.
  • Some sections of the cables seem vertical as you pull yourself up. The final segment, while still steep, is able to be walked on upright.
  • View looking east from the Summit of Half Dome.
  • View looking south from the summit of Half Dome.
  • Overhang of Half Dome's 8,842 ft. summit. I've heard this ledge stretches out eighty feet. A climber below contemplates the final pitch to the summit.
  • View looking up Tenaya Canyon.
  • Tenaya Canyon.
  • This area is what gives Half Dome the appearance of a flat surface from the valley below.
  • Look ma, no ropes!
  • Climbing rope anchor points.
  • Just to prove I was on the summit (right side) with Jeff (My Poor Feet).
  • Late afternoon light blowing out all details of the valley below... or that the California smog?
  • The (rounded) half of Half Dome as it appears from Little Yosemite Valley.
  • The first hump (right side) doesn't seem so bad when viewing from two thousand feet below.

Best Time To Visit: Spring through Fall
Closest City: Fish Camp
State: 7
Country: 209

DIRECTIONS: This section of the trail begins at the top of Nevada Fall. For more information on the trailhead beginning at Happy Isle in Yosemite Valley see; Happy Isle to Top of Vernal Fall (Yosemite) and Emerald Pool to Top of Nevada Fall (Yosemite).

DESCRIPTION: This trail portion begins at the top of Nevada Fall just up the trail from the the bridge that crosses over the Merced River and also includes pictures from Little Yosemite Valley... did you get all that? Just after crossing over the Merced River on the bridge above the 700 ft. drop of Nevada Fall you will come to a trail junction at a log style bathroom. Follow the trail signs pointing to Little Yosemite Valley (right side) and of course; Half Dome beyond. The trail section to Little Yosemite Valley is of minor elevation gain through a series of small, short switchbacks. The Merced River can be heard the entire time off to the right side. Soon enough, the trail levels off and a junction is seen ahead. This marks the beginning of Little Yosemite Valley. You may not have realized it, but from the view traversing across the shelf of Nevada Fall (with the side profile of Half Dome, Mount Broderick and Liberty Cap) the trail has followed the Merced river around a long left turn and you are pretty much facing the back side of Half Dome; the domed half. If completing Half Dome's 16 miles in one day (no small feat with an approximately 4,900 ft. rise from the valley floor) then take the left fork and keep Little Yosemite Valley campground to your right. In about ten minutes, you will come to a sign displaying camping restrictions on Half Dome; namely that there is no camping on the summit. We can all thank those who have screwed it up for us by defecating and chopping up and burning the few trees that once grew on it's summit. If bypassing the campground, I apologize because I must digress and explain Little Yosemite Valley for a moment.

While you don't need a permit to hike the Half Dome Trail in a day (as evidenced by the slow moving bottleneck up the final stretch of bolted cables), it is very necessary to get a permit if you wish to camp for the night at Little Yosemite Valley. This campground is probably the busiest backcountry location in Yosemite; because of it's proximity to Half Dome I'm sure. As far as the backcountry goes, this campground is huge with numerous sites, bear boxes and flush toilets. There is a ranger station nearby and a large community fire pit for singing Koom-Bya's until the wee hours of the night. There is no camping allowed between the valleys o f Yosemite and Little Yosemite. The only other option for overnighting in the wilderness near the Half Dome trail is a small camp area that is just up the trail from Little Yosemite Valley to the next trail junction (sans bear boxes and flush toilets... it has a fire pit though). At this junction, take the right fork heading to Cloud's Rest. In approximately 1/2 mile, the trail will come to a clearing on the right side and another trail junction. The camping area is to the right in this clearing. Just ahead, there is a small creek suitable for filtering water. By crossing the creek and picking up the trail, you will be heading to the John Muir Trail. Take the left fork at this junction area and you will be heading skyward to Cloud's Rest... but these trails will be profiled at a later date. Back to Little Yosemite Valley. As mentioned, permits may be tough to snag for camping at Little Yosemite Valley but even tougher is the trailhead from which you choose to begin your adventure. Happy Isles will obviously be the hardest trailhead to begin from as it is the main departure point from the valley (where most dayhikers start out). Other options would be to begin at Glacier Point and follow the trail past Illilouette Falls to the top of Nevada Falls. I personally have never been on this portion of trail, so asking your friendly ranger for advice would be good. I can say for certain though, that probably the easiest way to secure a site at Little Yosemite Valley campground would be to start at a destination outside Yosemite Valley, like Tenaya Lake (passing Sunrise HSC) or the Tuolumne Meadows area (passing through Vogelsang and Merced Lake HSC's). Of the three times I have summited Half Dome, my originating trailhead began from outside Yosemite Valley proper. It is all a quota system for the departure / originating trailhead. The option of overnighting half way up the trail should be included in the experience because this campground really does have it all. The Merced River flows nearly right along the edge of the campground and is just a short walk away. NOTE: This is the only water source, so bring a filter. There is a lined path leading to the Merced River and a nice (little) sandy beach area. The water is cold but very refreshing after a long day's hike. Don't use soap or wash dishes in the river. Take the dishes that need cleaned a short distance away and bury and food waste.

So... let's get back to the Half Dome trail; continuing past the warning sign of "No camping above 7,600 ft" and past the first (right turn) trail junction heading over to Cloud's Rest and the smaller backcountry campsites. I will kind of jump ahead and say that there is a flat area, almost at the top, and just before the first small hump (the left side viewed from the valley below) before the cable route. The only reason for mentioning this flat area is to basically say that the trail travels through a dense forest up numerous switchbacks. It seems that this section is not that steep after the climb from the valley up to Little Yosemite. The trail has views of Half dome intermittently through the trees getting ever closer.

One thing of importance is that there is a natural spring directly behind a large fallen tree on the left hand side as you are walking up. I saw this the first time walking up Half Dome but missed it the second time. Third time's a charm so I finally took pictures of what the area looked like and I can truly say that it is unmistakable as to which fallen tree on the side of the trail is in front of the natural spring. Hope the pictures work out for you all!

So... let's get back to the flat area before the first small hump. I had to wait on my second summit of Half Dome at this location while the Park Service conducted repairs to the bolted cables up the final pitch. Every couple years, these repairs take place and I say it is a necessary evil to have to wait until the route opens up at 4:00pm. Crappy thing is that the cables are open in the morning... so if you make it up top Half Dome prior to commencement of the days repairs but fail to come down in time... HURRY UP AND WAIT!!!! The length that the cables close (weeks, that is) also makes me wonder, If I hiked up the cables after the first evening of cable repairs, are they more likely to give way and send me a tumblin. You may be likely to hear a holler from above as everyone is crawling up the cable route. The warning will be, "Look out below", and then see a water bottle or some other unsecured article sliding down. Tragically, hikers have slipped off the cables and, well, you can guess.

After the first hump of granite, which is basically strenuous due to the altitude and size of some of the steps blasted out of the rock (approximately 18 inches) hikers drop down into a small saddle where the bolted cables start. Numerous pairs of gloves lie at the base of the cables. Make sure you choose a good pair because on the SLIDE down, they become necessary barriers of friction.

When you talk to anyone who has summited Half Dome and they proudly proclaim, "I made it to the top", what they really mean to say is, "I made it past those damn cables bolted into a 45 degree granite slope that has been worn smooth as a baby's arse from the zillions of hikers that trammeled here before me!"

... so you're finally enjoying the view from up high. And truly, what a view it is. The High Sierra spreads out in all directions with the only hint of civilization in Yosemite Valley 4,000 ft. below. Take a moment to relish the accomplishment, just don't stay too long, the weather's closing in!    

Just a suggestion, but an ideal overnight trip would be to snag a permit originating from Happy Isles and backpack up to Little Yosemite Valley to set up shop for the night. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and swimming. In the morning, you are already halfway up the mountain and have a huge advantage over those just waking up in the valley below. The morning light will be casting toward the valley below once you are on top (sun rises in the east) and not in your face in the late afternoon; which subsequently, drowns out all detail of your pictures. Walk back down to Little Yosemite, break down camp and your eating at Degnan's Pizza (village area) by dinnertime.       

The Half Dome Trail is a 16 mile round trip adventure which rises 4,900 ft. from the valley floor at the Happy Isle shuttle-stop.

MORE TO COME: 

Back To Locations  

Related Activities:

*Click on an activity to search for more related locations.

Tags

Yosemite National Park, Half Dome, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, Merced River, Little Yosemite Valley, camping, backpacking, hiking, swimming

*Click on a tag to search for more related locations.

Links

Location Notes:

No Notes Available

Login or Sign Up to leave a note.