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Dark Side Dome
A granite crag in Tuolumne Meadows with Star Wars-themed bolted climbs.
About
Dark Side Dome is a granite crag in Yosemite's Tuolumne Meadows high country, about a mile downstream from Daff Dome along Cathedral Creek, on the way toward Hammer Dome. This isn't a maintained park trail or a scenic day-hike — it's a climbers' dome reached by an unsigned use path, worth the trip only if you're headed there to climb.
Getting There
Climbers park at the lower Daff Dome parking area off Tioga Road and follow the climbers' path down along Cathedral Creek, past Daff Dome. There's no official trailhead or signage — expect routefinding and off-trail travel through the granite-and-brush terrain typical of this part of Tuolumne.
The Climbing
The dome holds a small set of bolted routes, several with Star Wars-themed names — Imperial March, Dark Side of the Force, and Spaceballs among them. Per Mountain Project, the standard reference for this crag, grades run easy-to-moderate: Spaceballs is 5.5 and Dark Side of the Force is 5.7. Dark Side Dome sits in the same cluster of formations as neighboring Doda Dome, Micro Dome, and Bearded Clam Cliff, and access follows standard Yosemite National Park backcountry rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dark Side Dome a maintained hiking trail?
No. There's no official Park Service trail to the dome — it's reached by an unsigned climbers' use path along Cathedral Creek, about a mile below Daff Dome, and it's really a destination for climbers rather than a general day-hike.
What climbing routes are on Dark Side Dome?
The dome carries a small set of bolted routes, several with Star Wars-themed names — Imperial March, Dark Side of the Force, and Spaceballs among them. Per Mountain Project, grades run easy-to-moderate, with Spaceballs at 5.5 and Dark Side of the Force at 5.7.
How do you get to Dark Side Dome?
Park at the lower Daff Dome parking area off Tioga Road, then follow the climbers' path down along Cathedral Creek past Daff Dome toward Hammer Dome. There's no signage, so prior routefinding experience helps.
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