Devils Dance Floor

Devil's Dance Floor is a broad, treeless granite dome on Yosemite's north rim, at about 6,836 feet, with open views toward Foresta, Bridalveil Fall, and the western high country. There's no maintained trail to it — this is a cross-country destination — but it's widely considered one of the easiest and safest off-trail hikes in the park, since the open terrain makes it hard to lose your way.

Getting There

The shortest approach starts at Tamarack Flat Campground, at the end of a narrow, winding, 2.5-mile unpaved spur off Tioga Road: from there it's a cross-country walk of under a mile to the dome. A longer option starts directly from a Tioga Road pullout with bear boxes, about six and a half miles past the Tamarack Flat turnoff, following a use path south to the summit. A third, more demanding route climbs from the Big Oak Flat Trail on the south side, crossing a stretch of old burn scar.

• No signed or maintained trail — this is off-trail, cross-country hiking
• Shortest route: under a mile from Tamarack Flat Campground
• Only reachable when Tioga Road is open for the season (roughly late spring through fall, weather dependent)

Where the Name Comes From

Per Yosemite Place Names by Peter Browning, the name dates to the 1930s, when campers from nearby Cascade Creek Camp hauled a Model T up onto the flat granite expanse — the scene reminded onlookers of devils dancing.

Bring a map or GPS even for the short route, since there's no signage, water, or reliable cell service on the dome.