Half Dome Trail

Half Dome Trail climbs from the floor of Yosemite Valley to the top of the park's signature granite dome, a 14- to 16-mile round trip with about 4,800 feet of elevation gain that most hikers cover in 10 to 12 hours. The last stretch is a steep granite face ascended on steel cables, and that section is open only during the cable season, only to permit holders.

Permits and the Cable Season

The cables go up the Friday before Memorial Day and come down the day after the second Monday in October, though exact dates shift with snowpack. Whenever they're up, you need a permit to pass the base of the subdome, and rangers check for it on site. Most permits come from a preseason lottery held March 1-31 (results in mid-April); a smaller daily lottery runs two days before each hike date for the remaining spots, and only permit holders or their listed alternates can apply. Each application costs $10, plus $10 per person if you win.

What to Expect on the Trail

• Starts at the Happy Isles trailhead (shuttle stop #16) in Yosemite Valley
• Passes Vernal and Nevada Falls on the way up to Little Yosemite Valley and the subdome
• The final few hundred feet climb exposed granite via steel cables
• The summit runs 15-20°F cooler and windier than the valley floor

Safety on the Cables

The Park Service names wet granite as the leading cause of fatal falls on the cable route — never start up in a storm or when the rock is wet. Set a real turnaround time; the park suggests being off the cables by 3:30 p.m., and carry a working headlamp in case you're still descending after dark.