Indian Rock

Indian Rock is a granite arch perched along Indian Ridge above Yosemite Valley — the only natural rock arch in the park, and by most accounts in the entire Sierra Nevada. It's not a standalone trailhead destination; you reach it via a short, steep spur branching off the longer North Dome Trail, which makes it more of a detour than a hike in its own right.

Getting There

Start at the Porcupine Creek Trailhead on Tioga Road, which typically closes to vehicles from around November through May — check current conditions before you drive up. Follow the North Dome Trail roughly 3 miles to a signed junction, then climb the steep 0.3-mile spur to the arch. Combined with the walk out to North Dome, the round trip runs close to 9.5 miles with about 2,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain — turning back at the arch itself shortens that considerably.

What You'll Find

• The arch is modest in scale, roughly 15 feet tall, so the surrounding scenery is the real draw
• Open granite slabs with sweeping views down into Yosemite Valley
• A rare eye-level perspective on Half Dome's north face from the ridge

Because Yosemite's granite doesn't weather the way sandstone does in places like Utah, a true arch forming here is a geological rarity rather than a routine feature.