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Lost Arrow Spire
A freestanding granite spire famed for elite climbs and a legendary highline.
About
Lost Arrow Spire is the freestanding granite pillar you'll spot rising just east of Upper Yosemite Falls, split from the main valley wall by a deep notch. It's one of the most photographed formations in Yosemite Valley, but don't mistake it for a trail: actually reaching the spire is technical climbing and highlining territory, not a day hike.
A Landmark in Climbing History
The spire's first true ascent came in 1947, when Ax Nelson and John Salathé climbed the Lost Arrow Chimney route using pitons Salathé had forged himself — a five-day aid line still recognized in the classic climbing text Fifty Classic Climbs of North America. The route remains a benchmark of Yosemite's early big-wall era, tackled today by strong parties as a demanding multi-day aid or mixed climb.
The Tyrolean Traverse
What made the spire famous beyond climbing circles is the rope line strung between its tip and the main rim. Scott Balcom made the first slackline crossing here on July 13, 1985, tethered by a safety leash; climber Dean Potter later crossed it both directions completely unroped in 2003, one of the boldest highline feats on record.
Viewing It Safely
General visitors can pick out the spire from the Valley floor near Yosemite Falls or from viewpoints like Yosemite Point on the rim above — no scrambling required. Actually reaching the notch involves a roped approach and a long rappel, strictly the domain of experienced climbers with the right gear and partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you hike to Lost Arrow Spire?
No. There's no maintained hiking trail to the spire itself — reaching it requires technical climbing and a roped rappel into the notch. General visitors view it from the Valley floor or rim viewpoints instead.
Where can you see Lost Arrow Spire from the ground?
It's visible from several points in Yosemite Valley, including near Yosemite Falls, and from rim viewpoints like Yosemite Point, without any climbing or scrambling.
What is the Tyrolean Traverse at Lost Arrow Spire?
It's a rope line rigged between the spire's tip and the main valley rim, famous in highlining history since Scott Balcom's first crossing in 1985 and Dean Potter's unroped crossing in 2003.
Who made the first ascent of Lost Arrow Spire?
Ax Nelson and John Salathé completed the first true ascent in 1947 via the five-day Lost Arrow Chimney route, a climb still listed among the Fifty Classic Climbs of North America.
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