Medlicott Dome

Medlicott Dome is one of Tuolumne Meadows' biggest granite domes, rising to 9,665 feet along Tioga Road (CA-120) between Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows. It's best known as a premier Yosemite high-country climbing crag, with a dense concentration of routes on clean, low-angle granite — but a use trail also lets strong hikers scramble to the summit for wide views over the surrounding domes and lakes.

A Tuolumne Climbing Classic

The dome holds a huge number of mostly bolted face routes, from moderate slab climbs to some of the boldest testpieces in the park. Popular routes include Shagadellic (5.8), Goldmember (5.9), and Super Chicken (5.9). Experienced climbers come specifically for the notoriously runout Bachar-Yerian (5.11c R/X), while Peace (5.13c/d) on the dome's right side — first bolted by Ron Kauk — is regarded as the hardest face climb in Tuolumne.

Getting There

Park in the small pullout north of Low Profile Dome along Tioga Road, then follow the climber's trail east to the Tenaya Lake Trail before cutting uphill on a marked path to the base. Reaching the summit itself involves class 3 scrambling — roughly 2.8 miles round trip with about 836 feet of gain, taking 1.5 to 2 hours. This isn't a casual stroll: it's steep, exposed granite, better suited to confident hikers than families with small kids.

When to Go

Medlicott Dome is accessible once Tioga Road opens for the season and the high country dries out, typically summer through early fall. Afternoon thunderstorms build quickly in Tuolumne during summer, and these slab faces turn into running water with little warning — start early and watch the sky. Even on busy park weekends, Medlicott stays notably quiet compared to Yosemite Valley's crowds.