Middle Cathedral Rock

Middle Cathedral Rock is the middle summit of the Cathedral Rocks group on Yosemite Valley's south wall, directly across the Valley from El Capitan. Its granite faces rise up to 1,800 feet above the Valley floor from a base spanning roughly three-quarters of a mile, with a summit elevation of 6,648 feet. This isn't a hiking destination — there's no maintained trail to the top — but it's one of Yosemite's most storied climbing walls, and worth knowing as a landmark even if you never rope up.

A Climbing Landmark Since the 1930s

Cathedral Rocks was the site of some of the earliest serious rock climbing in the Sierra Nevada, and Middle Cathedral has stayed a proving ground ever since. Its East Buttress route is included in the classic climbing text Fifty Classic Climbs of North America, and lines like the Central Pillar of Frenzy draw experienced climbers from around the world. Routes here run long, often requiring a full day and multiple roped pitches, and are suited to seasoned parties only — not a casual scramble.

Seeing It Without Climbing It

• There is no hiking trail to the summit; reaching the top requires multi-pitch roped rock climbing.
• The formation is easy to spot from the Valley floor — look south, opposite El Capitan, for a tall granite wall with three distinct high points: Higher, Middle, and Lower Cathedral Rocks.
• For general visitors, it's best appreciated as a scenic landmark to photograph from the Valley rather than a hike to attempt.