Wawona Dome

Wawona Dome rises to 6,897 feet above the Wawona area in Yosemite's south end, the granite backdrop you see across Wawona Meadow and from the upper reaches of Chilnualna Falls. It's not a trail Yosemite signs or maintains to the top — reaching the summit means combining the maintained Chilnualna Falls Trail with a use-trail scramble across open granite, and it's an outing built for hikers who are comfortable navigating without a marked path.

The Route

Start at the Chilnualna Falls Trailhead in Wawona and follow the maintained trail up past the falls. From near the top of the falls, a use-trail continues cross-country toward the dome's summit. Round trip to the top runs about 11 miles with roughly 3,600 feet of elevation gain — a full day for most hikers, and one best started early.

What You'll Find

• Sweeping views of the Wawona basin and the high country once you're out on the open granite near the summit
• Slabs and faces popular with rock climbers — you may share the dome with parties working established routes
• Little shade or maintained tread once you leave the Chilnualna Falls Trail, so route-finding matters more here than on a standard signed hike

Before You Go

This isn't a beginner's hike. Carry a map or GPS track, start early to leave a margin for the unmarked section, and treat the open granite with the same caution you'd use on any exposed rock — it's easy to lose the informal path in both directions. Chilnualna Falls itself, lower on the same trail, makes a satisfying shorter goal if the full dome isn't the day's plan.