Round-trip mileage: 7.0 mi, 2,700′ elevation change. The Mist Trail begins just a short distance from the Happy Isles Bridge in Yosemite Valley. It’s about nourishment and learning. At the top of the Mist Trail (by another bathroom), turn right on John Muir Trail (Half Dome is to the left) and hike a quarter mile to the top of Nevada Fall. In order to avoid slipping, shoes with good traction are necessary. Permit: In order to climb the cables and the Sub-Dome, you must attain a permit from the National Park Service. The views up there are unreal but if you're day hiking it like we did, the light for photographs is quite harsh and I didn't get many good photos from the top. The end of the Half Dome Trail in Yosemite with cables to help hikers. © 2021 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. There is always a Park Ranger standing at the bottom of the Sub-Dome checking hikers' permits. The red line marks the route of the Mist Trail, which will take you (if only! Each has its advantages and disadvantages. After about a 3 mile hike you will find yourself at the base of Half Dome where you will see two parallel cables pretty much going vertical. The first mile of the trail is paved and almost entirely uphill. We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. We used gloves (brought our own, used some $5 work gloves with rubber grip) but didn't clip in. From here, it is a half-mile walk down a service … Climbing the cables without a harness is certainly doable, but it never hurts to add an extra element of safety to a dangerous endeavor. We hiked down the Muir Trail. Grab some gloves from a pile left at the base of the dome … When going downwards, I found it easier to go face down holding onto both right and left cables then letting myself slide down to each wooden step by releasing my grip just slightly and leaning backwards. After Nevada Falls you will start to make your climb towards Half Dome. Hiking to the top of such an iconic peak is a special experience. In addition, the national park recommends a minimum of four liters of water for this hike. The trail continues to get steeper as it follows a large set of stairs that enter the close vicinity of the falls. At the summit, soak in the beauty of the awe-inspiring valley, and fuel yourself for the long, downhill trek back to the trailhead. We tracked 19 miles round trip but some trails were one way because of covid so that added some miles but worth it to see things we wouldn’t of seen otherwise. You'll Pass Vernal Falls and Little Yosemite Valley Campground en route to summit Half Dome. Map: Half Dome (via the Mist Trail) Note: While viewing the map, click on the map to return to this page. After Nevada Falls you will start to make your climb towards Half Dome. The Mist Trail is one of the most popular hiking trails in Yosemite National Park. Beautiful views. Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. This hike is absolutely amazing. Checking wind conditions and starting early in the morning are essential so you can beat any crowds on the trail and get as high as possible before the heat settles in. Nearly a mile of elevation gain and 14 miles round trip is serious. Find hikes, backpacking, photo spots, and more around Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Valley to Red's Meadow (58 miles). For those who are motivated for a full-day of hiking there’s arguably not a better trail to showcase the park’s natural treasures. Before attempting the hike, there are a few items that are necessary in order to ascend the cables to the summit: The planning, preparation and strenuousness required on the hike to Half Dome provides every hiker with the reward of possibly the most stunning panoramic view in Yosemite National Park. The Mist Trail is commonly used as the first leg of the hike up Half Dome. Grant Ordelheide A Yosemite rite of passage for experienced hikers, the 14- or 16-mile round-trip up the iconic 8,839-foot granite peak is a physical and mental challenge—near the top, you’ll have to conquer a very steep, exposed 400-foot section laced with metal cables. About 0.2 miles beyond the footbridge, the Mist Trail an... To thru hike the JMT is probably one of the sickest trips to do! Hikers gain 4,800 feet of elevation along the trail that passes highlights such as Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall, before reaching the cables on Half Dome’s steep granite domes. There's a sweet spot in thru hiking ... First things first. The average duration of the hike is typically 10 to 12 hours, but it could easily take longer due to the strenuous nature of the hike. Make sure you remember your permits for the cables (and your gloves). This trail is also one of the most popular in the whole park which means huge crowds of people so its best to get an early start! It was definitely a bit on the scary side but as long as you're careful, focused, and take your time, you'll be fine. For now, marvel at the Mist Trail he constructed up to the cliff. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. Applications for the lottery are accepted from March 1 through March 31 (to hike Half Dome the following summer). An alternative is to take the John Muir trail which adds about 1 mile to your trip each way but will allow you to see both waterfalls without getting soaked. The Great American Backpacking Bucket List: 33 Must-Do Treks, A Guide to Camping on the Northern Oregon Coast. It is, by far, the steepest and most dangerous part of the trail; you will be hiking up a wall of rock that is 46 degrees steep at some parts. Trail-goers endure sickness, fatigue and dehydration to get to the top of the Half Dome’s 8,836-foot-high crown. It is important to be patient and cooperative in order to make it safe for yourself and everybody else on the route. Half Dome permits can be obtained at recreation.gov through a permit lottery. An alternative approach is to go to Glacier Point and take the Panorama Trail to the top of Nevada Falls. Elevation Gain: 5,400ft / 1,620m – Elevation Loss: 5,400ft / 1,620m The famous Half Dome cables lead hikers 400 feet up the side of the granite face. Be sure to arrive early early in the morning to beat the crowds or if you want to break up the hike, first-come, first served campsites are available at Little Yosemite Valley Campground - make sure to check out the details in that adventure and obtain a wilderness permit. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. This hike should be a bucket list trip for any outdoor enthusiast. Take advantage of the flat ground because once the uphill starts again, it does not stop until you reach the summit of Half Dome. Without gloves, it is possible that the severe friction from the cables will cause your hands to blister and bleed. Soon you will be high enough on the trail to see stunning views of Yosemite Valley, waterfalls, and Half Dome. But once we got back I decided I definitely want to do it again. It’s about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. The seven-mile route on the way to the Half Dome landmark spans across the Mist Trail. From the start, the trail is very steep. This stretch is 2.6 miles (4.2 km) long and climbs 2,000 feet (600 meters). I think its different for everyone and you wouldn't know until you tried it. The long, very strenuous, challenging, and incredibly scenic day trip to one of the most iconic and sought-after summits in America begins with ascending the Mist Trail through the shower constantly raining down from 317-foot Vernal Fall and below thunderous, 594-foot Nevada Fall. Sit beside the pool above the waterfall or venture … Parking. Deaths on the trail to Half Dome, rather than on Half Dome itself, are usually above Nevada or Vernal Falls, and usually occur when someone wades into the the water above the falls or slips off rocks into the water and gets swept away. A series of paved switchbacks take you about three-quarters of the way up the peak. About 5 minutes in you will start your ascent. However, it is no easy feat to get there. No hike in the country really compares with Yosemite’s Half Dome. Since April is still a little early for Half Dome hikes, we were advised by the friendly Lasting Adventures team (thank you Scott) to do the Mist and Panorama Trail up to Glacier Point and to hike back down to Curry Village via 4-Mile Trail. You will begin hiking on a paved path that consistently gains elevation. And for good reason: the Half Dome hike is one of the world’s premier day hikes, complete with waterfalls, a river valley, mountain forests, and the crown jewel: Half Dome itself. Actually tried to get in 2 months later when I took another trip there but unfortunately didn’t get in. Alternatively, you can choose to hike up John Muir and down Mist Trail or go up and down the same trail. Then take the trail to the top of HD. The length and difficulty of the trail used to keep it less crowded than other park trails, but in recent years the trail … The trail crosses Illilouette Fall after 2 miles (3.2 km) and continues partially uphill along the Panorama Cliff. The trail is, however, incredibly slick. Up-close sights of waterfalls. In fact, when the granite is wet due to rain, the cable route is almost unclimbable. Keep an eye on the weather when hiking. Doing the cables in the midst of a storm is unsafe. From the Mirror Lake trailhead (shuttle stop #17), it is 0.9 miles to the Snow Creek trailhead and 1.7 miles to the Snow Creek overlook where you can cam... Backpack to Little Yosemite Valley Campsite and Hike Half Dome. Shortest route to Half Dome. There is an another option for hiking Half Dome and that is John Muir Trail but it is comparatively longer, so the Mist trail is better option. You could be crazy and start hiking around midnight to arrive in time for sunrise, but hiking in the dark is not advised unless you're very experienced. Day 4 At 1,000 feet (300 meters) you will reach the top of Vernal Falls and at about 1,900 feet (580 meters) you will be a the top of Nevada Falls. The sub dome is a glorified, mini granite dome that is connected to the back of Half Dome and serves to destroy your legs before you reach the cables. This is a hike you have to do at least once. If you still want to go this route, make sure to bring a change of socks, clothing and ideally something to cover your pack. We hiked it in a day from the Mist Trailhead. As you hike along the Mist Trail you will come across two amazing water falls. Half Dome Half Dome will be completed either in the afternoon on Day 3 to catch the sunset, or the following morning with an alpine start to catch the sunrise. The top of Nevada Falls has a restroom and is a great area to take a break, have a snack and fuel your body for the latter portion of the hike. We started at 5am and got back at 7pm, and spent about an hour at the top of Half Dome. Let me be honest with you... you will be exhausted from the never ending miles of literal stairs and the nearly 5000ft of elevation gain BUT once you get to the base of the sub dome... more stairs.. your adrenaline will spike and you won’t even think of the stairs cause you’ll be distracted by the incredible views on the way up and the excitement of climbing the cables. Remember his name. That being said, the reward is incredible - I still feel like it's one of my biggest outdoor accomplishments. There are two trails that lead to the top of Half Dome. The Mist Trail is a fantastic half day hike taking in spectacular Yosemite scenery. Once you reach Half Dome and finish your climb, take a moment to take it all in. 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