Parka

Yosemite National Park hiking guide

Half Dome Trail

A 16.5-mile out-and-back with 5,030 ft of climbing in Glacier Point, rated extreme.

Half Dome Trail, Yosemite National Park
Photo: Dan Harrelson · CC BY 2.0

Key facts

Length
16.5 mi (26.6 km)
Elevation gain
5,030 ft (1,532 m)
Route type
Out and back
Difficulty
Extreme
Area
Glacier Point
Highest point
8,835 ft
Lowest point
4,027 ft

About Half Dome Trail

This iconic trail leads through lush forests and past waterfalls like Vernal and Nevada Falls, culminating in a steep ascent via cables to the summit. The hike offers panoramic views of Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra, but requires physical stamina and preparation due to its challenging terrain.

Route map

Route map of Half Dome Trail in Yosemite National Park1 miN
Start and finishNorth is up. Drawn from the route in the Parka app.

This route was checked by Parka editors.

Elevation profile

Elevation profile of Half Dome Trail4,0006,0008,000051015Distance (miles)Elevation (ft)High 8,835 ftLow 4,027 ft
Elevation runs from 4,027 ft to 8,835 ft over 16.1 miles of mapped route. The profile is sampled from elevation data along the route.

Nearby in Glacier Point

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