Half Dome — Local services in Oakhurst

Before starting this hike I think most people look up and just assume like I did the most mental and physically challenging portion of the hike comes from the ascending and descending Half Dome Itself and for many this maybe true but in reality there are a lot of other factors easily overshadowed by what we consider to be the climate of this hike. Water is definitely a serious factor in how easy and enjoyable this hike will be for you so plan well by bringing plenty of water and also have a water filter to replenish your supply along the way. Once you pass Little Yosemite Valley(roughly the halfway point) there are no other water sources so with about 9 miles total (there and back down) before you, make sure you have enough water. The next huge factor I think most commonly under estimated is the distance and terrain. This is not an easy hike even for experienced fit hikers so being prepared for that in advance will help you in the end.

We decided to breakup this hike into two day sections. Day one at 4:30pm, we started our hike from Half Dome parking lot and set out to Little Yosemite Valley roughly 4 miles away via the Mist trail where we camped for the night. Day two we hiked up to Half Dome and then back down via the JMT. Without getting to deep into details the Mist trail is a shorter alternative to the JMT and considered a more scenic trail because you pass by Vernal & Nevada falls, however it’s much more physically challenging due to the amount of foot traffic you’ll encounter, the steeper incline and how narrow the trail is at times. It’s especially challenging if you’re packing in gear like we were. If you hike the Mist Trail then be prepared to ascend at a much greater rate up sketchy granite steps with loose wet gravel that makes it easy to lose your footing and balance while constantly allowing hikers from the opposite direction to get around you. Once you reach the top of Nevada falls traffic thins out considerably but the trail remains equally as challenging.

From day 2 we continued our hike upwards where we encountered very little foot traffic because we beat the daily rush of hikers heading up from the valley who intended on completing the hike in a signal day. After about another 4 mile hike up to the base of sub dome we were met and greeted by the park ranger who asked us to show her our permit and after we received the typical run down on the do’s and don’ts we were on our way up sub dome which is a jagged obstacle course of steps and slopes w/o any protective measures taken at all to assist so it’s wise to take this section very seriously and to be careful. 30 minutes later and after a short break we began ascending the Half Dome cables. Yes I will admit it looks extremely intimidating but if you go at your own pace that you feel comfortable with it’s not nearly as bad as it looks. At the top you finally realize why you risked life and limb to reach this point and you can take as much time as you’d like to awe at your surroundings. Heading back down the same rules apply, just take it slow and easy. Don’t let yourself get all psyched out about going down because everyone works well to help each other almost instinctively and understandably to allow passerbyers advice safely.

As intimidating of an experience as this might be, it’s the triumph over ones fears and self that marks the true adventurer within us. I witnessed overweight people absolutely determined not to be imprisoned by their own physical shape and I won’t lie it almost brought me to tears knowing the torture they were in while at the same time admiring and wishing if I were ever confronted with the same level of challenges as them that I could be half as strong as they were when our paths crossed. This is an experience for anyone with the heart to achieve it

Update: Just days after our visit a young woman fell to her death. My heart goes out to her and her family. It’s a sad day for us all and I’m deeply sorry...

Hands down one of my favorite hikes! Can't think of anything not to like about this hike except that the permit to go up the Half Dome cables can be difficult to obtain. The cables are put up around May-October and permits are based on a lottery system (applications are accepted in March & results are released in April), however, a certain number of tickets are set aside each day while the cables are up. We were lucky that we met a very friendly lady during the hike who helped us to find a family that had extra spots on their permit. The park ranger stationed at the base of the final approach up the dome actually encouraged people to partner up with folks who had extra spots so they don't go to waste!

The hike is 14-16 miles roundtrip and takes you past some pretty stunning views of Vernal and Nevada Falls. I highly recommend starting this hike early because it can get pretty hot during the day. We started just before sunrise with about 3 liters of water each and lots and lots of snacks and energy gu. The steepness of the trail varied from time to time but it's uphill for the most part. Like any long-distance hiking trail, your level of fitness will greatly affect how enjoyable the hike will be for you. I do not recall the total elevation gain, but I think this is a moderately difficult hike (compared to a strenuous one) due to the elevation gain over the long distance of travel. Additionally, there are plenty of areas to stop & catch your breath while enjoying some pretty amazing views! Not to mention, we saw plenty of kids and people of all ages complete the hike to the base of the summit. Don't get discouraged by the distance! A nice surprise awaits you at Vernal Falls where you will be greeted by a nice misty treat.

Advice for going up the cables: Wear shoes that have good grip at the bottom. Do not wear your nice gloves, the cables will destroy the outer shell. A pair of garden gloves will work just fine. Be patient and do your best to allow others to pass if you are going too slow.

There was a pretty big bottle neck when I went up the cables. Apparently there was an older individual who was having a tough time with the elevation and steepness of the climb. To be honest, I'm surprised the National Park Service even allow people to go up the cables without assessing their level of fitness. This can be a dangerous situation given the heat of the summer combined with altitude and sheer steepness of the rock face. The tough part was the fact that you had one line of people on the left coming down the same set of cables and another line of people trying to get up on the right side. Eventually I joined a group of guys who went outside the cables in order to go around the bottle neck and finish the final push to the top (do not recommend).

The Summit was AMAZING! Felt like I was on top of the world! There's also nothing keeping you from going to the very edge and testing your fear of heights. Words can't fully describe the experience except that it was literally breathtaking!

The hike down was much much easier. We saw a large group of people hanging out and taking a dip in the Emerald Pools. Such a tempting sight considering the heat! Eventually we got back to the campground late in the afternoon. Highly highly highly recommend this hike, even if you don't plan to climb to the top of Half Dome. Just the sights and beauty of Yosemite make this a...

We're a family of hikers (including our kids that summited Half Dome with us when they were 7 & 8 in Aug 2021 and did it again Aug 2022) so this review will not be indicative of average family hiking. However for kiddos that have a happy place out on the trail, this hike was an exceptional family activity.

Be sure to pack plenty of water as the source along the trail ends when you split away from the Merced River at Little Yosemite. We took 2.5L-3L each and, with the kids, it took 12.5hrs RT (including rest stops) to do the 17.9 mile (up the Mist Trail & back on the John Muir Trail), 4800' elevation gain to the top and back with a long break at the top of Half Dome.

I recommend hitting the trail earlier than 7am for ample time to make it up to the summit and back, although pre-dawn would be ideal to stay cool and see VIEWS of dawn. Also plan for shade or stop in the shade, even though this trail has sections that super shady. Be smart!

Parking can fill up quickly so we just stayed parked at the campground and hiked to the Happy Isles Trailhead...could bike there and leave bikes at the bike rack.

Once past the initial paved trail, you have one last stop for filtered water and there's a restroom. If you're going up the Mist Trail, this isn't the last restroom. This is where the trail splits into the Mist Trail or the John Muir Trail. Many day hikers choose to go up the beautiful Mist Trail and down the longer John Muir Trail. This is what we did because of ME...up the shorter, steep route of the Mist Trail and down the longer, gradual decline of the JMT. (But "me" is also now technically 40½ with 5 total ACL reconstruction/medial meniscus repair surgeries on both knees, breast cancer survivor, recently healed broken big toe, and a destroyed thyroid...but a determination to stay active and "use it or lose it.")

We broke the hike up into 5 sections where we planned to rest/snack up: ☝️top of Vernal Falls (take MANY granite stairs up) ✌️top of Nevada Falls (combo of switchbacks and some stairs; you can rest at the bathroom at the top or veer to the right and follow the trail to the bridge area; this is also the junction of the JMT/Mist trails) 3️⃣ end of Little Yosemite area (although this is where the trail splits away from the Merced River so you may plan an extra stop to load up on water using your water filter) 4️⃣ Sub-Dome where you meet the Ranger to check your cable permits (and YES, they check your cable permits!) DEF recommend resting before starting up the MANY, steep granite stairs up the SubDome! 🖐 Half Dome cables are next, but we don't rest here -- we rest at the TOP OF HALF DOME and enjoy the amazing views almost 9K ft up!

When you get back to the bottom...head to the Merced River and put your feet (including knees!) in the water and ENJOY 😉 celebrating your accomplishment!

Our fav #halfdometraining hikes were Upper Yosemite Falls because there's VIEWS all over, especially of Half Dome. If you can at least make it to Columbia Rock which is 2mi RT with some elevation gain, it's worth those views!! You may even see a mule deer mid-day like we did! Other fav hikes were Mt Tallac (S Lake Tahoe), but message here or @Matlock.Rock to see how we made Half Dome a...