14.2 mi
Distance
4,800 ft
Elev. Gain
11h
Est. Time
Out & Back
Route Type
Expert
Difficulty
About This Trail
We don't publish a description for Half Dome unless we can point you at the agency it came from. We don't have one yet. The planning figures above — distance, elevation gain, estimated time, route type — come from the source listed on this trail.
National Park Service manages this trail and is the authority for conditions, closures and route notes. See official sources below. Spot something we should add?
Trail Conditions
Trail Conditions
Updated Apr 19, 2026 — may be out of date
No recent condition reports. Be the first to share what you see on the trail.
Hazards & Warnings
Trail Details
- No dogs
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Surface
- Mixed Surface
Permit required
Apply through the issuing agency. Many systems run seasonal lotteries or fixed application windows — confirm current dates on the agency page.
A permit is required to hike to the top of Half Dome whenever the cables are up, seven days a week. Day-hike permits are distributed by lottery through Recreation.gov, with a preseason lottery in March and daily lotteries during the hiking season. The cables normally go up the Friday before Memorial Day and come down the day after the second Monday in October. Check the permit page for current lottery dates.
Official sources & verification
Managed by National Park Service
Reserve or permit
- Apply for permit
Required permit application for this trail. Many systems run seasonal lotteries or fixed application windows — confirm current dates here.
Source of truth
- Agency source page
The page our published rules and notes are derived from.
- Yosemite pets
National Park Service
- National Park Service unit page
Alerts, conditions, and the unit's plan-your-visit page.
Where it is
- Nearest town:
- Yosemite Valley, CA · in or next to town
- County:
- Mariposa County, CA
- Jurisdiction:
- Yosemite National Park · National Park Service
Nearest town and county from U.S. Census Bureau place records and county boundaries.
Verify by phone or mail
- Operator:209-372-0200
- Address:9039 Village Drive · Yosemite, CA · 95389
Highlights
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your experience and help others plan their visit.
Hand-curated
Nearby Trails
More trails near Half Dome
Mist Trail to Vernal Fall
Stock Trail
Nevada Falls
Vernal Falls and Clark Point via Mist and John Muir Loop
Glacier Point Apron Approach
Happy Isles Fen Boardwalk
In this park
Other trails in Yosemite National Park
Mist Trail to Vernal Fall
California
Yosemite Falls Trail
California
Clouds Rest
California
Panorama Trail
California
Four Mile Trail
California
Mirror Lake Loop
California
Stay nearby
Campgrounds near this trail
Similar length
Similar trails in California
Mount Whitney Trail
California
Yosemite Falls Trail
California
Mount Shasta via Avalanche Gulch Route
California
Clouds Rest
California
Panorama Trail
California
Four Mile Trail
California