![]() The Mist Trail, which leads to the top of spectacular Vernal Fall, is one of the most popular hikes in the park. View of Nevada Fall | Photo Copyright: Lana Law Mist Trail to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall You can apply for seven different dates for a maximum of six hikers. Two fees are charged: one for the application and a second for the actual permit, if you are successful. You will need to apply two days in advance from the day you would like to hike. In addition to the preseason lottery, each day approximately 50 day permits are issued, again via a lottery system. Permits are issued via an online preseason lottery system each March. Only 300 hikers are allowed beyond this point each day (225 day hikers and 75 backpackers). Permits are required for this hike beyond the Sub Dome area. Outside of this season, the cables are removed. You can only reach the peak from about Memorial Day to Columbus Day. The park has prepared a video on the Half Dome hike, so visitors know what they're getting into before they attempt it. The final section of the hike up the backside of Half Dome is so steep and exposed, the park has installed cables to make the climb possible.īut even the hike up Sub Dome, to reach the cables, is serious work, with extremely steep and exposed terrain. The trail starts out following the route of some of the other popular hikes in the park, beginning on the Mist Trail, up to Vernal Fall, and beyond to Nevada Fall. The Half Dome trail is an all-day hike for people who are in good physical shape. This famous hike is a challenging trail, and it requires some advance planning, but if you have the time and energy, it's worth tackling. If your idea of a great hike involves a 12-hour, 14-mile round-trip trek, massive elevation gain, cables, and something to write home about, this is the hike for you. The hike up Half Dome, another of Yosemite's iconic sites, is a bucket-list hike, best suited to adventurous hikers. You can choose from beginner, intermediate, or advanced level hikes. If you are interested in hiking but don't want to tackle longer hikes by yourself, you might want to consider looking into a guided hiking excursion at Yosemite. From Columbia Rocks, you can get a great view down the valley, and another half-mile trail takes you to a great view of Upper Yosemite Falls. This is still a moderately demanding hike, with a series of switchbacks. The less strenuous hike to Columbia Rock takes you up only 1,000 feet and can be done in two to three hours, round-trip. This hike has long drop-offs, but most exposed sections have guard-rails or railings to grasp on the inside. Total time for this hike ranges from about six to eight hours. The falls are at their best in the spring, when the amount of water flowing over the ridge is at its peak. The hike to the top of Yosemite Falls involves a heart-pounding, 2,700-foot elevation gain over a series of switchbacks, to a spectacular lookout, where you can also view the falls from above and the river that feeds it. You can hike 7.2 miles round-trip to the top of Yosemite Falls or opt for a two-mile round-trip hike to Columbia Rock. Hikers can get a close-up look at the falls, along with excellent views over Yosemite Valley from the Yosemite Falls Trail. This is the highest falls in North America, and it is truly one of the most striking sights in the park. The showpiece of Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Falls is like a visual magnet that practically calls out to hikers as you drive through the valley. Yosemite Falls Trail | Photo Copyright: Lana Law See also: Where to Stay near Yosemite National Park 1. Visitors can park at Half Dome Village or Yosemite Village and access the shuttle to reach trailheads and sites.įor a closer look at the trails, see our list of the best hikes in Yosemite National Park. From late spring until fall, the hikes along Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road are open and take some of the pressure off the hiking trails in the valley.Ī shuttle bus service operates in the valley. Trails here, particularly the shortest, are almost always busy. Yosemite Valley is open year-round for hiking, although some areas are inaccessible in winter. Yosemite is home to one of the most challenging day hikes in the park's system (Half Dome Trail) but also offers wheelchair accessibility to the base of Yosemite Falls, its most symbolic feature. For hikers, this World Heritage Site is a playground of unparalleled proportion and perfect for all levels of ability. We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )įamed for its waterfalls and granite walls, Yosemite National Park is home to some of the most iconic natural wonders in America.
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