In this blog, you’ll find all the information, advice, pictures, and videos needed to conquer the best hike in the United States, Half Dome. The iconic hike located in beautiful Yosemite National Park is nothing short of breathtaking. A vigorous climb that’s worth every step.
The trail starting from Yosemite Valley to Half dome stretches 14.8 miles and results in 5,164 feet of elevation gain. For decades this magnificent structure has drawn crowds from across the world to conquer the climb or simply marvel in its existence.
In June of 2018, My family and I had the privilege to travel across the country from Maryland to California for the sole purpose to hike Half Dome. In this guide, I’ll tell you everything you’ll need to know about Half Dome and how to come out on top (literally). From hiking permits to brand of gloves for the Half Dome Cables, we’ll cover it all.
Planning Your Trip:
First things first, plan your trip to Yosemite National Park. So, when is the best time to visit Yosemite National Park?
The best time to visit Yosemite National Park really depends on what you’re looking for. One of Yosemite’s biggest attractions is the incredible waterfalls. If you’re like me and want to see these waterfalls at their full power, visiting Yosemite in the spring, ideally May or June, will be the optimal time. Around this time the snowmelt from the surrounding mountains occurs creating some of the most powerful waterfalls you’ve ever seen.
In 2018, the average temperature in May was 71 degrees and 81 degrees in June. In my opinion, June is the best time of year to go to Yosemite as the temperatures aren’t too high, the waterfalls are roaring, and the wildflowers are blooming. To view the daily Yosemite weather last year, as well as the predicted weather for this year, click here.
When visiting Yosemite National Park and deciding where to stay, you have two questions to answer:
Where to Stay in Yosemite National Park?
Are you looking to stay in a hotel or camp? And do you want to stay inside Yosemite Valley or outside of Yosemite Valley? To learn more about my lodging experience and my advice for you, check out my blog about where to stay in Yosemite National Park.
How to get Half Dome Permits in 2020:
In order to protect wilderness character, reduce crowding, protect wildlife, and improve safety, the park implemented the Half Dome lottery system in 2010 that allows a maximum of 300 hikers per day beyond the base of the subdome and to scale the Half Dome cables.
When does Half Dome open? Each year the cables go up around Memorial Day and are taken down around Columbus Day. This year, the cables are scheduled to go up on May 22, 2020. Remember, in order to reach the top of Half Dome, you MUST have a permit.
So, how do you get Half Dome permits?
There are two ways to obtain Half Dome permits, through the preseason Half Dome lottery and the daily Half Dome lottery.
The application period for the preseason Half Dome lottery begins March 1st and ends March 31st. Regardless of when you want to hike Half Dome, you must apply during this window. When filling out the preseason application you can apply for up to 6 permits for 7 different dates. Each application requires a team leader, if a team leader applies multiple times, all your applications will be removed from the Half Dome lottery. The same process pertains for the daily Half Dome lottery but instead of applying in March you will apply two days before your anticipated Half Dome hike.
Half Dome and National Parks, in general, have been growing in popularity as of late. In 2014, there was a 45% chance you would be awarded a Half Dome permit. The following year in 2015, that number decreased to 35%. Then in 2016, the number again decreased to 25%. Finally, in 2017, there were 26,963 applications, the success rate was an abysmal 19%.
Half Dome permits are not guaranteed and they cannot be purchased, but there is a way to increase your chances.
Timing is everything. If possible, apply for Half Dome permits for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. There are many fewer applications for these days compared to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. But, if Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is your only availability, well, good luck.
You can apply for the daily Half Dome lottery on recreation.gov, or by calling 877-444-6777.
There is a $10, non-refundable fee to apply for a Half Dome day hiking permit.
If you receive a permit, there is an additional $10 per person fee (refundable if you cancel).
Recreation.gov provides incredibly valuable data covering the best time of year and days to apply for a permit. To view that data click here.
*NEW* 2020 HALF DOME LOTTERY TIPS & RULES UPDATE:
NPS has revised the Half Dome Lottery rules due to the number of applications they receive each year. Applicant names can no longer appear on multiple applications. Meaning, applicants may be a permit holder (trip leader) or alternate only once on only one application during the preseason Half Dome lottery.
If you call the Half Dome lottery support phone line, they’ll give you the same tips and information they gave me. When applying for permits, each person in your group may apply as the team leader once and you’re not required to list an alternate. This way you can each apply separately as team leaders to double your chances.
If you aren’t one of the lucky ones awarded a permit to hike Half Dome, don’t worry, there’s plenty more that Yosemite has to offer, including the famous Clouds Rest hike. Many consider Clouds Rest the best hike in Yosemite National Park. Yes, even better than Half Dome. If you’re interested in Clouds Rest and need a Half Dome back up plan, check out my guide to hiking Clouds Rest from Tenaya Lake.
How I Got a Half Dome Permit:
Back in March of 2018, I was the only one who applied for my group and we were not awarded permits. I remember applying March 1st at 12:01 AM for four different days that we would be in Yosemite. April came around and I got the email, “Half Dome permit unsuccessful”. I was crushed, we had already booked our flights and Airbnb.
Now our only hope was the daily Half Dome lottery.
With our trip only a month away I called the recreation.gov phone number for guidance. After explaining the situation, I asked what gives my group the best chance to win Half Dome Permits. They confirmed that everyone in your group may apply for permits as long as one person does not apply more than once as the designated team leader. The recreation.gov website doesn’t advertise this method; however, it is acceptable, and I would encourage you to call and hear for yourself.
We all agreed that we would attempt the daily Half Dome lottery once and hope for the best. This time all 5 of us applied for Half Dome permits increasing our odds of being selected. As we loaded up our car at 3 AM before driving to the airport we all checked our emails, unsuccessful, unsuccessful, unsuccessful, unsuccessful, and…… successful!
Hiking Without a Permit:
If you decide to hike Half Dome without a permit, you’ll only be able to reach the bottom of subdome. On most days, there will be a Park Ranger checking Half Dome permits before allowing you to continue up the subdome. However, many hikers will hike to subdome and wait to see if anyone has an extra permit or if someone in a group decides not to continue up the cables. Plenty of hikers will wait to see if they can find a permit, so if you plan on doing this, make sure you get to the subdome bright and early!
What to Pack:
Now that you have your permits, you’re almost ready to hike Half Dome. When packing for this full-day hike, there are a few essentials everyone should bring.
#1 Water
The National Park Service recommends a gallon of water per hiker. A water filter is excellent, but the last reliable water source is about halfway through the Half Dome trail. I can tell you firsthand how valuable every drop of water is when you don’t pack enough. Play it safe and pack an extra bottle just in case.
#2 Hiking Shoes
Hiking shoes are crucial if you’re scaling the Half Dome cables. The rock face has worn after hundreds of thousands of hikers have climbed Half Dome throughout the years. As you ascend and especially descend the cables, you’ll want to have a pair of hiking shoes with exceptional traction and support.
#3 Gloves
A pair of gloves are equally important as hiking shoes when climbing up the Half Dome cables. You’ll want to have a good grip when going up the cables. Upper body strength will be a factor as the angle of the cables require you to pull yourself as you climb. A pair of gloves with a good grip makes a tremendous difference, and I absolutely recommend bringing a pair with you. Here’s is a link to the gloves that my group and I brought with us that worked great.
#4 Sunscreen
The sun can be brutal, depending on the day. Especially when you reach the subdome and climb Half Dome. As you approach the subdome the trees open up, leaving you completely exposed to the sun the rest of the hike to the top of Half Dome. I can tell you first hand that not wearing sunscreen is not a wise move. Nothing can ruin your time at a place as beautiful as Yosemite, but severe sunburn can almost.
#5 Food
Once again, this is a 10-14 hour hike. Make sure you bring some food to keep your energy up. There are plenty of areas to take a break along the Half Dome trail and take in the beautiful views.
#6 Headlamp or Flashlight
On average, it takes 12 hours to complete this hike. Many people underestimate this time, start late, and have to finish the hike in the dark.
#7 Trash Bag
Make sure you pack out all of your trash and keep outdoors clean and beautiful.
#8 Half Dome Permits
Of course, bring your Half Dome permits with you on the hike. You can print your permits or show them from your phone, just make sure your battery survives the hike. There will be a park ranger checking permits at the bottom of Sub Dome.
You may also want to consider bringing hiking poles and a harness and clips for the Half Dome cables. Although I’ve never used hiking poles, I’ve heard great things, and it can certainly make a full day hike like Half Dome a little easier. I also didn’t use a harness and clips for the cables, but plenty of others did. If you don’t have a ton of hiking or climbing experience, I would recommend bringing these along with you.
Where to Park Before Hiking Half Dome:
Most hikers, including myself, begin hiking Half Dome from Happy Isles (bus stop #16). If you plan on using the shuttle bus, just know that this service does not begin until 7 AM. The Happy Isles parking lot is about 1/2 mile from the trailhead and as close as you can get. If this parking lot is full, you can also park Half Dome Village, which is about 3/4 mile from the trailhead.
Half Dome Hike Overview:
Before you begin this hike, I recommend downloading the All Trails app on your phone. This app is fantastic, and I use it for every hike that I do. The app acts as a GPS to show you where you’re at on the trail, how far you’ve hiked so far, and how much you’ve got left. Those who have hiked the trail before provide their advice, pictures, and ranking on a scale of one to five stars. You can check the Half Dome trail on All Trails to get do some research and get a better idea of the trail.
We began the hike in Yosemite Valley and took the classic route to the top of Half Dome. Although there are other routes, including Glacier Point and Clouds Rest, we’ll focus on the most common. From Yosemite Valley, we reached the trailhead and began the hike up the famous Mist Trail. If you’re like us and started the hike early, I would recommend bringing a rain jacket or a poncho. They don’t call it Mist Trail for nothing; you will get wet if you go during the summer when the waterfalls are roaring, and it may be cold in the morning depending on the day. Once you reach the top of Vernal Fall, you will continue to Nevada Fall. Check out my video climbing the Mist Trail stairs below.
Vernal Fall to Nevada Fall:
Once you’re at the top of Vernal Fall, take a minute to take a picture of this iconic spot. From here, you’ll hike about 2 miles through tranquil forests and up more stairs alongside another incredible waterfall. Once you reach the top of Nevada Fall, the trail will split; you’ll want to take the trail on the left to continue up to Half Dome.
Nevada Fall to the Sub Dome:
From Nevada Fall, you’ll have about a mile and a half of flat and easy trail to follow. Take this time to catch your breath and prepare for the final summit push. You’ll pass Little Yosemite Valley on your right, here is where most backpackers will stay the night. This is also the last available bathroom for the rest of the hike.
Once you pass Little Yosemite Valley, you’ll start a steady uphill trail taking you to the subdome. At this point in the hike, you’ll finally be able to see Half Dome through the trees.
The subdome is comprised of hundreds of stairs before you reach the Half Dome cables. These stairs can be exhausting; I’d recommend taking a break once or twice up the Sub Dome to catch your breath but also to take in the view. Check out my video showing the climb up the subdome stairs below.
At the top of the subdome you’ll see the notorious Half Dome cables up close and personal. Take a minute to get prepared for the final ascent.
The Half Dome Cables:
It can take you anywhere from a couple of minutes to an hour climb the Half Dome cables, it all depends on how many other people are on the cables and the speed at which you feel comfortable. When we went, the cables were fairly congested with a lot of people coming down as we were going up. It took us about 30 minutes to get to the top of Half Dome. Check out my ascent up the Half Dome cables below.
I won’t sugar coat it; this climb can be very intimidating and challenging. Make sure you’re physically and mentally prepared before you begin. The incline is steep and will require you to use your upper body strength to hold on to the cables and pull yourself forward as you climb. This climb is challenging, but the satisfaction and view that you get at the summit makes it all worth it.
Climbing Down the Half Dome Cables:
Everyone has their own preference, but I found it easier to walk backwards down the cables. Take your time as you descend and be careful as others may be climbing up as you’re going down.
Safety Tips:
Watch Your Step
Slipping on wet rocks, especially while on the Mist Trail, is one of the most common reasons for Search & Rescue calls. Take your time and be careful.
Be Aware of Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms can appear unexpectedly. Therefore, be sure to check the weather forecast before your hike. If there is even a chance of rain or thunderstorms. DO NOT climb to the top of Half Dome. The last place you want to be during a thunderstorm is thousands of feet in the air, completely exposed, and in the proximity of metal cables.
Do Not Get in the Water Above Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall
This should be obvious, but every so often someone will swim in the pools above the falls and get swept away to their death. Stay out of the water.
Final Thoughts:
Half Dome is an experience like none other. If you have the chance to visit Yosemite National Park and are up for the challenge, do it! You’ll be able to say that you’ve completed one of the best hikes in the world. Make sure you take the proper precautions and don’t push your limits. Stay safe and good luck!
