The parking lot is located past the "Service Vehicles Only" sign and hikers are allowed to park here. Trailhead: Happy Isles Trailhead located across from Curry Village. Location: Yosemite National Park, California And right when you don't think you can physically stand anymore.you get to turn around and do it all over again downhill. All together it's a 4,800 ft elevation gain. The Half Dome summit sits at 8,842 ft and 8.2 miles from the trailhead.
Go slow, respect the two way traffic, never go outside of the chains to pass people, and don't even think about climbing if there's a chance of rain or the chains are down. Use caution and be smart when using the cables. The poles are not cemented into the rock and are more for stability than anything else. The cables are connected to 68 poles that take you up. It can take 30 minutes to an hour depending on the crowd factor for this portion. From here it's a steep climb up the chains. I found a great pair at Lowe's with a sticky rubber surface for around $5. Gloves are not required but are super recommended! There is a discarded glove pile at the base of the chains. At the top of subdome is where the chain portion of the hike begins. Don't do it!īut, for those of you who get the permit and continue on, the hike from the base of subdome to the top of subdome is another continuous uphill battle with lots of switchbacks and narrow paths. Almost every year someone dies from getting too close to the fall and going over. Note of safety: DO NOT go beyond the railing! Even when it looks simple to climb over and take photos near the water, the current is strong and the drop is steep and deadly. elevation gain to the top of Vernal Fall. From the footbridge, it's another steep climb up nearly 700 steps with an almost 1,000 ft. For the best waterfall and epic flow, springtime is best after the snow melts. I went in August during a drought and had the fortune of staying dry, but the misfortune of very scarce waterfalls. The Mist Trail is called this because most of the year, you will get misted on, if not soaked! A poncho is recommended and the steps can get incredibly slippery when wet. There is also a drinking fountain at the footbridge which is the last reliable water source that doesn't require filtering. As soon as you cross the footbridge you begin to get glimpses of the 317 ft. I arrived at the trailhead at Happy Isles at 5:00 am to get started.įrom Happy Isles it's an immediate uphill climb to the footbridge below Vernal Fall. I stayed at White Wolf Campground.about an hour away up into the mountains, so I started my day at 3:30 am in the dark. The trailhead starts next to Curry Village in the valley so staying near here is ideal for early starts. This epically long trail (14-16 miles) can take anywhere between 10-14 hours so leaving before dawn is super important to avoid hiking downhill in the dark.
#Clouds rest hike distance how to
For more information on the permit system and how to get one, click here. Note: cables go up around mid-May and come down around mid-October each year and climbing should NEVER be attempted when the cables are down. Weekdays and off-season (before Memorial Day and after Labor Day) are the best times to try. Once that lottery is closed, the only option is a daily lottery that you can submit for 2 days prior to your planned hike in hopes of one of the 50 daily permits. An annual lottery is held every year in March giving away 225 permits for each day. The permit system was put in place to eliminate bottle-necking crowds on the cables, long wait times to get up and down, and lessen the danger factor of over-crowding. Around 50,000 people climb Half Dome every year. So obviously the first point I need to make is that permits are required 7 days a week for the cables to the summit. So here is a breakdown of the hike up TO Half Dome and some facts you'll need if you're lucky enough to get to the summit! So whatever your level or desire, there are multiple hikes and stopping points along the Mist Trail and you can turn around at any time. Don't stop reading! I wanted to do this hike anyway because it's not only iconic to Yosemite, but it also passes through some amazing scenery with up close views of Vernal and Nevada Fall. When I decided to head to Yosemite to shoot two episodes for my show there was no doubt in my mind that I had to attempt to climb Half Dome! I say attempt didn't get picked from the lottery for a cable permit for the last 400 feet to the summit.
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