Half Dome

As you start up the JMT from Little Yosemite Valley, you can go off trail a little ways for this view of Little Yosemite Valley.

Starting From Little Yosemite Valley

The Hike to Climb Half Dome

I am going to start this from Little Yosemite Valley. I may expand this part of the feature in the future to include pictures and words about the part from Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley, if there is a demand for it. Lets just say this:

From Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley: If you are starting from Yosemite Valley, you can take the free bus to Happy Isles, then follow the crowds. Before you go, try to drink a quart of water, or as much as you can, and make sure all of your water storage devices are full. There is a restroom nearby at Happy Isles, as well as a river. You have no excuses. Take the Happy Isles trail to the John Muir Trail (JMT) (...where you will see a big brown sign with a lot of destinations and mileage). Take the JMT to the first bridge below Vernal Falls (where your will find the first restroom...which should be open peak season). The fountain there may be working, but in any case, drink some water.

Beyond the bridge you have your first tough decision. If you take the next right fork of the trail, you can take the easier longer JMT all the way to above Little Yosemite Valley. If you take the left fork along the Mist Trail, you will be on stairs all the way to the next junction above Vernal Falls, and if it is early season, the mist from the falls can get you pretty wet. If you take the Mist Trail, then at the next junction you have another tough choice. (It was .5 miles to get there by the Mist Trail, and 1 mile to get there by the JMT).You can take the right fork to get back to the JMT and bypass the next section of stairs, or you can take the left fork to the next section of stairs to the top of Nevada Falls. Once at the top of the falls and at the junction, it breaks down like this from a start from Happy Isles: via the JMT, 3 miles, 2135 foot gain and a 209 foot loss; via the Mist Trail, 2.4 miles, 1996 foot gain and a 70 foot loss. My advice if you are in good shape: take the Mist Trail on the way up, and save your knees by taking the JMT on the way back.

From down the trail a ways on the JMT beyond the main Half Dome trail, you can get a good view of the back of Half Dome.

At the junction, you will find your second restroom along this route. You should go over to the Merced River near the falls and get your water bottles filled back up at a safe spot (especially early season). Drink more water. The next section to the junction is a stiff sweaty 300 foot climb followed by a short loss of altitude. Take the left fork and gain and lose another 65 feet. Fun, huh? At the next junction, you can take a right to the Little Yosemite Valley campground and a huge four seat solar toilet. Back at the junction, the real fun begins. Here is where you make sure you have a full two quarts of water which you can get back at the Merced River. Sunrise Creek may have water, but if is is late season, don't count on it. Anyway, tank up or suffer later.

Little Yosemite Valley to Half Dome: Begin a moderate to severe climb in shaded mostly viewless forest along the JMT. This section has been beat to crap by the hoards of hikers doing this trek. After a grinding 1.3 miles and 857 feet of gain, the JMT takes a right, and you will take a left. Drink more water.