North Dome
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
| Address: | Yosemite Valley, CA 95389, USA |
| GPS: |
37°45'24.4"N 119°33'35.8"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
| Trail Length: | 10.40 miles |
| Trail Type: | Out & Back |
| Hike Difficulty: | Intermediate |
| Elevation Gain: | 580 feet |
| Trails/Routes: | 4.1 mi |
Trails Rocks National Park
Backpack and Hike
North Dome is a strenuous 10.4 mile hike that gives visitors a close up view straight at Half Dome from across the valley. It also has a unique view of Clouds Rest peak.
Because the hike itself is rather uneventful, there aren't too many people found on this trail. The majority of the uphill climb is walking through Yosemite forest. Hikers will have to cross Porcupine Creek, as well as a small, grassy meadow. Once the trail gets closer to North Dome, it starts to get interesting. In order to reach the summit, the trail descends down a rock trail to the base of North Dome, and then requires hikers to work their way back up to the summit.
North Dome is a long, strenuous hike, but the view at the destination is spectacular. North Dome offers the best view of Yosemite's most famous attraction, as well as a view of the valley from an elevation of 7,450 feet. There is also a .6 mile detour on the return trip for those wanting to see the Indian Rock Arch, a 15 foot natural granite arch.
The hike to North Dome is only available when Tioga Road is open, usually in the summer and fall.
More Information
Yosemite National Park Itinerary
This Yosemite National Park Itinerary will help you get started as you plan your vacation to Yosemite National Park.
https://www.justgotravelstudios.com/collections/national-park-itineraries/products/yosemite-national-park-itinerary?ref=9zpxis0diinYosemite Hikes: North Dome
The North Dome trail, an 8.8-mile round-trip hike from Tioga Road to the top of the dome with spectacular views across Tenaya Canyon to the face of Half Dome
https://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road/north-dome/north-dome.htmBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
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- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
- Head northeast on Northside Dr toward Lower Yosemite Fall TrailToll road(0.8 mi)
- At the traffic circle, continue straight onto Village DrToll road(0.2 mi)
- Turn right onto Ahwahnee DriveToll road(0.6 mi)
Park at Porcupine Creek on Tioga Road.
Other Hiking Trails and Backpacking Trails Nearby
Mirror Lake
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
0.9 miles SEA paved, car-free trail winds to this seasonal lake at the base of Half Dome, offering a still mirror reflection and a popular summer swimming hole.
Backpack, Hike, Swim 2.9 mi
Upper Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
1.3 miles WThe tallest waterfall in North America at 2,425 feet — a 7.2-mile, 2,600-ft-gain hike to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls with stunning valley views along the way.
Hike 2.1 mi
Snow Creek Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
1.5 miles NEA 2,140-foot, seven-drop cascade tucked deep in Tenaya Canyon — best spotted from the Mirror Lake Loop, where you can also take a swim before hunting for the falls from the Snow Creek Trail junction.
Backpack, Hike 1.9-2.9 mi
Mist Trail
Yosemite National Park
1.7 miles SA steep, mist-soaked Yosemite staircase hike climbing 639 stone steps past Vernal and Nevada Falls — with Half Dome, Whitecap, and Mt. Broderick views from the switchbacks above.
Backpack, Hike 0.7 mi
Cook's Meadow Loop
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.0 miles SWA nearly 1-mile, nearly flat loop in Sentinel Meadow with close-up views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Sentinel Rock — Yosemite's best easy walk.
Hike 0.3 mi
Glacier Point
Yosemite National Park
2.1 miles SPerched at 7,214 feet above Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point delivers bird's-eye views of Half Dome, El Capitan, and multiple waterfalls — accessible by car or a 4.7-mile hike.
Hike 0.8 mi
Lower Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.1 miles WA short, flat walk to the base of a 3,967-foot waterfall — twice the height of the Empire State Building and one of North America's tallest, best visited in spring or early summer before it dries.
Hike 4.6 mi
Four Mile Trail
Yosemite National Park
2.2 miles SWA 4.7-mile one-way hike connecting Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point with views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, and the Royal Arches — best visited in spring when the falls run full.
Hike 1.9 mi
Half Dome
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.7 miles EA grueling 14-mile round-trip hike with 4,800 feet of gain to the summit of Half Dome, including a cable section in the final 400 feet — a permit is required and a sunrise start is essential.
Hike 15.9 mi
Valley Loop Trail
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
3.0 miles SWAn 11.5-mile loop trail through the heart of Yosemite Valley following the Merced River past wildflower meadows, the Three Brothers, El Capitan, and Bridalveil Falls — with nearly no elevation gain.
Hike 0.4-2.1 mi
Illilouette Falls
Yosemite West, Yosemite National Park
3.0 miles SA 4-mile hike starting downhill from Glacier Point to a footbridge view of Illilouette Falls — with a side trip on the quieter Panorama Trail adding Half Dome and Nevada Falls views.
Hike 1.2 mi
Taft Point
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
3.9 miles SWA 5-mile Yosemite loop pairing Sentinel Dome with Taft Point, offering El Capitan views, dramatic cliff fissures, and 3,000-foot valley vistas — no guard rails, so watch your footing.
Hike
Horsetail Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
4.2 miles SWFor a few weeks in mid-to-late February, Horsetail Falls glows orange with reflected sunset light — a rare 'firefall' phenomenon requiring clear skies and a parking permit.
Hike 0.2 mi
Ribbon Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
5.0 miles SWThe longest single-drop waterfall in North America at 1,612 feet — seasonal and best seen in late morning when the sun hits it directly, visible from El Capitan Road as you enter Yosemite Valley.
Hike 0.2 mi
Bridalveil Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
5.5 miles SWA 620-foot waterfall that flows year-round and soaks onlookers with mist — Bridalveil Falls is just a quick half-mile paved walk from the trailhead, wheelchair accessible and pet friendly.
Hike 1.7 mi
Mono Meadow
Yosemite West, Yosemite National Park
6.0 miles SA short, lightly trafficked 3-mile round-trip hike through a wildflower meadow recovering from wildfire, offering simultaneous views of Mt. Starr King, Clarke Range, and Half Dome.
Hike 0.5 mi
McGurk Meadow
Yosemite National Park
7.0 miles SWA flat, 0.8-mile walk through one of Yosemite's most secluded wildflower meadows, complete with a brook and a historic 1800s cabin — few visitors, pure charm.
Hike 0.7 mi
Lukens Lake
Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park
7.1 miles NWA short 1.6-mile forest walk to a secluded lake famous for the luminescent shooting stars visible while you swim, plus a wildflower meadow that peaks in July.
Hike, Swim 1.3-1.6 mi
May Lake
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
7.3 miles NEA 2.5-mile roundtrip hike to a scenic 9,270-foot lake at the base of Mt. Hoffmann — with views of Clouds Rest, Half Dome, and Teyana Lake, plus the option to summit the peak for even grander panoramas.
Hike, Swim
Tenaya Lake
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
7.4 miles NETenaya Lake's glacier-carved granite shoreline offers a spacious east-beach for swimming, canoeing, and kayaking with stunning Yosemite dome views all around.
Canoe, Hike, Kayak, SwimNearby Campsites
Merced River
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
1.6 miles SWThe Merced River circles Yosemite Valley with whitewater, swimming holes, gold-panning spots, and unbeatable views of Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point at every bend.
Camp, Swim, Whitewater 5.7 mi
Ten Lakes
Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park
10.2 miles NA 6.4-mile hike from Yosemite Creek to three of the Ten Lakes Basin's seven lakes, through wildflower meadows, forests, and past the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, gaining 2,200 feet.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 6.1 mi
Glen Aulin
Wawona, California
13.0 miles NEAn 11-mile hike along the Tuolumne River to Glen Aulin with 800 feet of gain, passing Tuolumne Falls, Soda Springs, wildflower meadows, and the stunning White Cascade.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Glen Aulin
Glen Aulin, California
13.0 miles NEA popular introductory Yosemite High Country backcountry hike following the Tuolumne River to a High Sierra Camp beside the White Cascade waterfall, with further options to Waterwheel Falls.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Swim
Crane Flat
Big Oak Flat, Yosemite National Park
13.1 miles WFramed between two giant sequoia groves, Crane Flat meadow is a quiet Yosemite base camp for birding, stargazing, and seasonal hikes to Lukens and Harden Lake.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Snowshoe
Tuolumne Meadows
Tuolumne County, California
14.3 miles NEA stunning alpine meadow in the high Sierra with granite domes and mountain views, the meandering Tuolumne River, and access to Yosemite backcountry — open summer only when the park road is clear.
Camp, Hike 4.0 mi
Saddlebag Lake
Lee Vining, California
21.4 miles NEAt 10,008 ft, this Eastern Sierra alpine lake offers exceptional trout fishing, a scenic four-mile loop, and a water taxi into the heart of the Twenty Lakes Basin.
Camp, Canoe, Hike
Briceburg Recreation Area
Midpines, California
25.7 miles SWCamp, Kayak, and Swim near Midpines, California
Camp, Kayak, Swim
Crystal Lake
Mammoth Lakes, California
31.9 miles EA 3.2-mile roundtrip Sierra day hike past Lake George, Lake Marie, and Lake Mamie, ending at Crystal Lake beneath the monolith Crystal Crag — shaded trail with room to swim, fish, or picnic lakeside.
Camp, Hike
Standish Hickey Area
Lakeshore, California
42.1 miles SEA two-mile stretch of the south fork of the Eel River inside a redwood canyon 180 miles from San Francisco — swim, kayak, fish, or hike, then camp near the 1,200-year-old Captain Miles Standish Tree.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Wild Willy's Hot Spring
Mammoth Lakes, California
43.7 miles EA soaking hot spring in Long Valley's open sagebrush plain — pools range from 95°F to 105°F, with a larger deeper pool and smaller, hotter pools, reached by a 0.2-mile wooden boardwalk from the parking area.
Camp, Hot Springs
Crowley Lake Campground
Crowley Lake, California
45.2 miles ENestled in the stunning Eastern Sierra near Crowley Lake, this BLM campground offers first-come, first-served sites for tents, RVs, and trailers with breathtaking high-desert views.
Camp
