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Half Dome via the John Muir Trail

Mariposa · Managed by Yosemite National Park (NPS) · Region: Yosemite National Park
Difficulty 28/100 · Moderateout and back#half-dome#cables#iconic#waterfalls
Distance
16.2 mi
Total gain
4,830 ft
Net gain
4,830 ft
Net loss
4,830 ft
Days
2–3
Permit
Required
Campfires
Stoves only

Overview

Half Dome is Yosemite's bucket-list summit, and the classic backpacking approach is 8.1 miles up the John Muir Trail from Happy Isles: past Vernal and Nevada Falls, through Little Yosemite Valley camp, then up the cables to the 8,846-foot summit. Backpackers camp at Little Yosemite Valley and summit at dawn before the day-hike crowds.

Highlights

  • Standing on Half Dome's 8,846-foot summit with the Valley 5,000 feet below
  • Vernal and Nevada Falls thundering on the climb out
  • Little Yosemite Valley's river camp beneath Half Dome's north face
  • The final 400 feet of steel cables up the dome's back

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Happy Isles Trailhead (Yosemite Valley) · parking: Yosemite Valley trailhead; shuttle or park at Curry Village
  • Water: The Merced River, Nevada Fall, and Little Yosemite Valley streams; treat all water.
  • Resupply: None; Yosemite Valley stores are at the start.
  • Shuttle: Not needed for an out-and-back.
  • Stove required: yes — no fires possible on this route
  • Bear canister required.

Permits

  • Agency: Yosemite National Park (NPS)
  • Reserve or apply on nps.gov
  • Quota: Happy Isles trailhead quota applies; backpackers also need a Half Dome permit when the cables are up.
  • Reservation window: Lottery-based advance reservations; remaining quota releases weekly. Half Dome permits via separate reservation.

Campfires & stove regulations

Stoves only. Camping at Little Yosemite Valley restricts fires to communal rings, and the dome itself is above the 9,600-ft fire line. Plan on a stove. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: June, July, August, September.

Snow: The cables are up and the route snow-free roughly late May through mid-October.

Heat: Hot on the valley floor; the cables section is exposed granite.

Bugs: Moderate near the river in early summer.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • A Half Dome permit is required in addition to the wilderness permit when the cables are up
  • Do not attempt the cables in wet or stormy weather — they are deadly when slick
  • Little Yosemite Valley camping is restricted to the designated backpackers campground
  • Start the summit push before dawn; afternoon thunderstorms are the norm in July and August

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. Yosemite Valley Trails — Half Dome via the John Muir Trail. Yosemite National Park (National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/yosemite-valley-trails.htm. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Distance (16.2 mi round trip) and elevation gain (4,830 ft) from Happy Isles.
  2. Wilderness Permits. Yosemite National Park (National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Permit requirement, quotas, and reservation windows.
  3. Half Dome Permits for Backpackers. Yosemite National Park (National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdwildpermits.htm. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Separate Half Dome summit permit required for backpackers when the cables are up.
  4. Wilderness Regulations. Yosemite National Park (National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildregs.htm. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Campfire rules, camping restrictions at Little Yosemite Valley, and bear canister requirement.