Half Dome Trail

You'll need stamina, courage, the ability to overcome a fear of heights, and a special permit to climb the summit trail to Half Dome, Yosemite National Park's most iconic peak. This sheer-faced mountain rises 5,000 feet from the floor of the Yosemite Valley, and the trek to the top (the Mist Trail to the Half Dome Cables Route) is an arduous 8.2 mile, 10- to 12-hour hike with 4,800 feet of vertical gain. It is best done over two days, broken up with an overnight in the Little Yosemite Valley. The cables, which allow hikers to ascend the final 400 feet of the trail over a steep, exposed rock face, are not for the fainthearted. They provide a degree of safety and allow access to hikers who otherwise would need climbing gear, but fatal falls have occurred here, especially in wet weather. The cables remain up only from May 25 to Oct. 25 for safety reasons; the trail is open the rest of the year, but the Park Service advises against climbing Half Dome when the cables are down or in bad weather. For those up to the challenge -- and hundreds of hikers typically attempt the trail each day -- the Half Dome hike is rewarded with unforgettable views. The trail passes Vernal and Nevada Falls before heading into the Little Yosemite Valley and then following Half Dome's northeast ridge line onto the subdome and to the summit. Once you reach the top of Half Dome, there's a large flat area where you can relax and enjoy the views. When the cables are up, the Park Service requires that you obtain one of the 300 climbing permits it issues for each day of the season. Permits are issued via lottery at [http://www.Recreation.gov](http://www.Recreation.gov), and you'll have to apply during the month of March to enter the lottery. If that doesn't work, you can enter the daily lottery for 50 more permits, held two days before each climbing date. Additional permits are set aside for backpackers planning to overnight in the Little Yosemite Valley who obtain a wilderness permit. Applying for a permit costs $4.50 if done online, $6.50 by phone. If you receive a permit, you'll pay another $8 per person. Get caught hiking the trail beyond the base of the subdome without a permit and it will cost you a fine of up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail. Hikers should bring plenty of water, since no treated drinking water is available after the first mile of the trail. Some hikers find the cables easier to manage with gloves. Turn back from the cables if the weather deteriorates or if you have not reached the top of Half Dome by 3:30 p.m. Trailhead: Happy Isles Shuttle Stop #16