Half Dome Day Hike - Yosemite National Park, California

14.6 miles / 6,283 ft elevation

The Half Dome day hike is a strenuous, high elevation all-day hike in famous Yosemite National Park requiring an early morning start to finish during daylight hours. However, it is also one of the most scenic hikes in Yosemite, passing by 317 ft Vernal Falls and 594 ft Nevada Falls on the way to the Half Dome summit. Permits are required in order to climb the cables in the final stretch to reach the summit. These permits are limited and distributed by lottery each year after taking applications in March. The cables are up late May through early October if conditions allow.