Half Dome Trail Guide: Permits, Cables, and What to Expect

Half Dome is one of the most iconic hikes in the United States. The 8,836-foot granite monolith defines the Yosemite Valley skyline, and the final 400-foot climb up its sheer northwest face on steel cables is unlike anything else in American hiking. Here is everything you need to do it right.

Overview

Location: Yosemite National Park, California
Trailhead: Happy Isles (shuttle stop #16 in Yosemite Valley)
Distance: 14-16 miles roundtrip (via John Muir Trail or Mist Trail)
Elevation gain: 4,800 ft
Difficulty: Strenuous. Required experience with long, steep day hikes.
Permit required: Yes, May through mid-October for the cables section

The Permit System

A permit is required to hike the cables section of Half Dome. Permits are not required to hike to the base of the subdome, but you cannot ascend the cables without one.

Pre-Season Lottery (March)

The pre-season lottery opens and closes in March at recreation.gov. Results are announced in April. This lottery allocates the majority of daily permits (300 per day) for the entire season. Apply for multiple dates to improve your odds. Groups of up to 6 people can apply on one application.

Daily Lottery During Season

Approximately 50 additional permits per day are released through a daily lottery. Applications open at midnight two days before the hike date and close at 1pm the day before. Results come out by 3pm. Check recreation.gov each evening for the window.

Check the recreation.gov for current lottery dates and Half Dome permit windows.

The Cables Section: What to Expect

The cables are two parallel steel cables strung up the northwest face of Half Dome at roughly a 45-degree angle, with wooden planks spaced periodically as footholds. Gloves are not provided and the cables can be crowded, wet, or icy depending on conditions.

Length: Approximately 400 vertical feet over about 0.3 miles
Angle: 45-60 degrees in the steepest sections
Gloves: Work gloves or leather gloves are strongly recommended. The cables tear up bare hands.
When wet: Extremely dangerous. More hikers have died on the cables in wet conditions than in any other circumstance. If thunderstorms are in the forecast, turn around at the subdome.
Traffic: The cables create a bottleneck. Expect 30-60 minute waits on weekends in summer.

The view from the summit is extraordinary: a full panorama of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome's sheer drop on the south face, and the High Sierra stretching in every direction.

Cable Schedule

Cables are typically installed in late May (weather permitting) and removed in mid-October. Exact dates vary each year and are published by Yosemite NPS. Hiking the subdome without cables is possible but only for experienced rock climbers and requires different gear.

Training Required

Half Dome is not a casual hike. The 4,800 ft of elevation gain across 14-16 miles on granite takes 10-14 hours for most hikers. You need specific preparation:

6 weeks before: Complete at least three hikes of 8+ miles with 2,000+ ft elevation gain. Do these back to back on a weekend to simulate the cumulative fatigue.
Gear test: Do all training hikes in your actual Half Dome shoes and with your actual pack weight.
Start time: Leave the trailhead by 6am at the latest. Earlier is better. This gets you off the summit before afternoon thunderstorm risk (typically 1-3pm in summer).

What to Bring

Water: At least 3 liters. Water is available at Vernal Fall bridge (filter recommended) and Little Yosemite Valley.
Food: High-calorie snacks and a real meal. You will burn 3,000-4,000 calories.
Gloves: Work gloves with grip. Bring a pair you do not mind destroying.
Layers: The summit is exposed and windy. Bring a wind layer even in summer.
Sun protection: Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses. Above treeline for 3-4 hours.
Headlamp: In case you finish after dark. This happens.
Microspikes: Required early and late season if there is snow on the subdome approach.
Poles: Optional but helpful for the long descent, which is hard on knees.

Trailhead and Getting There

The Half Dome trailhead is at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley (shuttle stop 16). Private vehicle access to Happy Isles is not permitted during summer. Drive to Curry Village and take the free Yosemite Valley shuttle. The first shuttle runs at approximately 5:30am, which is why starting before 6am is feasible without driving to the trailhead.

Yosemite requires a timed entry reservation on peak days (typically May through September). Book your park entry reservation at recreation.gov at the same time you apply for your Half Dome permit.

Best Time to Go

Late May to mid-June: Cables are up, Mist Trail has full waterfalls. Crowds are lower. Snow possible on the subdome approach.
July to mid-August: Peak season. Hot in the valley (95+ degrees). Start before 5am to avoid the worst heat. Thunderstorms most common in July-August.
Late August to mid-October: Best conditions. Cooler temps, fewer crowds, and lower lightning risk. September is ideal.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Starting too late. Hikers who leave Happy Isles after 9am regularly get caught by afternoon thunderstorms and have to turn around.
Skipping gloves. The cables will tear up your hands. This is not optional gear.
Underestimating the descent. The first 6 miles back down Mist Trail after a summit are brutal on the quads. Take ibuprofen at the summit if needed.
Ignoring weather. Lightning kills people on Half Dome every few years. If you see clouds building before noon, turn around at the subdome.
Not booking Yosemite entry. You can have a Half Dome permit and still be turned away at the park gate without a timed entry reservation.

Ready for your Yosemite trip? Use our Trip Finder to plan the full itinerary around your Half Dome hike, or browse all national park itineraries for inspiration. Apply for the Half Dome permit lottery directly at recreation.gov.