The Granite Monolith, El Capitan
El Capitan, among the tallest granite monoliths in the world, is one of the most iconic spots in Yosemite National Park. Standing a tall 3,000 feet from base to summit, its sheer height was enough to make my jaws drop in fascination. Standing at the feet of El Cap, it was mind boggling to think that world renown climbers like Alex Honnald and Tommy Caldwell, had actually free soloed this thing! From the moment we started our hike in Yosemite Valley from Camp 4, I was stunned by El Cap. I loved this trail because it starts off with a great view of peaks, El Capitan, Half Dome, and North Dome from the Valley!
Hike Stats
Trail type: Out and Back
Length: ~ 17.8 miles (based on Strava and FitBit)
Elevation Gain: ~ 5,200’ (for both Eagle Peak & El Cap)
Time on Trail: 10 hours
Trail Signs: Easy to navigate with plenty of trail signs
Level: Strenuous/Hard (not recommended for inexperienced hikers, this was a demanding and
challenging hike)
Tips & Reminders
Bring plenty of water! We carried 2 liters in our hydration packs plus a few water bottles each, but we still ran out! I finished my 2 liters on the way up, so next time I’d probably take 1 gallon (4 liters) for myself!
Bring a hat! It got super hot around the afternoon time and some parts of the trail didn’t have shade!
Bring mosquito/bug repellent! We were full on attacked by armies of mosquitoes for the first and last 2 to 3 miles of the trail! It was super annoying, as I had my pole in one hand to balance on the rocks, and my left hand basically swatted mosquitoes for the entirety of this part of the trail.
Hiking poles are recommended! Poles are useful for the switchbacks going up and especially going down!
Bring water filtration/chlorine tablets in case you run out of water! There were one or two small water sources at this time of year, in case you need extra water on the trail.
Bring lunch/snacks! Since this is a long hike to complete in one day, you will definitely need to fuel up during the hike. We took sandwiches, gatorade, and other snacks to stay energized!
Always carry a first aid kit, with pain killers, bandaids, neosporin, etc. Never hurts to be safe and prepared!
The El Capitan Hike
After parking near Camp 4, we began our hike at the Yosemite Falls trailhead. Almost immediately upon entering the trail, we started climbing the first set of switchbacks. During this part of the ascent, we hiked alongside El Cap and had a full view of Half Dome and other peaks before us. For about the first two hours of the hike, my left hand’s sole job was swatting mosquitoes, there were SO many!
About 1.5 miles into the trail, we hit Columbia Rock, a viewpoint overlooking Half Dome, North Dome, and the Valley beneath us. Since we went around the time of the wildfires there was smoke in the distance, the view was limited to the silhouettes of the peaks, which was still beautiful as we made our ascent as the sun rose. Although the views were obstructed by smoke in the distance, the air quality was healthy as we continually checked while planning before and during the hike. We made sure to check the air quality and potential highway closures as we planned our trip.
Continuing on the Upper Yosemite Fall Trail, we saw the first view of Upper Yosemite Falls. At this time of year, there was absolutely no water, but the view was spectacular regardless. Shortly after, we hit our second set of switchbacks. This portion of the trail, having little shade, was pretty tiring as well and the switchbacks were challenging. These first 3.5 miles of the trail were challenging, with almost a hundred switchbacks and a rapid elevation gain of almost 3,000 feet. Nonetheless, we made it to the top to the Upper Falls Junction and followed signs on the trail towards El Cap. This next part of the trail is shady, lengthy, and climbed gradually; we even passed a few meadows on our way up!
We added Eagle Peak, which amounted to a couple extra miles off the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail. Sadly, the views did not live up to our expectations due to the smoke. Following a quick lunch break, we made our way to El Capitan. On this portion of the trail we saw only a handful of backpackers, otherwise the trails were very empty. The trail on El Cap can be tricky at some points and there isn’t a defined path to follow; not to worry though, look for stacked rocks to guide you in the right direction. The views from El Cap were disappointing as well; we had almost zero visibility of the Valley and surrounding peaks.
We headed back down the trail, after 6 hours of climbing uphill. The hike back to the top of the Upper Yosemite Falls was easy and fun, as we walked past tall trees, saw a few deer, and enjoyed a cool evening breeze. Descending the switchbacks was only a tad less difficult than climbing up them, as the granite steps and sandy paths were very slippery. I recommend being cautious and taking your time descending these steps as it was very easy to slip here. As we descended evening set in and the weather was stellar! We had a nice breeze going and there were less mosquitoes going down! Finally we made it back to the first set of switchbacks, which actually felt endless. As it is with any long hike, the end seems to be the longest part. Finally, we made it to the bottom, after 11 hours of strenuous hiking and beautiful views! Although we went at a bad time, the hike was rewarding and a great experience. I can’t wait to do it again when the conditions are better, ideally in the spring or early summer, when the waterfalls are full fledged!
A Short Vlog!
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