Hike Stats
Trail type: Out and Back
Length: ~16-17 miles
Elevation Gain: ~5,318 ft
Trail Signs: Slightly confusing to navigate at night, as trail signs were not clear and hard to spot in the dark
Level: Strenuous/Difficult (long and includes challenging3 elevation gain)
Vlog Time!
Tips & Reminders
Bring Hiking Poles! I personally didn’t use my poles for most of the uphill hike, however while coming back down, the poles were very useful to balance on steep slopes and with the larger steps found on Subdome.
Bring sun protection!
Head Lights! If you plan on starting before sunrise, plan on bringing a headlight and extra batteries to use while hiking in the dark. When I tell you its pitch black, believe it. We were amazed to see the waterfalls, views, and endless stone stairs on our way down that we couldn’t see on our way up.
Take a map! I’d recommend saving an All Trails map or even a printed out map of the trail, especially if you are starting, before sunrise. We started at 3am and came across a few places where the trail didn’t have markers and was hard to follow in the dark.
Pack enough water! Although we each had about 2-3 Liters of water and other energy drinks, we ran out during our descent. There are several water sources, including Merced River, Vernal Falls, and Nevada Falls which have several accessible points along the trail to refill. We stopped by Vernal Falls to use our water filter to refill on water!
Gloves are a MUST for the cables! You absolutely need to wear gloves while climbing up the cables from the subdome. Make sure to bring gloves with enough grip, such as utility work gloves or garden gloves. We made the mistake of bringing gloves that had a smooth surface, which ended up being slippery on the gloves. Luckily another hiker gave us his gloves to use!
Don't forget your permit! Have your permit handy, either printed out or screenshotted on your phone. The ranger station is at the base of subdome and they will be checking! Some people do try to climb subdome and the cables before rangers arrive at the station, but they might ask for it on your way down too!
Bathrooms! There were 2 bathrooms located near the trail, one by the Vernal Falls footbridge, at the top of Vernal Falls, and at the top of Nevada Falls. There was an addition on the stretch near the Merced River. However, most of us did our business in nature, which I find to be much more pleasant than the trail restrooms.
The Hike
After picking up our hike squad and making the familiar drive from the Bay to Yosemite Valley, we had dinner at The Deck at Curry Village and checked into our tent cabins. The tent cabins were pretty cool, they had 3 twin beds and 1 queen bed each and came supplied with a chair, blankets, pillows, towels, a light, and an amazing view of Half Dome from the area. We had brought sleeping bags in case, but these accommodations well exceeded our expectations! After using the showers and bathrooms nearby (I know — they had showers and full bathrooms!!) we packed our backpacks with plenty of energy bars, fruits, sandwiches, water, poles, headlights, and sunscreen. After getting our gear ready I slept early, restless with excitement for what the next day held.
We drove to the parking lot nearest to the Mist Trailhead and started our hike around 3:30AM. Never forget to look up at the stars at night in Yosemite, it’s surreal. The trail got steep pretty much right away and I was sweating within 5 minutes of starting! PSA If you’re hiking in Yosemite during the summer, you really don’t need a jacket in the morning, the weather was pleasant and we warmed up super fast. Early in the trail, you have the option of taking the John Muir Trail or the Mist Trail to Half Dome. The John Muir Trail is about a mile longer than the Mist Trail and a bit less steep, but also less scenic.
We climbed up countless stairs surrounded by the sounds of water crashing down on rocks, none of which we could see in the darkness of the night. Take breaks as needed, pace yourself, and keep hydrating, the climb isn’t ending anytime soon. After hiking almost halfway up in the darkness, the sun started to rise and offered our eyes beautiful views of Half Dome approaching. We reached the base of Subdome at about 8 AM and prepared ourselves for the demanding switchbacks of Subdome and the climb up the cables that followed! I suggest using the bathroom before reaching the base of Subdome, after that there aren’t many covered spots where you can go and the climb is pretty long. And there is most definitely nowhere to go on Half Dome — from the base of subdome to Half Dome and back is about a 2 hour trip, pictures and photoshoots included ;)
After checking in with the ranger at the base of subdome, we listened to his spiel about the crazy squirrels and the climb ahead. Now climbing the fully exposed switchbacks of subdome was more challenging than I expected, it’s only about a quarter-mile of a climb, but it’s pretty steep and the steps are big in some places. The later you do this portion of the hike, the hotter and harder it will be, especially in the summer. After making it to the base of the cables, we found some shade, fueled up with some snacks, and hydrated. Make sure to pack in all your water bottles or anything that’s in your pockets or sides of your bags into your backpack to make sure it doesn’t fall out while you’re climbing the cables. Yes, put your phone away too, the cables are no joke. After putting on my gloves, I hyped myself up, preparing myself to climb up Yosemite’s famed Half Dome cables.
Then, it was go-time.
The cables were tiring, but totally doable. The climb up the cables relies mainly on your upper body strength and pacing yourself. Make sure your hiking shoes have enough grip so that you don’t slip or slide while climbing! The cables have wooden slabs every few steps, where you can stand and rest. Since we started early, on our way up we didn’t pass any hikers who were climbing down the cables. Some people also use tethers on the cables, which you would need to clip and unclip at each pole. We chose not to use the tethers, but our climb up was seamless! The tethers are definitely great for an extra level of security and peace of mind. We did encounter some hikers who had started climbing the cables but went back down halfway through because they psyched themselves out. As much as this climb is physically taxing, it can also be mentally challenging, especially if you have a fear of heights. Totally understandable, Half Dome stands at over 8,000 feet high!
At the top, we took pictures and enjoyed the views. Yosemite never ceases to amaze me. We enjoyed an amazing 360 view of the majestic park — waterfalls, towering granite formations, valleys, and more. Unreal.
After taking it all in we started on our long journey back down. The hike down felt endless, the heat scorching down on us. The views of Vernal and Nevada Falls and the forest, however, made the descent worth it. We got to enjoy all the views that we couldn’t see while hiking up early that morning. I’m happy to have completed this bucket list hike before my 19th birthday! It was a very memorable experience with a great group of hikers who accompanied me.