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Half Dome (Half Dome; Cable Route)

Trail Running Route

Hard
15.28 mi
5,241 ft
A long day out to the summit of one of the most iconic mountains in the world.

The Half Dome Trail is challenging and provides a decently long trail run. It courses nearly 1500m above the Yosemite Valley. It offers runners spectacular vantage of many of the valley’s iconic monuments: Vernal and Nevada Falls, Liberty Cap, Half Dome itself, and views across the Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra mountains.

If you run a single route in Yosemite, this should be high on the list!

The trail climbs over 1600m over 20km, and runners should, therefore, be prepared for a rather big day out. Luckily, the route is quite well marked along the way. The trail begins with a stiff climb up to Vernal Falls followed by a second steep climb up to Nevada Falls. From Nevada, the trail continues through the forest past Little Yosemite Campground on steep switchbacks.

This route is famous for the cable section, which climbs the final 120m on Half Dome. This portion of the route is quite steep, strenuous, and exposed. This is a section to take particular care not to fall. From the summit, the trail returns on the same path.

Of particular importance: a permit is required for this trail. Therefore, it is important to plan ahead when wanting to have a day out on the trail rather than showing up, hoping to run on it on a whim. Written by Ian Macnairn
Created By
Strava Routes

Route and Elevation

Segments

NameDistanceElev. Diff.Avg. Grade
Half Dome Up via Mist Trail6.84 mi4,754 ft13.2%
Happy Isle Bridge - Nevada Falls2.88 mi1,932 ft12.7%
Happy Isle Loop Rd Climb0.78 mi423 ft10.1%
Run Half Dome5.77 mi4,373 ft14.1%
HD to chains via Mist Trail6.33 mi4,088 ft12.2%
The Tourist Gauntlet (Happy Isles to Vernal Falls Bridge) 0.97 mi410 ft7.5%
Top of Vernal Fall1.37 mi1,138 ft15.1%
Half Dome - Up, With Cables (trail sign to top of cables)7.55 mi4,698 ft11.8%
Half Dome - Up, Without Cables (trail sign to 100m before cables)7.27 mi4,331 ft11.2%
John Muir Trail Climb0.20 mi240 ft20.0%
Trail to base of half Dome6.88 mi4,157 ft11.4%
John Muir Trail Climb0.37 mi525 ft26.9%
John Muir Trail Climb0.21 mi157 ft14.2%
Nevada Falls Climb0.53 mi584 ft20.6%
muir, mist junction to sub d base3.75 mi1,814 ft9.1%
Flat Nevada-to-switchbacks transition0.94 mi-79 ft-0.6%
Fast to camp0.77 mi-72 ft-1.3%
Happy Isle Loop Rd Climb2.79 mi1,759 ft11.9%
Little Yosemite to Sub-Dome Top2.86 mi2,224 ft14.7%
Little Yosemite Valley to Half Dome Cutoff1.26 mi827 ft12.4%
Half Dome Trail Climb0.31 mi210 ft12.7%
Half Dome final push0.79 mi942 ft22.3%
Half Dome cables climb0.11 mi384 ft63.0%
Half Dome cables descent0.11 mi-387 ft-64.1%
Half Dome Descent - Bottom of Sub-Dome to Little Yosemite Valley2.71 mi-1,424 ft-9.8%
Little Yosemite Valley Descent - Camp Ground to Mist Trail Jct (Toilets)1.09 mi-171 ft-2.4%
The Crowded Staircase1.85 mi-1,650 ft-16.8%
Nevada Falls Upper Descent on Mist Trail0.54 mi-623 ft-21.5%
Vernal Falls Descent1.04 mi-906 ft-16.1%
Happy Isles trail downhill - JMT to Bridge1.03 mi-482 ft-8.8%
Happy Isle Descent - Bridge to Bridge0.89 mi-463 ft-7.7%