Yosemite Hiking Trips

Half Dome Yosemite Day Hike

  • Privately Guided Hiking in Yosemite National Park
  • About the Trip: Looming 4,800 feet above Yosemite Valley is the "Crown Jewel" of the Sierra, Half Dome. This granite monolith has captured the imagination of explorers, climbers and artists alike and is the most sought-after summit in Yosemite National Park. However, at over 17 miles round-trip and with thousands of feet in elevation gain and loss, a day-trip to the summit is certainly not a giveaway. For those that complete the journey, the spectacular views of Yosemite Valley and the Yosemite High Country are worth every hard-earned step. SYMG has been leading Half Dome trips for over 20 years and recruiting one of our experienced guides is perhaps the best way to maximize your chance of standing on the summit of Half Dome.
  • About Your Guide: SYMG guides are professional, highly experienced and enjoyable people to be around. All have spent years perfecting their interpretive and mountain skills in and around Yosemite and look forward to not only teaching and guiding you in these spectacular locations, but getting to know you as well. Your guide is there to help you have the most fulfilling day possible in Yosemite. All SYMG guides are professionally trained and hold advanced medical certifications. Gratuities are accepted and appreciated for a job well done.
  • Group Size: Up to 6 hikers per guide
  • Grade: Strenuous. This is a 17-mile round-trip hike with over 4,800 feet in elevation gain and 4,800 feet in elevation loss. There are hundreds of granite steps and the final stretch consists of 400 feet of semi-exposed rock slabs protected by wire cables.
  • Equipment:The guide(s) carries a map, water filter, and first aid and emergency items. Wear a broken-in pair of hiking boots or trail shoes. Bring a lightweight rain jacket and a headlamp.
  • Meals: No meals are provided. Pack trail snacks & light lunch food, as well as 2 liters of water.
  • Cost of the Trip: $395 for 1-2 people. $90.00 per person additional up to 6 people.
  • Your Cost Includes: Your personal guide and permits for the cable route.
  • Not Included: Personal gear, lunch, transportation and tips for guides (10-20% of trip cost recommended).
  • Preparation: Hike. Take some long day hikes in the weeks leading up to your departure. Cycling and training on stadium bleachers is very appropriate. Cyclists tend to be better prepared than distance runners for the sections of granite stairs.
  • Itinerary:

    Your guide will meet you on the porch of the Mountain Shop in Curry Village at 6am. Expect a dawn-dusk experience and plan food and clothing accordingly. Elevation synopsis: The Valley floor sits at 4,000 in elevation. The hike will start relatively flat as we hike 0.8 miles from Curry Village to the Happy Isles trailhead. Here is where it will start to get steep as we gain 1000 feet in 1.5 miles to the top of Vernal Fall. We will climb about 300 steps made out of the local granite as we climb to the to the top of Vernal Fall. It will be "mountain flat" for a little while until we approach Nevada Fall then we will gain another 1000 feet over the next 1.3 miles on more granite stairs. As we pass Nevada Fall it will again flatten out for about 1.5 miles, as was travel through the sandy Little Yosemite Valley. We will then gain 2,842 feet in the last 3.1 miles of this trail to the summit of Half Dome. The last 900 feet is a very steep climb up more granite stairs and semi-exposed rock slabs on the east side of Half Dome. Cables assist hikers on the final 400 feet. After a few minutes to enjoy the hard-earned summit, we retrace the entire route, ideally reaching the trailhead by 5:00pm for a celebratory meal and drink.

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