Is Half Dome hike worth it?

Is Half Dome hike worth it? I climbed the Cables route on Half Dome. It's 16 miles round trip with a fair amount of elevation gain. You need to be in pretty good shape to do this and unafraid of heights - but the views are worth it!

What is the best month to hike Half Dome?

Best Time to Visit: You can't climb Half Dome unless the cables are up, which is generally from late May or early June through Columbus Day weekend in October. The waterfalls will be better the earlier in the year you go. Avoid Half Dome on days when there are thunder clouds in the area - it's not worth the risk.

What is the hardest part of Half Dome hike?

Difficulty Of The Half Dome Trail If you are not comfortable with heights, you may want to avoid the cable route. Hikers report this being the most difficult section of the hike.

How long does it take to walk up Half Dome?

Most hikers take 10 to 12 hours to hike to Half Dome and back; some take longer. If you plan on hiking during the day, it's smart to leave around sunrise (or earlier) and then have a non-negotiable turn-around time.

Can a beginner hike Half Dome?

The National Parks Service describes Half Dome as the most strenuous day hike in Yosemite, and probably the toughest (recommended) day hike in any National Park. So while you can certainly just show up and give the hike a go, you'll enjoy it more if your fitness level is up to snuff.

Is Angels Landing or Half Dome scarier?

The National Park Service considers ascending the 4,800 feet and traveling the minimum 14.5 miles to Half Dome's summit, “one of the most challenging day hikes in any national park.” Measured by vertical ascent, hiking Half Dome is roughly three times as challenging as hiking Angels Landing, and even includes a 7-mile ...

How many flights of stairs is Half Dome?

Half Dome has an elevation of 8,844 feet and sits 4,737 feet above the valley floor. It takes an equivalent 473 flights of stairs to reach the top, which means 118 trips from the First Floor Lantern to the McFadden-Willis Reading Room.

Can the average person climb Half Dome?

You can go at your own pace, as long as you have enough daylight! With that being said, this is still an incredibly strenuous hike for the average person. You should have a few other day hikes of 12+ miles under your belt before you attempt Half Dome, including hikes that have a decent amount of elevation gain.

Why is Half Dome so hard?

This climb is hard! The granite surface has been worn smooth by the shoes of the thousands of people before us. The climb is so steep that we pulled ourselves up more with our upper body strength than by walking up with our feet. It took us roughly 20 minutes to climb the 400 feet up the Half Dome cables.

What is the easiest rock climb up Half Dome?

Supertopo says: Snake Dike is the easiest technical climbing route to the top of Half Dome, the most recognized rock feature in the United States.