North Dome

North Dome offer a spectacular up close view of Half Dome. It is a 9 mile round trip hike from the parking lot — add another mile if you want to visit Indian Rock, the only natural arch in Yosemite National Park. The first half of the hike is a walk in the woods, but second half is full of amazing vista of Half Dome. If you are not in shape, it can be tough — initial is is a fairly flat, but towards the end it can get steep. If you use, Max OS X yosemite, the default picture on the OS, was likely taken from this hike. Highly recommended.

Here is the skinny on this amazing hike. 8.8 miles roundtrip. If you do the Indian Rock arch add another .6 miles for a total of 9.4 miles. We started at the Porcupine creek trail head off Tioga Rd. at 8:30am and got back to the car at 3:30pm. BUT we went to the arch took a ton of pics and also stopped for lunch at the first clearing looking down at the dome. Those two things added probably 60 – 90 min to our hike. Plus, when we got to North Dome, we hung out there for another hour taking TONS of pics! I am 50 years old, about 20 lbs overweight and I do Zumba 3 – 4 times a week. That’s it. Honestly, if you are really fit and young you will have no problem with this hike. Its fun, rewarding and the views… WOW!!! My husband has done Half Dome 5 times and absolutely adored this hike. If you are like me, you will love this hike but it will challenge you in a few places but it is worth it. The walk STRAIGHT UP to the arch is hard but a neat place for pictures. Honestly, if you don’t do the arch on the way in, you probably won’t do it. You’ll be too tired. The last .07 miles is uphill but you are at the end is near so its not too bad. The views are incredible, stunning, pictures don’t do it justice. Its windy up there so hold on to your hat! I would do this hike again but I would skip the arch. It will be easier once I get this last 20 lbs off!

Activity Type: Hiking
Nearby City: Lower Yosemite Fall
Length: 8.8 total miles
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Trail Type: Out-​and-​back
Skill Level: Moderate
Duration: 6 to 9 hours
Season: Summer and fall
Local Contacts: Yosemite National Park
North Dome is one of the most photographed features of the park, especially from the Happy Isles Bridge with the Merced River in the foreground. It is smooth and rounded, more symmetrical than Half Dome, crowning the exfoliating Royal Arches. This is probably the best full-​day outing on the north rim, and it is a popular one. The views are everything you would expect from such a vantage point, and as a bonus, you get to see the famous granite arch atop Indian Ridge, accessible only to foot (or horse) travelers.

Wow, what a view!
If you’re too scared to do Half Dome like me (I pooped out partway up the cables), but you want amazing views, North Dome is the hike for you. I started from El Capitan the day before on a 4 day backpacking trip so I can’t comment on the hike from Tioga Road to North Dome. But if you are in decent shape, you should give this hike a try.
We scored an amazing campsite just up from North Dome with an incredible view of Yosemite Valley, Cloud’s Rest, Glacier Point, & Half Dome. What a gorgeous sight watching the sun set on Half Dome. The 0.5 mile hike out to the dome from the trail marker is steep & gravelly, so I was glad we decided not to hike down there with our packs (we were also told there is no camping on North Dome, but we did see a few campsites tucked away in the trees). We hiked out to the dome before heading out that morning & had the whole place to ourselves. Amazing!
Add this hike to your list of Yosemite Domes.

This review is for the hike more than the view (s). So, I am not a hiker by nature. I have been trying to commune with my inner crunchie self with some progress, but I still think any normal person considers a 10 mile walk, a 10 mile walk whether it’s flat or not. This hike is not flat. There are some pretty good descriptions here except that I think the last 0.75 miles are pretty much straight down. Since my husband called this an ‘easy’ hike and we stopped for lunch at the highest point (not North Dome) and thought maybe we were done, I was none too happy to continue downward. Had we turned around at this point, I would have considered it a good stretch of the legs, a little long, but not bad at all. However, the additional hike pretty much turned it into a very challenging, hot, sweaty hike.
The views: well, at our lunch spot, I thought we had some pretty amazing 360 views, but we weren’t actually at North Dome. With an additional 40 mins or so we did have some amazing views of Half Dome plus Yosemite Valley and Ililouette Falls (although all a little hazy). Would I say it was worth it? I guess so if you are prepared for a moderately difficult hike between the difficulty and the length.
We had climbed Yosemite Falls this past spring, my first major hike and I was probably in better shape, and I think it might not be that different in difficulty (only slightly easier).
The fault might lie with my husband though because I think if I had read these descriptions I probably would have been better mentally prepared for the hike.

After doing Half Dome twice, I wanted to see the other side of the Valley and decided on North Dome. We had wilderness permits for Yosemite Falls and achingly went up the 3.5m to the top, spending the night near Indian Creek.
We hiked for hours and I came over a ridge, suddenly seeing Half Dome staring back at me. The only thing I could say was Holy Shit before my jaw fell open.
North Dome is just as amazing as Half Dome, without the people! There was a small Scout group near us and 2 people further out on the dome. We didn’t see anyone else for over an hour. Most people seem to come from Tioga Rd, but I’m usually out to punish myself. If you have a few days, a wilderness permit and glutes of steel, try Yosemite Falls-​North Dome-​Snow Creek-​Mirror Lake. Bring deet and use it often though I don’t think they’re mosquitos. I think they’re flying Velociraptors!
Peace, solitude and the beauty of Yosemite.

I lived in Yosemite for 5 summers and did this almost every summer. For me it’s as classic as doing Half Dome. I just adore this hike. It’s flat and easy in the beginning and then suddenly BAM! There’s Half Dome right there. You could practically kiss it. And you will be all alone on this hike. I promise. It has great views of the valley and is easy to access from the high country.
Don’t miss this one!

North Dome is a great hike and the trails have almost no traffic. The drive up Tioga road is a little cumbersome but its well worth it. Its a casual/​moderate 10 mile round-​trip adventure.
The trail loses elevation for the first mile and flattens out until you get to an opening where you can see Half Dome. The view is amazing and you start getting out of the woods at the Indian Arch fork. By the way, I HIGHLY recommend taking the 0.5 miles to the Indian Arch. The rock formation looks like an indian smoking a pipe. It took a few minutes but then it was obvious.
Watch out for the africanized mosquitoes, those things are brutal around the few creeks you have to cross.

Wow! North Dome is an amazing and not to be missed hike off the Tioga Road.
It starts off the Porcupine Creek parking lot. The first .7 miles are down hill along an old washed out road. (Remember you have to walk back up this on your return!) The next 1.5 miles are an easy high Sierra hike.
At about 2.5 miles you come to a .3 mile detour to Indian Arch. It’s a pretty steep hike up but cool views to give a preview of what’s to come. When you come down from the detour you quickly come across what you think might be north dome — the views here are awesome. But then you look out and see that North Dome is actually about .75 miles down a head of you. You can take a less steep trail down and around the side of the mountain or you can just climb down the steep face. We did the longer loop down and came back up the front. Much faster on the return.
The views off North Dome of Half Dome, Cloud’s Rest and the Valley Floor are unbelievable. Million dollar +.
It’s about 9 miles in total and took us 5 hours flat, including the detour and 15 – 20 minutes for pictures and lunch.
Hiking poles would be welcome on the descent and ascent out to North Dome.

Almost 50 reviews for Half Dome and no mention of North Dome? I have to admit, I haven’t hiked Half Dome yet.YET. My friends have done it, my brother has done it. it’s on my to-​do list, just not this year.
This year, we hiked North Dome. a teaser for the Half Dome hike. According to
(the best site ever for hikers =), it’s a 9 mile hike, up 1790 feet of elevation that ends up with an «in your face view of Half Dome.» Seriously, the view is AWESOME. You can look out to see Clouds Rest, you can see across the Valley, you can even see the hikers on Half Dome. Well you have to bring your binoculars for that last one, but it’s really cool!
I know that Half Dome is the ultimate hike in Yosemite, but if you don’t have the time, or the health to make it, check out North Dome. The first 2.5 miles is easy — just a walk in the woods w/​a couple of creek jumps. The second part is steep, but if you keep yourself hydrated, you should have no problem clearing it even in the middle of summer. There’s also a one mile detour to Indian Rock, close to the Dome, def. worth checking out.
* Check the website link for directions and more tips.