Hikers gain 4,800 feet of elevation along the trail that passes highlights such as Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall , before reaching the cables on Half Domeâs steep granite domes. Near the end of the hike, descend steep rock steps to the base of North Dome. The other is to start on the Snow Creek Trail via Mirror Lake loop (which is a slog of a trail) but if you’re into that kind of thing, you will be thrilled at the countless switchbacks. Most of the landmarks in Yosemite Valley have a view of North Dome, such as Half Dome (probably the closest), Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point, and the Valley Floor. Beautiful hike with magnificent scenery. The top of North Dome has two absolutely stunning views to offer those willing to make this modest hike. You will pass a number of stream crossings, which you can easily get across by walking on ⦠North Dome is a beautiful granite formation near the end of the Highway 180 in Kings Canyon National Park. Feedback, Google Street View panorama of the trailhead parking area. Check out my ⦠North Dome, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley above Royal Arches and Washington Column, offers some of the very best views of Half Dome 's awesome North Face and Clouds Rest. Hikers who reach the top of North Dome are treated to amazing views in all directions. Day 2 - Embark on your hike to top of North Dome, which should ⦠Compare elevation, range, calories and other trail metrics. Yosemite Falls Trail to North Dome is a 13.7 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Yosemite Valley, California that features a waterfall and is rated as difficult. The North Dome hike is a great day hike to the best viewpoint in Yosemite or a perfect overnighter on a granite dome. The ledges of North Dome will absolutely test your nerve. On the return trip you can take a short detour on a side trail, 0.3 mile (0.5 km) to an unusual natural arch, Indian Rock. Sherrill. We hiked to North Dome. You enjoy beautiful trails but without the major crowds. Best Time to Visit: whenever Tioga Road is open - roughly June to November. The trail starts at Porcupine Creek Trailhead off Tioga Pass. Enjoythe scenery and continue hiking down and ⦠Hike North Dome & Mount Sherrill This hike begins with an easy section of marked trail on the Devilâs Path but then switches to one of the most challenging Catskills bushwhacks. This steep trail alternates through dense forest and prominent vista points where you can see El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, North Dome, Half Dome, and the high country. North Dome is something of a hidden gem in Yosemite National Park, offering unrivaled views of Half Dome at a level height only 1.5 miles across Yosemite Valley that are accessible within a day's hike from the valley floor.North Dome may be approached via Yosemite Falls (described here), Snow Creek (also in Yosemite ⦠Hike North Dome & Mount Sherrill. Directions To North Dome: For driving directions to trailheads near North Dome click a parking area on the map above, and choose Google Driving Directions. To add a quick side trip to the largest natural arch in Yosemite, watch for the well-marked trail to Indian Rock. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching. The hike to North Dome begins at the Porcupine Creek Trail Head which is accessible off Tioga Highway (120). The Pohono Trail traverses the southern rim of Yosemite Valley, beginning at Tunnel View and ending at Glacier Point. The North Dome Trail is located 23.2 miles from Fish Camp, California (CA) in Yosemite National Park. Itâs tough, but not super hard. Hike Length: 8.3 miles (13.36 km) Looking to the southwest is Yosemite Valley, with Sentinel Rock and Glacier Point to the left, the Cathedral Rocks and Merced River in the center, and the tip of El Cap peeking over the ridge to the right. Wind through mixed-conifer forest for 0.7 miles (1 km) on a paved path, and cross Porcupine Creek. Because the road is only open seasonally, itâs important to verify conditions with the National Park Service before attempting this hike. Sherrill ⦠There are also views from the south eastern side of the summit of Sherrill Mountain, which is NOT marked on our map. The trail passes through a small grassy meadow and descends along a ridge. There is 2 other alternative trail routes if the Tioga Pass is closed, you start at the Upper Yosemite Falls trail and continue along the Snow Creek Trail to North Dome and Indian Rock. The hike up to North Dome and Sherrill Mountain do not have a view from the summit. Since this hike is located off Tioga Pass, the only/best time to hike it is late May-early October while the road is open. Hike north for 3.5 miles, passing a side trail to Indian Rock (11), a rare granite arch. Continue hiking towards North Dome, as the trail leavesthe rim and heads into the red fir and lodgepole pine forest. See our description, photos and practical information for North Dome and join in with our trekking and hiking forums to find out why we think so! North Dome Elevation: 7,540 feet (2,300 meters) The red line shows the main route from the trailhead at Tioga Road to North Dome. North Dome and Mount Sherrill is a 7.4 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near West Kill, New York that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. North Dome is a good all day hike that culminates in a face to face view of Half Dome that it hard to beat anywhere else in the park. We hiked to North Dome. The trail for the North Dome hike starts at Porcupine Creek on the Tioga Road and is about an hours drive from the Yosemite Valley floor. This unique rock formation was really a nice added bonus during my hike. Download the free Yosemite Falls topo map. The trail to Half Dome from Yosemite Valley is an extremely strenuous hike covering over 17 miles. Once you've taken in the view from the precipice, make your way onto Upper Yosemite Falls to North Dome trail to continue your hike. The hike starts out fairly easy and actually decreases in elevation from the road to North Dome. To hike the North Dome trail, you will need to park at the Porcupine Creek Trailhead. The drop is between 500 and 600 ft. Now the 500 ft. climb to Sherrill begins with an initial steep area which levels out near the summit of Mt. You start up a crest and encounter boulders that are worth climbing around on and taking in the views. The trail descends into a forest of white furs and Jeffrey pines before it bottoms out in ⦠You'll have a few springs to ford if you hike to North Dome early in the ⦠Visually North Dome is a prominent landmark in Yosemite Valley, amazingly many have not heard of it. A quick side-trip takes you to Yosemiteâs only natural arch, which is worth a visit. North Dome Hike North Dome is a good all day hike that culminates in a face to face view of Half Dome that it hard to beat anywhere else in the park. The elevation gain is about 1200 ft. until you arrive at the canister on the summit of North Dome (3610 ft.) Head west again and drop into the Col between North Dome and Mt. Climb the dome’s rounded summit to take in a magnificent view of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley below. The area around North Dome is very exposed with few trees, so make sure you have plenty of water and sunscreen. There is a designated parking lot off Tioga Road where hikers and overnight backpackers can leave their cars. Looking for lodging? We had heard that the views are amazing, and the hike is long, but worth it. North Dome is one of the more prominent dome formations located far above the northern side of Yosemite Valley and it stands directly across from the face of Half Dome. Instead of just enjoying Yosemite from the valley, we decided to take a trek to North Dome. You will pass a number of stream crossings, which you can easily get across by walking on the rocks or a fallen tree branch. All in all, this is an excellent hike with a great payoff. It was just a brief excursion off the main North Dome trail, and I highly recommend it. In total, the up-and-back hike off of North Dome Trail is 0.6-miles. Like its counterpart in Yosemite, North Dome has some excellent rock climbing of a very high standard. It's located just above Royal Arches near Camp Curry. Day 1 - Hike in from the Porcupine Trailhead off of Tioga Road in to views of half dome (possible day hike if thats all you have time for). Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The first several miles of the trail is through the forest and is a fairly easy/moderate hike. The ledges of North Dome will absolutely test your nerve. North Dome also offers an unsurpassed view of Clouds Rest, a peak that tends to get obscured by scene-stealing Half Dome when you're sightseeing from Glacier Point or Yosemite Valley. Be sure to take plenty of water as this trail is very exposed at parts and there is not much available along the way. ©2020 Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau, Yosemite Itineraries: What to Do in Yosemite. Find a place to camp for the night - there's fire pit located at the top of the ridge with awesome views for an overnight stay. The trail starts at Porcupine Creek Trailhead off Tioga Pass. It's 4.4 miles (7.1 km) one way. The first several miles of the trail is through the forest and is a fairly easy/moderate hike. It 's 4.4 miles ( 1 km ) one way Valley is an extremely strenuous hike Pass, the hike. 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