Pictures of Half Dome, Yosemite

(Copyright © 2016 Piero Scaruffi)
If you would like the original, high-resolution pictures, contact me

Notes of this trip | Back to California hikes | Pictures of the world

Highlights


From start to end

(Click on the pictures to enlarge them | If you have a high-speed connection, click here for larger pictures)

Half Dome from Tioga Rd

Trail map

The route from Glacier Point

Towards the trailhead


Half Dome trailhead at Happy Isles

Distances (in kms too, a rarity in the USA)

Half Dome trailhead

Half Dome trailhead


Yosemite Falls from the trailhead

Yosemite Falls

The first bridge

Vernal Falls from the bridge (end of the paved trail)


Vernal Falls

Vernal Falls

Vernal Falls

Vernal Falls


Vernal Falls

Vernal Falls

The river below Vernal Falls


The rapids

The rapids

First junction (left for the Mist trail)

First junction (left for the Mist trail)


First junction (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)

The Mist Trail ascends to the top of the falls

Mist Trail


Up the Mist Trail

Up the Mist Trail

Up the Mist Trail


The steps to Vernal Falls

Mist trail

Mist trail

Mist trail


Mist trail

Mist trail

Mist trail

Mist trail


Mist trail

Mist trail

Mist Trail

Rainbow on the Mist Trail


Rainbow on the Mist Trail

Rainbow on the Mist Trail


Rainbow

Up the Mist Trail

Rainbow

Rainbow


Vernal Falls

Vernal Falls


Vernal Falls

Vernal Falls

Vernal Falls

Vernal Falls


Mist Trail

Mist Trail

Vernal Falls

Vernal Falls


Vernal Falls

Vernal Falls


Steps to Vernal Falls

Steps to Vernal Falls

Steps to Vernal Falls

Last steps to Vernal Falls


Last steps to Vernal Falls

View from the steps

View from the steps

Mist trail


Mist trail

Last steps

Mist trail

At the top of Vernal Falls


At the top of Vernal Falls

Top of Vernal Falls

Top of Vernal Falls

Top of Vernal Falls


Looking down from above Vernal Falls

Looking down from above Vernal Falls

Looking down from above Vernal Falls

Looking down from above Vernal Falls


Looking down from above Vernal Falls

Looking down from above Vernal Falls


Top of Vernal Falls

Top of Vernal Falls

Top of Vernal Falls

Top of Vernal Falls


Upstream from Vernal Falls

Upstream from Vernal Falls

Upstream from Vernal Falls

Upstream from Vernal Falls


Upstream from Vernal Falls

Upstream from Vernal Falls


The river above Vernal Falls

The river above Vernal Falls

The river above Vernal Falls

The creek upstream from the falls


Emerald Pool

Emerald Pool

Whirlwind rapids

Emerald Pool


Emerald Pool

The trail above Emerald Pool

The trail above Emerald Pool

The trail above Emerald Pool


First views of Nevada Falls

First views of Nevada Falls

First views of Nevada Falls

First views of Nevada Falls


Half Dome sticking up in the background

Getting to the second bridge

Getting to the second bridge

The second bridge


Nevada Falls from the bridge

The creek underneath

The creek underneath

The creek upstream


At the bridge

On the way to Nevada Falls

On the way to Nevada Falls

On the way to Nevada Falls


On the way to Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls in the distance

Nevada Falls in the distance


Getting closer to Nevada Falls

Getting closer to Nevada Falls

Getting closer to Nevada Falls


Beginning of the switchbacks to Nevada Falls

Steps to Nevada Falls

Steps to Nevada Falls


Best viewpoint below Nevada Falls

Best viewpoint below Nevada Falls

Best viewpoint below Nevada Falls


Up the switchbacks

Up the switchbacks

Up the switchbacks

Up the switchbacks


Nevada Falls from the steps

Steps to Nevada Falls

Steps to Nevada Falls

Steps to Nevada Falls


Steps to Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls


Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls

Steps to Nevada Falls


Steps to Nevada Falls

Next to Nevada Falls

Almost at Nevada Falls

Wall of granite


Steps to Nevada Falls

The last steps

The last steps

The summit of Nevada Falls


End of the steps

Top of Mist Trail (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)

Top of Mist Trail (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)

Top of Mist Trail (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)


Junction with the John Muir Trail (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)

Junction with the John Muir Trail (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)

Junction with the John Muir Trail (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)

Junction with the John Muir Trail (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)


Reminder that you need a permit to Half Dome

The river below Little Yosemite Valley

A dome above Little Yosemite Valley


Towards Little Yosemite Valley

Towards Little Yosemite Valley

Towards Little Yosemite Valley

The river at Little Yosemite Valley


The river at Little Yosemite Valley

The river at LYV

The river

The river


The trail at Little Yosemite Valley

The trail at Little Yosemite Valley

The trail at Little Yosemite Valley

The trail at Little Yosemite Valley


Towards Little Yosemite Valley

Towards Little Yosemite Valley

Towards Little Yosemite Valley


The direction of Clouds Rest

Little Yosemite Valley

The trail reaches a meadow flanked by a peaceful creek (Little Yosemite Valley)

Little Yosemite Valley


Little Yosemite Valley

Little Yosemite Valley

Little Yosemite Valley

Little Yosemite Valley


Little Yosemite Valley

Little Yosemite Valley

Little Yosemite Valley

Little Yosemite Valley


Little Yosemite Valley

Little Yosemite Valley

Little Yosemite Valley (reflections in the creek)

Little Yosemite Valley


Little Yosemite Valley

Half Dome from Little Yosemite Valley

Little Yosemite Valley

Little Yosemite Valley


Little Yosemite Valley

Little Yosemite Valley

Little Yosemite Valley

After the meadow, a long series of switchbacks gain elevation rapidly.


Switchbacks after Little Yosemite Valley

In the forest above Little Yosemite Valley

In the forest above Little Yosemite Valley

In the forest


In the forest

In the forest

After Little Yosemite Valley

In the forest


In the forest

In the forest

In the forest

In the forest


The switchbacks above Little Yosemite Valley

In the forest above Little Yosemite Valley


The junction to Clouds Rest

Junction to Clouds Rest (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)

Junction to Clouds Rest (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)


Half Dome/Cloud's Rest junction (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)

Half Dome/Cloud's Rest junction (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)

The fork to Clouds Rest

The fork to Clouds Rest

For Clouds Rest click here



The rocky trail above the junction

The rocky trail above the junction

The rocky trail above the junction


Up towards the steps

Up towards the steps

Up towards the steps

Up towards the steps


You can already see the steps and the cables

Top of the little dome before the steps

Views out of the forest

Views out of the forest


Views out of the forest

Views out of the forest

Views out of the forest

Views out of the forest


Views out of the forest

Views out of the forest

Views out of the forest

View of the Scalpel-like mountain (Mt Clark) and the concave domes over Little Yosemite Valley


View of Quarter Dome and Clouds Rest

North Dome across the valley

Towards the steps

Towards the steps


Steps and cables

Towards the steps

Towards the steps

Towards the steps


Views from the bottom of the Golden Staircase

Views from the bottom of the Golden Staircase

Clear view of the cables

Views from the bottom of the Golden Staircase


Ranger checking permits

Beginning of the golden staircase

Bottom of the Golden Staircase

Beginning of the steps


Mountains over Little Yosemite Valley

On the steps

On the steps

On the steps


Views from the Golden Staircase

Looking down the steps from the subdome

Little Yosemite Valley from the golden staircase

On the steps


On the steps

On the steps

On the steps

Top of the steps


Top of the steps

Top of the steps

Top of the steps

North Dome and Clouds Rest


Clouds Rest and Tenaya Canyon

Tenaya Canyon

The cables from the subdome

The cables from the subdome


Almost at the cables

Views from the subdome

Views from the subdome

Preparing for the cables


Preparing for the cables

Preparing for the cables

Preparing for the cables

Preparing for the cables


Preparing for the cables

Preparing for the cables

Preparing for the cables

The gloves


On the cables

On the cables

On the cables

On the cables


On the cables

On the cables

On the cables

On the cables


On the cables

On the cables

On the cables

On the cables


On the cables

Top of the cables

Top of Half Dome

Top of Half Dome


View of Yosemite Valley

Views from Half Dome

Views from Half Dome

The top of Half Dome


Tenaya Canyon and Clouds Rest

Half Dome to Clouds Rest

El Capitan and Yosemite Valley

Tourists' favorite: the hanging rock


Views from the top

Views from the top

Views from the top

Views from the top


Views from the top

Views from the top

Views from the top

Views from the top


The summit

The summit

The summit

The summit


The summit

The summit

The summit

The summit


The summit

The summit

The summit


The summit

The summit

The summit

The top of Half Dome


View from the top

View from the top

View northeast

The southern view

The southern view


The southern view

The southern view

The southern view

The southern view


The southern view

The southern view

Southern view

Upper Falls


El Capitan

Going back via the John Muir trail



Nevada Falls in spring

Nevada Falls in spring

Nevada Falls

Detour: Top of Nevada Falls


After the junction with the John Muir trail going towards the top of Nevada Falls

The trail from above

The creek before the falls

The creek before the falls


Steps to the viewpoint

Views from the viewpoint at the top of Nevada Falls

Views from the viewpoint at the top of Nevada Falls

Views from the viewpoint at the top of Nevada Falls


Views from the viewpoint at the top of Nevada Falls

Views from the viewpoint at the top of Nevada Falls


The fall

The bridge at Nevada Falls

From the bridge


From the bridge

From the bridge

Looking towards the valley


Top of Nevada Falls

Top of Nevada Falls

Top of Nevada Falls

Top of Nevada Falls


The river above Nevada Falls

The river above Nevada Falls

The river above Nevada Falls

The river


Above Nevada Falls

Above Nevada Falls


The top of Nevada Falls

The top of Nevada Falls

The top of Nevada Falls

The top of Nevada Falls


Half Dome and Nevada Falls from the John Muir Trail

Down the John Muir Trail

Nevada Falls from the John Muir Trail


The John Muir trail down below

Looking towards the valley

Descending the John Muir trail


Nevada Falls

Half Dome to Nevada Falls

Downstream of Half Dome

Half Dome and Clouds Rest in the distance


Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls


Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls


Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls


Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls

John Muir trail

John Muir trail


John Muir trail

John Muir trail


Junction with the Glacier Point trail (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)

Junction with the Glacier Point trail

Junction with the Glacier Point trail (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)

Junction with the Glacier Point trail (multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances)


John Muir trail

John Muir trail

John Muir trail


Descending the JMT

The back of Half Dome in the distance


Half Dome and Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls

Half Dome and Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls


Nevada Falls

Half Dome and Nevada Falls

Nevada Falls

The back of Half Dome and other prominent peaks


Descending the JMT

Descending the JMT


Junction with the connection to the Mist Trail

Junction with the connection to the Mist Trail at Clark Point

Junction with the connection to the Mist Trail

Junction with the connection to the Mist Trail


John Muir trail (turn right for to the viewpoint above Vernal Falls)

Vernal Falls from the John Muir Trail

Vernal Falls from the John Muir Trail

Vernal Falls from the John Muir Trail


Vernal Falls from the John Muir Trail

Vernal Falls from the John Muir Trail

Vernal Falls from the John Muir Trail


If you don't take the detour to the Vernal Falls viewpoint, continue on the John Muir trail

Taking the left branch (the longer one, the one that doesn't join the Mist Trail)

Distant views of Yosemite Falls


Distant views of Yosemite Falls

Distant views of Yosemite Falls

Distant views of Yosemite Falls


The split: left for horses, right for humans

The split: left for horses, right for humans

The split: left for horses, right for humans

The split: left for horses, right for humans


The junction with the Mist Trail

The junction with the Mist Trail just above the first bridge

Video from Half Dome


Back to California hikes


(Copyright © 2016 Piero Scaruffi)
If you would like the original, high-resolution pictures, contact me