Half Dome, Yosemite National Park: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

Half Dome rises 1,444 meters above the floor of Yosemite Valley, its sheer northwest face the result of glacial action that sheared away an estimated 20 percent of the original dome. The summit stands at 2,693 meters elevation. The cables route on the dome's eastern slope, first installed in 1919, allows hikers to ascend the final 120 meters of bare granite at a 46-degree angle using steel cables and wooden crossboards. The round trip from the valley floor via the Mist Trail is roughly 23 kilometers and requires a daily permit, limited to 300 hikers. is just one of many options in Yosemite National Park. Major attractions worth considering include Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan, and Glacier Point.