Starting Point: Four Mile Trailhead on Yosemite Loop Road (Elev. 4000 feet)
Way Points for Loop: Union Point & Glacier Point & Illilouette Fall & Nevada Fall & Nevada Fall Bridge & Nevada Junction & Little Yosemite Valley & Nevada Junction & Emerald Pool & Silver Apron & Upper Vernal Bridge & Vernal Fall & Lower Vernal Bridge & Merced River & Happy Isles Bridge (hike via Four Mile Trail—Panorama Trail—John Muir Trail—Mist Trail)
Ending Point: Happy Isles Parking Lot on Yosemite Loop Road (Elev. 4000 feet)
Campsite: Little Yosemite Valley Camp
Sidetrip: Sub Dome (hike via Half Dome Trail)
Summit: Half Dome(rock scramble via Cable Route)
Approximate Stats: 25 miles traveled; 7300 feet gained & lost.
Trip Vicinity Map
Yosemite Nat Park Location Map
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Full Trip Report
Eileen and I took a “spring vacation” trip to California in early May and started things off with a very scenic two-day backpacking trek in Yosemite Valley. We also managed to tuck in Half Dome via the Cable (Tourist) Route along the way. This was my very first time visiting Yosemite, so I constantly had to remind myself to keep my mouth closed when looking up.
Day 1: Trailhead to Little Yosemite Valley
After obtaining our backcountry camping permit at the wilderness center, we struck off to the Four Mile Trailhead. This heavily used trail switchbacks upward 3100 vertical feet to Glacier Point, a very popular viewpoint on the southern side of the valley.
Eileen At Four Mile Trailhead
Views of famous Yosemite Falls begin a short distance up the trail.
Yosemite Falls From Trail
Further walking gains views of El Capitan down-valley…
El Capitan From Trail
…and Half Dome up-valley.
Half Dome From Union Point
Upon arriving at Glacier Point (3.7 hours from TH), we were greeted by a few hundred other gawkers, most of whom had either driven up or day-hiked up. Many people seemed quite curious about our large backpacks, but the awesome views from this rocky perch quickly stole back everybody’s gaze.
Yosemite Falls From Glacier Point
Before leaving the crowds behind, Eileen and I scoped out our route eastward to Little Yosemite Valley. We then started descending the Panorama Trail to Illilouette Fall.
Eileen At Glacier Point Looking Up Little Yosemite Valley
Signage in the valley is thorough and, in many cases, artistic. Most backcountry signs consist of torch-cut weathered steel plates. Even angry bears would have difficulty damaging these bad boys.
Panorama Point Trailhead
It was interesting to see the different aspects of Half Dome as our trail circled around the valley’s southern plateau. It looked like a peasant’s cowl from this angle. Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall are visible to the right in this photo.
Little Yosemite Valley From Trail
It was early evening when we crossed the full-flowing Merced River on a picturesque bridge, scant yards above the lip of roaring Nevada Fall.
Nevada Fall Bridge
Our day ended at Little Yosemite Valley Campground (8.75 hours from TH). This roomy camp offers several welcome amenities, such as a double-stall composting toilet, two fire rings, and numerous bear lockers. To my eyes, the surrounding forest and undergrowth were very reminiscent of the eastern Pasayten.
Day 2 (AM): Half Dome Summit Climb
We awoke to a mild, sunny morning, with plans to take a side trip up nearby Half Dome. Carrying light summit packs, we started hiking up the well-groomed Half Dome Trail. The remarkable exfoliation domes of Sub Dome and Half Dome soon rose above timberline.
Hiking Toward Half Dome
When approaching Sub Dome, there does not appear to be a non-technical route over the top. Almost miraculously, however, a long series of granite steps winds upward to provide easy travel. Along the way, we passed a park ranger who checked our climbing permit. He was armed with an I-Pad, a pistol, and handcuffs; clearly, he meant business in every sense of the word.
Hiking Up Sub Dome
From the summit of Sub Dome, we were met by the incredible granitic hulk of Half Dome. Two strands of steel cable run up the slabs in a most improbable fashion. Because cables were first installed in the late 1800s, a cable route has persisted here as a matter of tradition and precedence; surely, this sort of risky installation would never be allowed in modern times.
Half Dome From Sub Dome
We donned leather gloves and began climbing. The lower slabs are inclined at a moderate angle, but the surface gradually becomes quite steep and smooth with increasing height. Wooden cleats every 10 feet or so provide welcome stopping points for a rest or a photo. Two-way traffic makes things even more interesting. In Europe, this climb would likely be rated as a Grade 3 (moderately difficult) via ferrata.
Eileen On Cable Route
After 500 vertical feet of climbing, we strode across the unusually broad and flat summit plateau (2.7 hours from camp).
Half Dome Summit
Eileen couldn’t resist the urge to step out to the overhanging summit rocks. Looking down the vertical face, it is hard to imagine that humans routinely climb this.
Eileen On Half Dome Overhang
To the east, Tenaya Creek flows through an amazing canyon of polished granite.
Tenaya Canyon From Half Dome
After an hour on top, we carefully descended the cables using a quasi-rappel technique, then hiked back down to camp (2.5 hours from summit).
Day 2 (PM): Little Yosemite Valley to Trailhead
We packed up and began heading back to the lower valley. Our route took us down the Mist Trail, alongside spectacular Nevada Fall.
Nevada Fall
Farther down, we stair-stepped our way past Vernal Fall, which plunges through a cool, tropical-feeling canyon.
Eileen Heading Down Mist Trail
It was late afternoon when we reached the valley floor and walked a final level mile to our waiting car at the Happy Isles Trailhead (2.9 hours from camp). Just before stepping into the busy parking lot, I glanced to my left and saw a bobcat casually strolling through the open forest. What a way to end a superb mountain trip!
Route Map & Profile
Little Yosemite Loop & Half Dome Route Map (Cal Topo)Little Yosemite Loop & Half Dome Route Profile
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Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge…
Eileen At Four Mile Trailhead
Yosemite Falls From Trail
El Capitan From Trail
View Up Valley From Trail
Yosemite Falls From Union Point
Half Dome From Union Point
Half Dome From Glacier Point
Yosemite Falls From Glacier Point
Yosemite Falls From Glacier Point
Little Yosemite Valley From Glacier Point
Royal Arches From Glacier Point
Yosemite Falls and Lower Valley
Eileen At Glacier Point Looking Up Little Yosemite Valley
Panorama Point Trailhead
Half Dome and Little Yosemite Valley viewed from trail near Glacier Point
