North Dome Trail

Yosemite National Park, California

By RON LIZZI - GoOutsideBook.com

 

 

Here are ten photos from the North Dome Trail in California's Yosemite National Park.

 

This fantastic out-and-back hike is about 9.5 miles (15.3 kilometers) round trip with a cumulative elevation gain of 2,000 feet (610 meters), including a short spur to Indian Rock Arch, Yosemite's only open natural arch.

 

The hike begins at the Porcupine Creek Trailhead on Tioga Road, which is closed November to May.

 

While the views of Half Dome and Tenaya Canyon are breathtaking from North Dome, one could shorten the hike by finishing on Indian Ridge prior to the steep descent to North Dome. As the eighth photo below shows, one would still get an excellent view.

 

These photos were taken on October 7 in the late afternoon, when sunlight hits the north face of Half Dome.

 

The photos from North Dome (taken from here) are presented first, followed by ones that are progressively closer to the trailhead.

Panorama from North Dome, Yosemite National Park, California

Panorama of Tenaya Canyon, with Clouds Rest, left, Half Dome, center right, and Mt. Starr King, far right, viewed from North Dome

Click the photo for a larger version

 

Half Dome viewed from North Dome, Yosemite National Park, California

Half Dome viewed from North Dome

 

Half Dome viewed from North Dome, Yosemite National Park, California

Half Dome viewed from North Dome

 

Clouds Rest and Quarter Domes viewed from North Dome, Yosemite National Park, California

Clouds Rest, left, and Quarter Domes, right, viewed from North Dome

 

Half Dome and shoe-like rock viewed from North Dome, Yosemite National Park, California

Shoe-like rock on North Dome with Half Dome in the background

 

Yosemite Valley viewed from North Dome, Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite Valley and the tip of El Capitan, center right, viewed from North Dome

 

North Dome Trail, Yosemite National Park, California

Trail to North Dome, top, viewed from Indian Ridge

 

Half Dome viewed from Indian Ridge, Yosemite National Park, California

Half Dome and Mt. Starr King, far right, viewed from Indian Ridge

 

Indian Rock Arch, Yosemite National Park, California

Indian Rock Arch (about 15 feet tall)

 

Indian Rock Arch, Yosemite National Park, California

Indian Rock Arch

 

 

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