Granite Dome Hikes in California

Granite Dome Hikes in California at a Glance

This page lists 3 granite dome hikes in California from the Summit Seeker trail database. Summit elevations run from 8,122 ft (Sentinel Dome & Taft Point) to 9,926 ft (Clouds Rest).

3 of the 3 routes have a distance we can quote from a published source. The shortest is Sentinel Dome & Taft Point at 4.9 mi; the longest is Half Dome at 14 mi. Elevation gain ranges from about 1,000 ft (Sentinel Dome & Taft Point) to 4,800 ft (Half Dome). Together the quoted routes add up to 32.9 miles of hiking. By their own ratings they break down as 2 strenuous, 1 moderate.

All 3 guides name a specific trailhead or parking area.

Figures are as recorded in each trail's own data and are planning estimates (≈ marks a figure estimated from the mapped track); confirm conditions and route length with the land manager before you go.

Every granite dome hike in California, with route facts

Trail	Summit	Route	Distance	Gain	Time	Difficulty	Trailhead
Clouds Rest	9,926 ft	Clouds Rest via Tenaya Lake	14 mi round trip	2,300 ft	9 hr	Strenuous	Sunrise Lakes Trailhead, Tioga Road. Limited parking, arrive early
Half Dome	8,842 ft	Half Dome via Mist Trail	14 mi round trip	4,800 ft	11 hr	Strenuous	Half Dome/Mist Trail Trailhead, Yosemite Valley. Parking fills by 7am in summer
Sentinel Dome & Taft Point	8,122 ft	Sentinel Dome & Taft Point Loop	4.9 mi loop	1,000 ft	3.5 hr	Moderate	Sentinel Dome/Taft Point Trailhead, Glacier Point Road. Limited parking

Route notes

Clouds Rest — 14 mi round trip via the Clouds Rest via Tenaya Lake from Sunrise Lakes Trailhead, Tioga Road. Limited parking, arrive early, 2,300 ft of elevation gain, about 9 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: $35 park entrance.
Half Dome — 14 mi round trip via the Half Dome via Mist Trail from Half Dome/Mist Trail Trailhead, Yosemite Valley. Parking fills by 7am in summer, 4,800 ft of elevation gain, about 11 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: $35 vehicle entrance fee.
Sentinel Dome & Taft Point — a 4.9-mile loop via the Sentinel Dome & Taft Point Loop from Sentinel Dome/Taft Point Trailhead, Glacier Point Road. Limited parking, 1,000 ft of elevation gain, about 3.5 hr, rated Moderate. Parking: $35 park entrance.

9,926 ft