North Dome Trail, Yosemite National Park
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North Dome Trail
Relatively level path to a spectacular viewpoint 3,500 feet above Yosemite Valley; on the granite summit of North Dome. The first few miles are though thick forest; views improve over the later stages. A short spur trail leads to a granite arch, and on to a lesser summit (Indian Rock)
Length: 4.4 miles, plus 0.7 miles for the spur to Indian Rock
Elevation change: 600 feet, or 1,000 feet including the rock
Difficulty: Moderate
Type: One way
Usage: Low to medium
Season: Summer and fall
Trailhead: Porcupine Creek trailhead
Rating (1-5): ★★★★★
Elevation change: 600 feet, or 1,000 feet including the rock
Difficulty: Moderate
Type: One way
Usage: Low to medium
Season: Summer and fall
Trailhead: Porcupine Creek trailhead
Rating (1-5): ★★★★★
North Dome in Yosemite National Park is the easiest reached of the four main viewpoints of Yosemite Valley on the north side, being shorter and generally more level than the other three, El Capitan, Eagle Peak and Yosemite Point. The one-way distance is 4.4 miles, the first half all through thick pine forest with little elevation change, the second part more open and undulating, ending with a climb up the smooth granite slopes of the dome, which has an elevation of 7,542 feet, about 3,500 feet above the valley floor, and so gives spectacular views, over a number of famous Yosemite landmarks including Clouds Rest, Half Dome, Illilouette Gorge and Glacier Point.
One worthwhile side trip, about two thirds of the way, is to Indian Rock (8,522 feet), another granite summit, topped by an array of eroded formations; this is 0.7 miles along a spur trail, making the total round-trip distance 10.2 miles. A little way south of this peak, also along the spur trail, is Indian Rock Arch, supposedly the only natural arch in the national park; a delicate-looking span in the light gray granite.
The North Dome Trail is relatively popular but never very busy, and is a good choice for a half day hike, typically taking 4 to 5 hours.
Start point for the hike to North Dome is the Porcupine Creek Trailhead, along Tioga Road, 15 miles west of Tuolumne Meadows; a paved pull-out on the south side, with parking space for about 15 vehicles. The path enters the woods, descends and soon meets the disused but still paved Old Tioga Road, which was built in 1888 by the Sierra Mining Company, then bypassed when the current highway was constructed in the 1950s. The old road is followed a short distance before the route reverts to a trail, descending some more through a typical forest mix of live, fallen and burnt trees, the live ones generally old and tall.
The surroundings are dry at first, becoming moister as the path crosses a small stream, Porcupine Creek, soon followed by another, a tributary. A meadow is passed on the left, the path now completely level, and the surroundings become more bouldery, with open granite slopes above, and Yosemite Valley intermittently visible ahead, through gaps in the trees. Two junctions are reached in quick succession; turning left at the second, the path climbs quite steeply up the side of a ridge, through alternating trees and clearings, to the ridgetop, and another junction, signed Indian Rock 0.3 miles, this the distance to the arch rather than the peak, which is 0.4 miles further (and 400 feet above the junction), along the same summit ridge, all of which has fine views in all directions.
After the Indian Rock junction, the North Dome Trail drops down through some trees and emerges to a broad, treeless ridge; a wide path over whitish granite gravel. It bends to the left (east), down a slope, back to wooded terrain for a while, followed by more granite slickrock, and down again to the final junction; Yosemite Point is west, and North Dome east. This trail descends further, into a wooded ravine, then rises for the last time, to the summit of the dome. The best views are little way past the high point, and are not from a single place; it is necessary to walk around to find the best vantage points. The top of the dome is covered by shapely boulders and small-scale eroded formations, including a few tiny arches.
One worthwhile side trip, about two thirds of the way, is to Indian Rock (8,522 feet), another granite summit, topped by an array of eroded formations; this is 0.7 miles along a spur trail, making the total round-trip distance 10.2 miles. A little way south of this peak, also along the spur trail, is Indian Rock Arch, supposedly the only natural arch in the national park; a delicate-looking span in the light gray granite.
The North Dome Trail is relatively popular but never very busy, and is a good choice for a half day hike, typically taking 4 to 5 hours.
North Dome Trailhead
Start point for the hike to North Dome is the Porcupine Creek Trailhead, along Tioga Road, 15 miles west of Tuolumne Meadows; a paved pull-out on the south side, with parking space for about 15 vehicles. The path enters the woods, descends and soon meets the disused but still paved Old Tioga Road, which was built in 1888 by the Sierra Mining Company, then bypassed when the current highway was constructed in the 1950s. The old road is followed a short distance before the route reverts to a trail, descending some more through a typical forest mix of live, fallen and burnt trees, the live ones generally old and tall.
Trail to Indian Rock
The surroundings are dry at first, becoming moister as the path crosses a small stream, Porcupine Creek, soon followed by another, a tributary. A meadow is passed on the left, the path now completely level, and the surroundings become more bouldery, with open granite slopes above, and Yosemite Valley intermittently visible ahead, through gaps in the trees. Two junctions are reached in quick succession; turning left at the second, the path climbs quite steeply up the side of a ridge, through alternating trees and clearings, to the ridgetop, and another junction, signed Indian Rock 0.3 miles, this the distance to the arch rather than the peak, which is 0.4 miles further (and 400 feet above the junction), along the same summit ridge, all of which has fine views in all directions.
The Dome
After the Indian Rock junction, the North Dome Trail drops down through some trees and emerges to a broad, treeless ridge; a wide path over whitish granite gravel. It bends to the left (east), down a slope, back to wooded terrain for a while, followed by more granite slickrock, and down again to the final junction; Yosemite Point is west, and North Dome east. This trail descends further, into a wooded ravine, then rises for the last time, to the summit of the dome. The best views are little way past the high point, and are not from a single place; it is necessary to walk around to find the best vantage points. The top of the dome is covered by shapely boulders and small-scale eroded formations, including a few tiny arches.
Topographic Map of the North Dome Trail
