About
Length (round trip)2.2 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyModerate
Elevation gain250 ft up
Typical time1 hr 15 min
TrailheadGlacier Point Road
SurfaceForest path to an unfenced cliff edge
Best seasonWaterfalls peak in May and June. Tioga and Glacier Point roads open late May or June and close with the first big snow.
DogsNot allowed
What you'll see 🌄 Big views

Sentinel Dome This wide trail leads mostly across open granite with little shade. Scramble up Sentinel Dome's granite slope to enjoy 360-degree views of Yosemite Valley and the high Sierra. Consider taking this hike at sunset or during a full moon, but remember to bring a flashlight or headlamp. Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km) round-trip Elevation gain: 400 ft (120 m) elevation gain Time estimate: 1-2 hours Taft Point This trail leads through forest and meadow to the rim above Yosemite Valley, including superb views of El Capitan and Yosemite Falls. Near Taft Point, you'll see The Fissures, which are narrow fractures in the granite called joints. Use caution around these fractures, which include drops of up to 2,000 feet. Distance: 2.2 miles (3.5 km) round-trip Elevation gain: 200 ft (60 m) elevation gain on return Time estimate: 1-2 hours The Sentinel Dome and Taft Point trails can be combined into a longer loop hike by connecting via the Pohono Trail. Tips Pets and bicycles are not allowed on hiking trails. Stay off domes during thunderstorms. Pit toilets are available at the trailhead parking area. Seasonal Information These trailheads are only reachable by car when Glacier Point Road is open, typically late May through October or November.

Tips
There is one short railing and nothing else - the fissures are open slots straight down and people have died here. Keep well back and keep children in hand. Sunset here facing El Capitan is extraordinary.
Location

Glacier Point Road

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
Your Hikes

🔒 Login or create an account to record the trails you've done, rate them, and tie them to a trip.

Trail data: USGS National Map / PAD-US, the National Park Service, state agencies, and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Access and conditions change — check with the managing agency before you go.