Hike North Dome

Porcupine Creek, North Dome Trails

Reaching the top of North Dome rewards the hiker with what is likely the most captivating and complete panorama of Yosemite Valley. Some Half Dome supporters say the Yosemite icon offers superior views, but North Dome devotees are quick to point out that North Dome offers something Half Dome can’t provide: a view of Half Dome!

And not just any view of Half Dome—an in-your-face-available only to the hiker vista to savor. From the top of North Dome unfolds a panorama of polished stone that includes Cloud’s Rest, Glacier Point, Sentinel Dome and much more.

From a Yosemite Valley floor perspective, 7,542-foot North Dome dominates over the north wall of Tenaya Canyon opposite Half Dome. It appears impossible to ascend but, surprisingly, the rounded mass of granite can be traveled and topped by a moderately graded pathway.

The path to the dome begins at Porcupine Flat (formerly a campground, closed in 1976 and relocated a mile down Tioga Road). Porcupine Flat is home to scores of the namesake rodent, whose favorite food source is the inner bark of conifers and the area’s lodgepole pines in particular.

In addition to the local lodgepoles, a generous selection of other Yosemite trees may be glimpsed en route: silver pine, Jeffrey pine, red fir and huckleberry oak. Several life zones overlap at this elevation (about 8,000 feet), creating this intriguing collection of trees. Those curious hikers who want to learn more about Yosemite’s Conifer-Land can take Cones and Needles Trail, a short interpretive path that begins at a turnout on Tioga Road just west of the North Dome trailhead.

An intermediate destination—or extra added attraction-- to this hike is Indian Rock, an unusual stone arch perched atop Indian Ridge. The delicate, 20-foot arch, scarcely one-foot thick at its thickest part, is not Yosemite’s only arch (another is below the surface of the Tuolumne River in Tuolumne Meadows), but it is the only one accessible to hikers.

The hike: Follow the old campground road (first paved, then dirt) for 0.7 mile. The route narrows to signed Porcupine Creek Trail, crosses two branches of Porcupine Creek, and wanders through the forest for another 0.8 mile.

At the 1.5-mile mark, you’ll intersect Snow Creek Trail. Walk right a dozen paces, then veer left almost immediately at a second junction.

The path begins a mellow ascent of Indian Ridge. Two miles out, the tree cover parts to permit a so-so view of Yosemite Valley. A switchbacking climb brings you to a saddle and to a signed side trail to Indian Rock.

Indian Rock Connector Trail (0.25 mile long) ascends rather steeply up rocky Indian Ridge, gains the ridgetop, and travels it north to the arch—or Indian Ridge Arch as it’s sometimes called.

From the saddle, North Dome Trail descends along the forested crest of Indian Ridge for another 1.2 miles to meet the trail to Yosemite Falls at about 4 miles from the trailhead. Turn left and descend some tight switchbacks to the shoulder of North Dome, then across the top of the long, bald dome.

Savor the incomparable view of the Merced River flowing through Yosemite Valley far below and identify the waterfalls cascading from the valley walls. Along with El Capitan, Three Brothers and the other prominent landmarks, be sure to look out at Little Yosemite Valley and Mt. Starr King.

Yosemite Hiking Trails >>  
Hetch Hetchy | Mariposa Grove | Wawona Meadow | Glacier Point 4 Mile Trail
Glacier Point to Yosemite Valley | Half Dome Trail | Yosemite Falls | Vernal & Nevada Falls
May Lake | Cathedral Lakes | Clouds Rest | Gaylor Lakes | Lembert Dome | Lukens Lake
Merced Grove | Mirror Lake | Mono Pass | Mount Dana | North Dome | Taft Point
Ten Lakes | Tenaya Lake | Tuolumne Falls | Tuolumne Grove | Tuolumne Meadow