Sentinel Dome Trail

Mariposa County, CA
5.0
11 Reviews
Sentinel Dome Trail
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Details

Distance
2.15 miles
Elevation Gain
390 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back

Features

Scenic
Romantic
Picnic Area
Family Friendly
Easy Parking
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About this place

Added by Emily Noyd

Sentinel Dome is a short hike with excellent bird's eye views of El Capitan, Half Dome, and the entire Yosemite Valley.

One of the most popular places in Yosemite for sunset is Glacier Point, but by walking one mile from the trailhead, the crowds quickly dissipate. Sentinel Dome is great for all ages since the trail is short and not too steep. Park at the Sentinel Dome trailhead, about 3 miles from the end of Glacier Point Road. The trail is one mile, one-way. For the best timing, leave the trailhead at least one hour before sunset.

There's no camping allowed at Sentinel Dome or anywhere within 4 miles of Glacier Point. The one exception is during winter when Glacier Point Rd is unplowed, which converts it to a trail, and the "no camping zone" collapses a bit. A wilderness permit is required year-round for any wilderness area, including Sentinel Dome in winter. Learn more about winter backpacking to Sentinel Dome here: https://www.theoutbound.com/yo... Other than that, enjoy Sentinel for sunrise or sunset, just don't sleep there.

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Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and be sure to follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly.
Community
Reviews
Photos
Check-ins
Joe Broering
6/10/2026
Amazing Views
Bathrooms
Great Conditions
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Ericka Johnson
5/20/2025
Amazing Views
Not Crowded
Great Conditions
Well Maintained
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Sami Smith
8/3/2022
Breathtaking
This is a great little hike, and if you're up for longer, do the loop to taft and back. Amazing 360 degree views from the top of the dome.
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Eli Flicker
5/27/2018
Awesome Hike
A great, short hike in Yosemite with awesome views. One of the best.
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Mason Clark
12/30/2017
Make It A Trip
Make sure to complete the loop and hit Taft point! Awesome view of El Cap.
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Patrick Zurfluh
10/8/2017
Short And Rewarding
A short, quite easy trail — and yet so rewarding at the top! One of the best views of the valley!
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Andrew Upchurch
7/20/2017
Lots of bang for your buck!
I am a serious fan of this hike. There really is no shortage of great things to say about it. It's not ...
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C.C. Blackshear
10/20/2016
Great hike, amazing views
This trail shares a parking lot with the Taft Point trail, a park ranger told us they were both easy and the same length. ...
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Kyle VanAuken
9/22/2016
Short, Easy Hike
I thought that this was a nice short hike after hiking 18 miles in sequoia national park the day before. I didn't get the ...
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Christian Murillo
8/17/2016
Tremendous view
This is an incredible low-mid distance hike to do in Yosemite that does not have the crowds of Glacier Point, but is easy enough ...
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Sarah Gooch
8/14/2016
Amazing views!
This short hike provides some of the best views of Yosemite, including Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and Yosemite Falls. You can ...
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