Outbound Collective logo

Sentinel Dome Trail

Mariposa County, California

5.0/5
based on 9 reviews

Details

Distance

2.15 miles

Elevation Gain

400 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

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.

Read More

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app
Download GPX File

Features

Chillin
Photography
Hiking
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Picnic Area
Romantic
Scenic

Sentinel Dome Trail Reviews

Make sure to complete the loop and hit Taft point! Awesome view of El Cap.

I am a serious fan of this hike. There really is no shortage of great things to say about it. It's not strenuous, has a world class view, and provides excellent photography opportunities. I would highly recommend this adventure to anyone visiting Yosemite. It is relatively less crowded than many busy Yosemite spots too!

This trail shares a parking lot with the Taft Point trail, a park ranger told us they were both easy and the same length. We did both hikes, and would rate this hike as harder than Taft Point but still "easy". We were here in July and did not even think about wearing sunscreen, which was a mistake, as this hike does not have much shade. Once you get to the dome climbing part, it is much steeper, but very satisfying once you do it. This was a popular trail, but it didn't seem crowded. There is a bathroom at the trailhead. This is a good hike to do if you want to climb a dome but don't have a permit to climb Half Dome (or if you are scared, lol).

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Loop

Taft Point

Backpack to Clouds Rest from Glacier Point

Illilouette Falls in Yosemite National Park

Reverse Summit of Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park

Stargaze and Photograph the Night Sky at Glacier Point