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Porcupine Creek - North Dome

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.7 (26)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …High Sierra
  4. Yosemite National Park
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“Travel from Porcupine Creek on Tioga Road to North Dome, with stunning views of Half Dome. ”

David Hitchcock
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Map Key

8.7

Miles

13.9

KM

Out and Back

8,084' 2,464 m

High

7,437' 2,267 m

Low

1,206' 367 m

Up

1,207' 368 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

41%

Max Grade (22°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Family Friendly A great option for older kids to experience the best of the Yosemite on a fairly easy trail. Kids will love the sense of achievement they experience upon reaching the top of North Dome.

Tioga Road east of Crane Flat and west of Tioga Pass Entrance station is closed in the winter and spring until the road is cleared of snow. You can check road conditions at nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/… or by dialing 1-209-372-0200, dialing extensions 1/1.

Overview

This trail provides the easiest route to North Dome, which offers outstanding views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Clouds Rest, and Glacier Point. Since it's the easiest and shortest route to the North Rim, it's one of the most popular routes up there.

Need to Know

Take the Indian Rock Trail spur either on your way to or back from North Dome to view the only granite Arch in Yosemite, and the whole High Sierras. Offers great views of the surrounding area.

The area around North Dome is very exposed with few trees, so make sure you have plenty of water and sunscreen.

There is a rock hop at Porcupine Creek 0.7 miles into the route, that may need to be crossed via a log upstream if the creek is high.

Description

From the trailhead at Porcupine Flat, head downhill and meet the old road following it to Porcupine Creek at 0.7 miles. You continue through a red fir and lodgepole pine forest that climbs slightly for over a mile until you arrive at a series of trail junctions. Keep straight though the first junction, and then at another fork, keep left toward North Dome. The trail moves steadily uphill either through forest or over open rock until you reach Indian Ridge. Here, you encounter the spur trail to Indian Arch, which is worth the trip either now or on your way back from Half Dome.

The trail continues south along Indian Ridge before it drops sharply to the left where it picks up a ridgeline. You now start to encounter stupendous views of El Capitan, Half Dome, Clouds Rest, the Three Brothers, and Mount Starr King. You'll descend over slick granite rock at this point until you hit a junction at 3.9 miles.

The trail goes to the left and south, and while you feel like you are on the wrong trail or moving away from North Dome, you are on the trail. You pass Basket Dome on your way up to a saddle, and then work your way up the crown of North Dome. When you reach the summit, you'll be rewarded for your work by some of the finest views in Yosemite. Merced Canyon, Yosemite Valley, Illiouette Gorge, and Tenaya Canyon all meet below North Dome. Half Dome, Clouds Rest, Quarter Domes, Glacier Point, Mount Starr King, and the stars of the valley are all in view at this point.

Once you have enjoyed the views and explored the area, return to the trailhead via the way you came.

Flora & Fauna

Deer, bear, chipmunks, squirrels, and porcupines can be seen in this area.

Contacts

Land Manager: NPS - Yosemite

Shared By:

David Hitchcock
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.7 from 26 votes

#6

in Yosemite National Park

#390

Overall
  4.7 from 26 votes
5 Star
73%
4 Star
27%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#6

in Yosemite National Park

#63

in California

#390

Overall
9 Views Last Month
11,689 Since Jan 27, 2016
Intermediate Intermediate
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Photos

Views galore en route to North Dome.
Jan 28, 2016 near Yosemit…, CA
Descending Indian Ridge to North Dome.
Jan 27, 2016 near Yosemit…, CA
Beautiful wildflowers along North Dome Trail.
Jan 28, 2016 near Yosemit…, CA
Trail running by some fallen trees.
Jan 27, 2016 near Yosemit…, CA
Trail as it approaches Indian Ridge and the trees begin to thin.
Jan 27, 2016 near Yosemit…, CA
Crossing Porcupine Creek.
Jan 25, 2016 near Yosemit…, CA

1 Comment

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Oct 6, 2023
Jeff Giesler
Did June 2022
Jun 20, 2022
Jeff Giesler
Did June 2022
Sep 11, 2021
Tom Herr
Started with asphalt and then forest until near the end where the trail was more challenging, going up and down 2 domes. Went to Indian Rock also. 9.3mi
Sep 6, 2021
Marc Corona
Aug 1, 2020
Sean Kim
황 안젤로, 최 안드레아, 대수 8.7mi
Jul 16, 2020
Bennett Thompson
Oct 16, 2019
Debra Mallinak
With Tim 11mi
Sep 14, 2019
Colleen B

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