Granite Monoliths & Subalpine Wilderness
Yosemite National Park in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range offers legendary granite climbing routes and backcountry trails. From the floor of Yosemite Valley to high-altitude backcountry camps in Tuolumne Meadows, this route captures the full majesty of High Sierra terrain.
Top Recommended Trail Sections
- Half Dome Cables Trail: A thrill-filled 26 km day hike ascending 1,400 meters of vertical gain with fixed cable handholds on the upper granite dome.
- Tuolumne Meadows to Glen Aulin: A lush subalpine river trail following the wild cascades of the Tuolumne River down into granite canyons.
- Clouds Rest Peak Summit: Panoramic 360-degree views overlooking Tenaya Canyon and Yosemite Valley from a narrow granite knife-edge ridge.
- Mist Trail & Nevada Falls: Hike directly adjacent to roaring glacial waterfalls spraying mist over mossy stone stairways.
Permit Regulations & Bear Safety
Wilderness permits and Half Dome cable permits are awarded via competitive Recreation.gov lotteries. Approved hard-sided bear canisters are mandatory for all backcountry overnight stays to protect black wildlife populations.