"Half Dome is the symbol of Yosemite; its summit the goal of just about everybody who has ever donned a pair of hiking boots. It is a grueling workout, especially if you do it in one day, but if you spend the night in Little Yosemite Valley and tackle the peak first thing the second morning, you'll have a better chance of avoiding the traffic jams that sometimes build up at the base of the cables.

The cables? The last 400 feet are over what feels like nearly vertical (though the angle is probably more like 45 degrees), smooth, exfoliating granite, so a series of horizontal bars about 5 feet apart, flanked by chains with which to pull yourself up are the only way to get there without technical climbing equipment. It sounds scary but is done by kids and grandmas and everybody in between. Because of its popularity, special rules for obtaining wilderness permits to climb it are in effect and are rigorously enforced"

--Suzanne Swedo, Hiking Yosemite National Park (Falcon Guides).

"A demanding hike; a unique ascent protected by metal cables; spectacular views far down into Yosemite Valley. Come on, it’s Half Dome! A very popular route for trail runners, the standing round-trip record is about three hours and fifteen minutes—but most parties will be happy to do it in eight hours. Half Dome is the second-highest point on the Yosemite Valley rim, exceeded only by Clouds Rest. Considering the terrain and the vertical gain—and the protective cables bolted into the final section to the top—this trip is as adventure-filled as anything in this book. Half Dome is a feature unique enough to be used as the logo for Yosemite National Park, a place with more unusual features than you can shake a giant sequoia stick at."

--Jay Anderson, Climbing California's Mountains (Falcon Guides).

"Some people hike to the summit for the view. Others go to the top just to say they did it. No matter what your reason, it is important to understand that the climb to the top is not for everyone. The final ascent of the dome requires strong arms to pull yourself up a set of near-vertical cables. The exposure is extreme. If you are not comfortable with extreme exposure, do not go."

--Vicky Spring & Tom Kirkendall, 100 Hikes in California's Central Sierra & Coast Range (The Mountaineers Books).

"The Hike is an extremely strenuous, all-day affair that climbs to the summit of Half Dome from Yosemite Valley. (It is a dramatic extension of Hike 85.) The final stretch to the top is by a cable route so steep that you need to pull yourself up with both arms."

--Matt Heid, 101 Hikes in Northern California: Exploring Mountains, Valleys, and Seashore (Wilderness Press).

"For many, Half Dome defines the Yosemite landscape; this stunning granite monolith appears in more scrapbooks worldwide than virtually any other peak. Reigning supremely over the valley floor at 8,842 feet, its looming form is unmistakable as it beckons hikers to a lofty 360-degree panorama. On the must-do list of nearly every California hiker, this is a challenging and long journey that features rushing rivers, turbulent waterfalls, and steep granite walls. The hike first ascends past Vernal and Nevada Falls to Little Yosemite Valley, plateaus briefly, then continues rising. The last 400 feet of the climb are the most memorable, as they include the infamous Half Dome cables that carry you up the final exposed pitch. But the real prize is the jaw-dropping view once you arrive, which should help you forget nearly all the pain of this 5,000-foot ascent. Outstanding features: Vernal and Nevada falls, stupendous views of Yosemite Valley, steel cables at top (late May–mid-October; do not attempt hike if cables are down)"

--Kathleen Dodge, Day & Section Hikes: John Muir Trail (Menasha Ridge Press).

"Many a backpacker has spent his or her first night in the “wilderness” of Little Yosemite Valley. Indeed, more backpackers camp in it than in any other Yosemite backcountry area. Perhaps too, more bears visit it than any other backcountry area. During the summer this area is patrolled by rangers stationed near the backpackers camp. If you hike only this far, your entire semi-loop route up the Mist Trail and down the John Muir Trail will be just 8.7 miles long, and the total ups and downs will be a mere 4800 feet. If you ascend and descend only along the Mist Trail, your round-trip distance is 7.4 miles; if entirely along the John Muir Trail, it is 9.6 miles."

--Jeffrey P. Schaffer, Top Trails Yosemite (Wilderness Press).

"This is a brutal point-to-point hike. There are cables to hold onto as you ascend the last 800 feet to the top of Half Dome. These cables are mind-blowing. They ascend the last 800 feet nearly vertically. Most people are exhausted by the time they reach the base of Half Dome, which makes clambering up a daunting task."

--Allen Riedel, 100 Classic Hikes in Southern California (The Mountaineers Books).

"Half Dome may be the Sierra’s most popular backcountry summit. It’s no wonder that it attracts hikers worldwide. Where else do hikers use cables to hike/climb up to a summit? Additionally, this semiloop trip treats you to a close-up of two spectacular waterfalls, Vernal and Nevada. By camping in Little Yosemite Valley, you have a head start on the hordes of dayhikers, who typically impact the cables and crowd the summit in early and midafternoon."

--Author varies by trail, Backpacking California: Mountain, Foothill, Coastal, & Desert Adventures in the Golden State (Wilderness Press).

"Rise early and get organized—it helps to lay out your gear the night before. Use your checklist to make sure you don’ t forget anything. Have your breakfast and be on the trail by 6 a.m. A good goal is to arrive at the cables by 11 a.m. to avoid the crowds. An early start will allow you to make this an easy hike at your own pace, resting as you go along. Keep in mind this is a fun hike—not a death march! Remember, your pull up the cables will be much easier if you can zip right up, rather than inching up in traffic."

--Rick Deutsch, One Best Hike: Yosemite's Half Dome (Wilderness Press).

"Climb 4,800 feet on this classic route to the top of the park’s most iconic peak towering above the valley floor.

This is it, people: The most famous chunk of rock in the country and possibly the world. The iconic symbol of Yosemite grandeur, Half Dome just begs to be climbed. The 7-mile route to this granite landmark starts on the crowded Mist Trail, but only 300 people per day are allowed to summit Half Dome (when the cables are up; apply for a permit early). Visitors endure fatigue, altitude sickness, and dehydration in their determination to stand atop Half Dome’s broad 8,836-foot-high crown. Steel cables bolted into the granite assist climbers up the final 400 vertical feet, but the combination of high, open rock and metal fixtures makes this a lousy place to get caught in a thunder-storm."

--Ted Alvarez, Backpacker The National Parks Coast to Coast (Falcon Guides).