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Half Dome at sunset from Yosemite Point with pink alpenglow sky during a guided backpacking trip
Now booking · 2026 season ★★★★★ 5 · 3 reviews Google Reviews

Stand on the summit of Half Dome.

6 Half Dome trips from $1050 per person. A backcountry journey and the Half Dome summit in one, the quiet of the wilderness, the cables at first light, and the triumph of standing on top, the kind you'll be telling people about for years.

Half Dome trips 6 trips · June through October
Late Summer Half Dome Aug 14–17, 2026 · 4 days
$1,250 /person
Half Dome Weekend (Aug) Aug 28–30, 2026 · 3 days
$1,050 /person
Half Dome Weekend (Labor Day) Sep 4–7, 2026 · 4 days
$1,250 /person
All backpacking → All Half Dome trips →
NPS Authorized
YOSE-2026-7d667608
WFA Certified
Wilderness First Aid
Leave No Trace
LNT Certified
Fully Insured
$1M Liability
Half Dome · Yosemite Point · CA

Cable permits in hand.

Both halves of the permit secured by Yosemite Life.

On the cables with you.

Sole-guided. Same person, base to summit.

Stripe confirms your spot.

Book Now = Booked. No lottery dependency.

Half Dome, briefly.

8,846 ft Summit elevation
4,800 ft Vertical gain (valley floor)
400 ft Cables length
45° Final pitch grade

Half Dome is the most recognizable granite formation in the United States, a 1,500-foot vertical face on its northwest side and a 45-degree granite ramp on its northeast, ascended by two parallel steel cables installed in 1919. The summit sits at 8,846 feet, roughly 4,800 vertical feet above the Yosemite Valley floor. Standing on it is one of the iconic American outdoor experiences.

It is also the most permit-gated experience in the park. The cables go up once a year (typically the Friday before Memorial Day weekend) and come down the day after Columbus Day. Inside that window, every hiker (day or overnight) needs both a wilderness permit (for backpackers) and a Half Dome cables permit.

How we do Half Dome.

For the 2026 season we secured permits across six trip windows, June, August, September (two), Labor Day weekend, and the final cables weekend in October. Every trip on this page already has its permit. Read further in our Half Dome Permits 2026 Guide if you want the full system explained.

Why a guided Half Dome trip.

You don't need a guide to hike Half Dome. People do it solo every day. But three things make a guided trip materially different: the permit problem is solved before you arrive; the trip is built around overnight camping at basecamps near Half Dome, instead of one brutal 16-hour day push. And you have someone with you on the cables who has done them numerous times and knows when is the best time to be at the cables, what weather patterns are a sign of trouble, and when to turn around. If Half Dome scares you a little, that's the right amount of respect. That's the trip we want to lead you on.

2026 Cables Season

The cables are up about five months a year.

When the cables are down, Half Dome is a mountaineering objective, not a hike. Our trips run only when the cables are up.

May Transition Cables go up (~Friday before Memorial Day)
Jun Cables up Longest daylight
Jul Cables up Peak season · permits hardest
Aug Cables up Prime weather · 3 of our 6 trips
Sep Cables up Cooler · 2 of our 6 trips
Oct Transition Last cables weekend · Oct 9–12
Nov→ Get permits 2027
2026 Half Dome · Trips

Six guided trips. June through October.

6 Half Dome trips · June – October 2026
Guided backpacking group at a granite campsite during sunset in the Yosemite High Sierra

High Sierra Lakes Traverse → Half Dome

Jun 28 – Jul 5, 2026 8 days / 7 nights

A one-way traverse from Tuolumne Meadows through the High Sierra's alpine lake basins, with off-trail granite sections and a Half Dome summit finish via the Mist Trail descent. The most ambitious trip on the calendar.

Difficulty Advanced
Group size 2 max
Mileage ~65 mi
$2,100/person Booking closed
Smiling hiker on the Half Dome summit with High Sierra panorama behind her

Late Summer Half Dome

Aug 14 – 17, 2026 4 days / 3 nights

Illilouette basin and Little Yosemite Valley camps, Half Dome summit, mid-August weather, long daylight hours.

Difficulty Intermediate
Group size 5 max
$1,250/person Book Now
Half Dome viewed from Yosemite Point during a guided backpacking trip

Half Dome Weekend (Aug)

Aug 28 – 30, 2026 3 days / 2 nights

LYV base camp, Half Dome summit, established trails. The most direct, most accessible Half Dome backpacking route. Perfect long weekend.

Difficulty Intermediate
Group size 4 max
Mileage ~17 mi
Elevation ~4,800 ft gain
$1,050/person Book Now
Backcountry campsite on granite at sunset during a Labor Day guided backpacking trip in Yosemite

Half Dome Weekend (Labor Day)

Sep 4 – 7, 2026 4 days / 3 nights

Half Dome summit + LYV base camp, with an optional Clouds Rest or Echo Valley extension on Day 3 depending on the group. Long weekend, prime conditions.

Difficulty Intermediate
Group size 2 max
Mileage ~22 mi
Elevation ~5,400 ft gain
$1,250/person Book Now
Autumn colors on the trail during a September guided Half Dome backpacking trip in Yosemite

Half Dome Weekend (Sept)

Sep 19 – 21, 2026 3 days / 2 nights

LYV base camp, Half Dome summit, established trails. Same direct route as the August trip. September weather, cooler temperatures, lighter foot traffic.

Difficulty Intermediate
Group size 5 max
Mileage ~17 mi
Elevation ~4,800 ft gain
$1,050/person Book Now
Guided backpacking group on the Half Dome summit with Yosemite High Sierra behind them

Half Dome + Clouds Rest

Oct 9 – 12, 2026 4 days / 3 nights

Half Dome summit + LYV base camp, with an optional Clouds Rest or Echo Valley extension on Day 3 depending on the group. Long weekend, prime conditions.

Difficulty Intermediate
Group size 5 max
Mileage ~22 mi
Elevation ~5,400 ft gain
$1,250/person Book Now
See all 2026 backpacking trips
Half Dome Specifically

The questions, answered.

The questions that come up most often before someone books a Half Dome trip. Everything else lives in the general FAQ.

Full FAQ
Do I need backpacking experience to do a Half Dome trip?

It depends on the trip. The Half Dome Weekend trips are designed for strong hikers stepping into backpacking for the first time. The Signature 8-day traverse requires prior multi-day backpacking experience. Each listing notes the recommended experience level, and we'll discuss your fitness and experience on a planning call before the trip.

What if the cables are wet on summit day?

We don't go up. Wet granite on the cables is where most serious Half Dome accidents happen. Because these are multi-day trips, we have flexibility to wait for a better weather window rather than committing to a fixed date. Safety is non-negotiable.

How do I choose which Half Dome trip is right for me?

If you've never backpacked before, start with the Half Dome Weekend. If you want the full Yosemite backcountry experience with Half Dome as the finale, the Signature Traverse is the trip. Not sure? Reach out and I'll help you figure it out.

What is the payment structure for Half Dome backpacking trips?

A 50% deposit holds your spot at booking. The remaining 50% is charged automatically 30 days before the trip start date. Full payment at booking is also available if preferred.

Three ways to start

Ready when you are.

If you've read this far, the next step is usually a 15-minute planning call. No pressure.

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The fastest way to figure out which trip is right for you. We'll talk fitness, dates, and goals. No commitment, no upsell.

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eric@yosemite.life

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