Yosemite National Park: Sentinel Dome Loop
Hike 5.5 miles into Ansel Adams country to the top of Sentinel Dome and around to Taft Point for fisheye panoramas of Yosemite Valley.
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PERMIT INFO: Backcountry camping permits are required by the Park Service. See nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/feesandreservations.htm for the latest details and prices.
MORE INFO: Yosemite National Park, (209) 372-020; nps.gov/yose/
Trail Facts
- Distance: 7.1
Waypoints
SDL001
Location: 37.7125015258789, -119.586402893066
From parking lot, head NW to access Pohono Trail
SDL002
Location: 37.7127990722656, -119.586700439453
R @ Y to Sentinel Dome; Western Fence lizards dart in trailside thickets
SDL003
Location: 37.7243309020996, -119.582901000977
Top of Sentinel Dome to L. Half Dome’s iconic N face juts above white granite; twilight makes for superlative photos. Retrace steps, follow trail to Glacier Point
SDL005
Location: 37.7231101989746, -119.584396362305
Sentinel Dome (8,122 ft.); unmatched views of entire Yosemite Valley
SDL006
Location: 37.725700378418, -119.581298828125
Continue straight, crossing unmarked dirt road
SDL007
Location: 37.726619720459, -119.582397460938
Veer L toward Taft Point; see sloping trough of Glacier Point to NE
SDL008
Location: 37.7256011962891, -119.587699890137
Bird’s-eye view of Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls tumbling into Valley
SDL009
Location: 37.7220802307129, -119.593101501465
Stay to L over Sentinel Creek; spur trail to R to Sentinel Falls is worth the .1-mi. walk if creek is flowing
SDL010
Location: 37.7119293212891, -119.595901489258
R @ T to Taft Point
SDL011
Location: 37.7130928039551, -119.604545593262
Taft Point, Profile Cliff, and The Fissures: cracks in the granite stretch to the valley floor. Countless photo ops of El Capitan’s famous facade; return to WPT 10
SDL004
Location: 37.7234497070312, -119.584297180176
Jeffrey Pine sits alone atop crest; allegedly world’s most photographed tree, made famous by Ansel Adams
SDL012
Location: 37.7118949890137, -119.595901489258
R @ T; return to car
