Hiking Sentinel Dome and Taft Point in Yosemite NP

There's a reason the hike to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point is one of the most popular hikes in Yosemite National Park. This moderate 4.6 mile trail is full of incredible views every which way you turn, including all the park's major highlights like El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls. If you're a beginner, don't let the length deter you. If my 60-something year old mother can do it, I promise you, you can too. Just take it slow and at your own pace.

Start off by parking at the Taft Point and Sentinel Dome Trailhead off of Glacier Point Road. There is limited parking, so it's best to get there early to get a spot. Note, there are pit toilets at the trailhead.

Once you're ready to go, follow the sign right towards Sentinel Dome, which is about 1.8 miles. I don't know why in my head I kept thinking of "Doug Dimmadome, home of the Dimsdale Dimmadome".

The trail is well marked and easy to follow. Eventually, you'll end up at the base of the dome, which is the start of the somewhat challenging part. Take your breaks as you make your way up the dome to the top for stunning 360 degree views. You really realize just how high up you are when you make it and look out!

When you come down from the dome, look to the left where you'll see a rusty brown sign with an arrow for Taft Point. Follow this trail and you'll soon come across a small hut-like building. This is where I found it a bit difficult to know where to go because the trail just kind of ends and there is no signage. I looked around and saw down to the left the trail seemed to continue along the edge. Follow this until you get to a small split in the road. You'll see a little creek to your left, which is the direction to Taft Point, however I recommend veering right for a second to see the breathtaking views at Roosevelt Point.

It was very peaceful and would make for a great picnic location. Then when you're ready to continue on, just head back to the intersection you came from, and cross the creek to head towards Taft Point. There is a slight incline here, but plenty of rocks to stop off at and admire the views while catching your breath.

In just 1.5 miles you'll reach Taft Point. When we arrived, my jaw dropped almost as much as the cliff dropped off below me. Not only at the picturesque views that belong in a coffee table book in front of me, but also at the absolutely insane adrenaline seekers tying a rope from one end of the cliff to another. I don't know what they were planning to do, but I knew I wasn't going to watch them. I would rather not witness someone potentially fall to their death please and thank you.

We walked carefully along the edge to really take it all in. Then we found a rock to sit and scarf down our well earned sandwiches while the massive birds eyed us practically begging for a crumb.

The clouds started to roll in, which meant it was time to get the hell out of there. You start out going back the way you came until you get to an intersection where you'll follow the signs continuing straight instead of going left (which is the direction we intially came from). It felt very quick to get back to the parking lot from this point, which was great considering it started to sprinkle. We made it back to the car just in time before the downpour.