Sentinel Dome and Taft Point

Another of Yosemite's great walks, to another great granite dome with astonishing views of the Yosemite Valley.  You can also walk from the same trailhead to Taft Point for astounding views. And make a longer circuit of both.

While the trails to the points are pretty standard forest walks, the excitement of the views can’t be overstated, being fully comparable with (say) the Grand Canyon. Westward from Sentinel Dome, you'll gaze down Yosemite Valley and beyond to the Merced River canyon; to the north, Yosemite Valley, including El Capitan and Yosemite Falls; to the east, see Nevada Fall, Half Dome and Clouds Rest, and an assortment of High Sierra peaks. Sentinel Dome also boasts a famous fallen Jeffrey pine.

Elevation gain of 400ft or so.

Both are short (2.2 mile), moderate round trips (elevation gain of 400ft or so) from the same Glacier Point Road trailhead, the easiest way to gain some of Yosemite's highest viewpoints, so are popular.  

Walkopedia has to say, that, given most of us have limited time, and that both Sentinel and Taft will be pretty popular, there may be better walking options here – unless you make a longer day of it by say combining them with the Pohono (say starting at Glacier Point) or Four Mile or Panorama trails.

Good wildflowers in Spring.

Good further information at https://www.yosemitehikes.com/glacier-point-road/sentinel-dome/sentinel-dome.htm

See our Yosemite page for more general and practical information (including on getting there) and photos.

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