Half Dome is the ultimate Yosemite day hike – the one you can’t die without doing, and the one you’re most likely to die while doing. Only 300 hikers are allowed each day on the Half Dome Trail beyond the base of the subdome while the cables are up. . Rising nearly 5,000 feet above Yosemite Valley and 8,800 feet above sea level, Half Dome is a Yosemite icon and a great challenge to many hikers. The 16-mile round-trip hike to Half Dome is not for you if you’re out of shape or unprepared. You will be gaining a total of 4,800 feet elevation. Along the way, you’ll see outstanding views of Vernal and Nevada Falls, Liberty Cap, Half Dome, and–from the shoulder and summit–panoramic views of Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra.