Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Loop

The Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Loop is a 4.9-mile circuit from the shared Glacier Point Road trailhead, linking two overlooks by the Pohono Trail and a short summit scramble. Set aside 3–4 hours for roughly 1,000 feet of climbing, some rolling connector trail and the final steep rock. Walk west to Taft Point first, retrace to the junction, then continue north and east toward Sentinel Dome before returning to the same trailhead. The distance includes the Taft Point spur, connector and summit out-and-back.

The first leg winds through conifers, then crosses open meadows where summer wildflowers may bloom, especially in July. Most of the approach is gentle, but it descends near the overlook, so you will climb that stretch again on the way back. At the junction, keep track of the turn: visit Taft Point, then retrace to the same junction to continue the loop on the Pohono Trail.

As the trees thin, the view opens across Yosemite Valley toward El Capitan and Yosemite Falls. Taft Point itself is a broad granite rim. Nearby, The Fissures split the rock into narrow, jagged cracks with drops of up to 2,000 feet. Slow down around the cracks and rim, keep to solid rock, and give the edges room; the best views do not require stepping out onto a lip.

From the Taft junction, the Pohono Trail rolls through forest and dips into the Sentinel Creek drainage before climbing back out toward the dome. This is the longer connective stretch between the two headline views, so do not turn around at Taft Point if you mean to complete the circuit. Near the radio facility, take the Sentinel Dome branch rather than continuing on the trail toward Glacier Point.

The approach is mostly ordinary trail until the final ascent. Then the route steepens over bare granite for a short scramble to the broad summit at about 8,122 feet. From the top, you can look across Yosemite Valley to Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and El Capitan, with the high country beyond. The middle of the dome is broad, but its edges steepen sharply. The rock is exposed with little shade, so skip the summit during thunderstorms.

A famous wind-shaped Jeffrey pine once stood dead on Sentinel Dome and finally fell in 2003. It is part of the summit’s history, not a tree you will see today; pines still grow lower on the slopes. The open granite top is the main show now, and it gives you a wide panorama without a wooded frame.

Use the shared Sentinel Dome and Taft Point parking area on Glacier Point Road; restrooms are at the trailhead. Road access is seasonal, so check that Glacier Point Road is open before setting out. Yosemite does not allow pets or bicycles on hiking trails. If you have less time, choose one of the shorter out-and-backs from the same lot: Sentinel Dome is about 2.0 miles round trip, and Taft Point is about 2.2 miles round trip.