Return. 15 minutes breaks for water and restroom at trailhead. They’re each 2.2 miles roundtrip, but you can combine them by taking a section of the Pohono Trail that connects the two landmarks. Like the Sentinel Dome Trail, the trail to Taft Point was only 1.1 miles one way from the parking area. The hike was pretty easy, even for someone as out of shape as myself. A 1 being walking on a flat sidewalk, and a 10 equaling the brutal hike to Half Dome. Check the park website for the status of any road closures. Unlike the route to Sentinel Dome, however, this trail descended about 320 to Taft Point. This trail roughly follows the rim offering you some nice views of the Valley. Personally this is an easy hike for the average hiker to experience on his or her first hiking adventure to one of the historical points within Yosemite National Park. This hike is best done starting at Sentinel Dome and then walking downhill to Glacier Point. Drive thirteen miles to the well-marked trailhead, located two miles from the end of the road at Glacier Point. The trailhead for Sentinel Dome is on Glacier Point Road, which is closed in the winter. I was also including 30 minutes at each view. See our description, photos and practical information for Sentinel Dome and Taft Point and join in with our trekking and hiking forums to … I am guessing that the trail is about 2 miles with a slight descent overall. On this guided hike, you’ll experience the best scenery the Yosemite Valley has to offer without the strenuous climbs of other popular hikes in the park. Short hikes to either Sentinel Dome or Taft Point, or take a loop to see both. The trailhead is shared by Sentinel Dome Trail, which heads northeast. Where is Sentinel Dome? One day will be dedicated to Glacier Point area. This is a moderate loop trail in Yosemite National Park. If you want to see the most gorgeous sunset at Yosemite, you need to go to Glacier Point and hike Taft Point. Sentinel Dome and Taft Point is one of the top walks in California, Yosemite, USA, and one of the world's best walk, treks, hikes and climbs. Taft Point Taft Point. Great hike! The hike to Sentinel Dome is easy and pleasant like Taft Point although it gets a little rocky part of the way and climbs the moderately steep face of the dome to the top for a short distance. From the end of Roosevelt Point Trail to the top of Sentinel Dome represents the bulk of elevation gain on this hike. From there, hike up to Sentinel Dome, and then hike to Taft Point. The trailhead for both is located off Glacier Point Road (open seasonally May-November). (Joe's Guide to Yosemite National Park) JOE’S GUIDE TO YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK: CitrusMilo.com: TAFT POINT and SENTINEL DOME: Trail Description Photos 1 2 3. Our trail goes left past a large collection of gray/white quartz and then crosses the seasonal Sentinel Creek. Sentinel Dome and Taft Point offer views similar to Glacier Point. (I was unaware there was a shortcut to Sentinel Dome). These short hikes offer incredible views and are a great place for a sunset picnic (take a headlamp for the walk back!). Hiking guide and photographs for the hikes to Taft Point and Sentinel Dome, offering great views off of Glacier Point Road! Are all three views (TP,SD,GP) similar? Taft Point and Sentinel Dome fit the bill. We ended parking on a pullout instead a ways up the road, which was tricky in the low clearance Focus. We drove up Glacier Point Rd about 13 miles to the trailhead where the bathrooms are located, which also serves as the trailhead to Sentinel Dome. Sentinel Dome and Taft Point are relatively tame hikes for the casual park-goer. Great viewpoints overlooking Yosemite Valley! Down to the Valley either by Four Mile Trail again, or via Panorama Trail - this will make the total hike very strenuous and takes a long time. Highlights: For a relatively easy hike that the entire family will enjoy while taking in incredible views of the Yosemite high country’s most iconic features, look no further than the Glacier Point to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point hike. Enjoy the peaceful quiet scenery without the Yosemite Valley crowds. To get there, hike back into the forest (the start is uphill all the way) and keep an eye out for a rusty sign showing the way to Sentinel Dome. Thanks! The view from Taft Point is probably the most popular spot to view the sunset in the Valley. Starting along the Glacier Point Road at 7800 ft., the walk passes through a red fir forest that is prime black bear habitat on its way to the summit of Sentinel Dome. The short and fairly easy hike to the dome is followed by a marginally steep but also short hike up the dome itself, upon the summit of which truly glorious views of the region can be found in all directions - Half Dome, El Capitan and all the rest. It's a worthy challenge rewarded with a granite dome-top 360° panorama of Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point. Sentinel Dome/Taft Point Loop – 5.2mi / 8.4km This loop along Glacier Point Road combines a hike to a granite dome and a breathtaking overlook, both with amazing views. The two right turns to the dome are well marked so it's just the 1,000 ft climb over a mile that's the challenge. From Sentinel Dome continue on the loop trail to Taft Point. From Sentinel Dome, the shortest route to Taft Point is 2.1 miles and passes by the parking lot at the trailhead. The hike starts from the parking lot and heads down about 100 feet before it splits, left to Taft, and right to Sentinel Dome. We fell in love with this section of the trail. The Hike. If you wanted to skip Sentinel Dome and just hike to Taft Point from Glacier Point Road; this separate trail is only 2.2 miles round trip. Yosemite National Park is open to those with reservations begining on Thursday, June 11. Not bad, particularly with Sean still feeling under the weather. Use this trailhead address: Taft Point Trailhead, Glacier Point Road, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 Hiking to Sentinel Dome, Taft Point and McGurk Meadow Posted by: Candace Gregory July 3, 2016 2 Comments 4,347 Views We looked for a hike close by where we could get some exercise and see some views but we didn’t have much time. It can be done as a circuit, with a return along the Pohono Trail out to Taft Point and then back to the Sentinel Dome parking lot as well, which is about 12.0 km, and is a lovely day out. Visit Sentinel Dome first by taking an immediate right at the first junction. Their loss is your gain. Taft Point Trail heads west to the canyon’s edge. Luckily, by the time we hit the Taft Pt/Sentinal Trailhead, … You'll also see Mount Conness, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and El Capitan up close and personal. The Taft Point/Sentinel Dome hike packs the most scenery for the least amount of effort of any trail in Yosemite. #3) Easiest - that is your option "1" in your plan. Answer 1 of 14: I’m piecing together my 3 full day itinerary. Because we wanted to extend our mileage for the day, we opted to head in this direction and then loop back around the longer way on our return to Glacier Point. The combined trail takes a few hours to complete. Near Yosemite Valley, California. Trailhead: A small parking lot for the combined trailheads are located about 12 miles up Glacier Point Rd . The Taft Point hike when done in a loop to visit Sentinel Dome, is one of the best easy day hikes in Yosemite National Park. Hiking Sentinel Dome and Taft Point, Yosemite. I’m planning on leaving the Valley at 11:30 *IF* we intend on hiking Sentinel *AND* Taft. I rate it on a difficulty scale of 4 out of 10. This trail starts at the restroom at the Taft Point / Sentinel Dome trailhead. The longer way to see Taft Point and Sentinel Dome, arguably the best way (without having to kill your knees). As we drove into the park and up Wawona Road, it was raining, which made everything green and vibrant and enhanced the beautiful, clean smell of the forest. The Fissures is only about 1.2 miles and a fairly easy walk along a gentle grade. Answer 1 of 15: I’m piecing together my 3 full day itinerary. From the Sentinel Dome Tailhead and parking area, the Taft Point trail wraps its way roughly westward through stunted white pines over mostly level ground. Taft point was one of the highlights of my hiking this summer! Heading to the left, you will be walking at a gradual grade downhill pretty much the entire time. 36 reviews of Sentinel Dome & Taft Point "Took this hike to Sentinel Dome via the Sentinel Dome/Taft Point trailhead off of Glacier Point Road. We then followed the trail to the Fissures and Taft Point. One day will be dedicated to Glacier Point area. The total distance of the hike is approximately 5 miles and will take 3-5 hours. This trail goes by The Fissures, Taft Point, Profile Cliff, and Sentinel Dome Trailhead. Descend to the sign which will point you left toward the Fissures at Taft Point and Right to Sentinel Dome. Looking down over 8000 feet to the valley floor was incredible! After Taft, most people make a bee line back to the car, missing the special hike that joins up Taft Point and Sentinel Dome. I read that both hikes are 2 hrs round trip. You will be dropped off at the Taft Point/Sentinel Dome trail head that leads to Taft Point (7500 feet), then climbing Sentinel Dome (elevation 8123 feet), and ending at Glacier Point (7214 feet). The loop over to sentinel dome was tougher but more great views! All told, between the two hikes, we covered 4.4 miles and a vertical rise of 860 feet. 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