Half Dome

Half Dome is one of the most famous landscapes of Yosemite Valley in the United States, located in the Sierra Nevada range. It's a granite rock formation rising 8,836 feet above the valley floor, with a sheer face of exposed granite. The overall shape of the dome resembles that of a traditional doughnut, though hikers may more closely recognize it as a half-covered sphere. The summit can be reached by either strenuous day hike or via a multi-day backpacking trip. Cables situated along the steep granite “slabs” allow hikers to reach the peak safely. The cables are in place from late spring to early autumn. Most visitors opt to climb from the Mirror Lake trailhead, located less than two miles from the summit. Even if you don't attempt to reach the top, the sight of Half Dome is almost sure to take your breath away.