Hiking Half Dome with Little Kids
- Stan Manev
- Nov 12
- 11 min read
Half Dome needs no introduction.
I won’t try to convince you why Yosemite’s most iconic symbol deserves a spot on your travel list — countless articles, photos, and stories have already done that. Instead, I hope this post will be of interest to a more specific audience: outdoor-loving parents with young kids.
A broad audience, I know!
However, the topic I am focusing on has scarce information even online, so I will use this small niche to present one challenging — yet entirely possible — way of: How to hike Half Dome as a family with a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old. And who knows? The sense of accomplishment (along with the bragging rights that come with it!) might just spark a lifelong love of the outdoors and awaken that spirit of adventure all kids carry within them.
My childhood was different in that regard. I never experienced camping while growing up, let alone trying to scale a mountain or even a foothill. It wasn’t until I was in my twenties before I embarked on my first backpacking trip. This is when Neli and I both discovered the love for backpacking. It has quickly become an important part of our lives. It’s a certain stereotype that nurtures stronger connection with nature, healthier lifestyle and thus it is a passion we want to pass along to our kids. Doing so is a delicate endeavor as it turns out. Forcing something physically demanding to young kids can easily have a reverse effect. This is why we have to plan every step of such a journey very carefully.
This is the story of Rada and how it was possible for her to conquer Half Dome at the age of five. And if you don’t know what a challenge this is for a kid of her age, I’ll just say that the probability of coming across a young child at this summit is practically zero. Unless of course, you were there on the day of Oct. 7th, 2025.
In This Post, I’ll Cover:
Permits.
Every ascent to the emblematic landmark begins with securing a permit through Recreation.gov. Most popular permit is for a day hike, the registration of which takes place in March every year. The one-day permit begins with a climb from Yosemite Valley, hike by Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls on John Muir Trail and make a detour towards the Half Dome summit. The total length of the out-and-back hike is 16.5 miles. While the steel cables at the top of Half Dome get most of the attention, the section between Yosemite Valley and Nevada Falls is no less challenging, largely consisting of steep granite steps with elevation gain of nearly 2000 ft in less than three miles. While Neli and I did this exact route our first time there, it wouldn’t have been an enjoyable experience for our little ones.
Permission to access Half Dome can also be granted as part of a backcountry wilderness permit. This was the type of permit we were holding, and it allowed us to pace ourselves over three days and bypass the stairs climb to Nevada falls I mentioned earlier. Backpackers have a separate quota from the one-day hike permit. It is another lottery through Recreation.gov with registration that takes place 24 weeks in advance. This permit allows for 6 people in a group and so our crew was comprised of our good friend Auri (also responsible for making this possible by being one of the lucky lottery winners in April), her friend Kimi and the four of us including a 3-year old and a 5-year old.
You can find complete information about applying for a permit here:
Trail Map, Stats, and Getting There.
Our trip started with the four and a half hours drive to the trailhead from our home in the SF Bay Area. This is four and a half hours, assuming minimum stops, which any parent would know is a fantasy when traveling with young children. So, we factored in a solid 20% ‘downtime’, started earlier and arrived at Glacier Point on time to meet with our friends. In the meantime, Auri and Kimi had picked up the physical copy of the permit from the Visitor Center in Wawona, on their way from South Cal.
 | Trail Stats
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The Story (with Trail Description).
Day One
Glacier Point was a strategic entering point for us. Its high altitude helped for a lot less physically demanding first day. After taking a few photos with the stunning views from Glacier Point Trailhead, we found ourselves on Panorama Trail right around noon. The first two and a half miles follow the trail down to the bottom of Illilouette Gorge. At this point Rada and Deyan were just happy to be out of their car seats so they would run up and down the trail ecstatically announcing ‘WATERFALL’ every time Vernan or Nevada falls came into their sight.
The weight distribution on our backs was such that I would carry most of the gear and food for camping and Neli had our sturdy carrier for whenever the 3-year-old would get tired. Luckily, it didn’t need to be used much before we reached Illilouette Falls. As far as little Rada was concerned, that was her first multi-day trek on her own.
The falls were a great stopping point for some snacks and a quick rest before what was about to follow. Next 1.2 miles were going to be the hardest ascent of the day with nearly 800 ft vertical gain. Neli and I have come to realize that in these situations distraction is the key to motivation. Anything can help, from made-up games to singing silly songs or in this case the “uplifting” fairy tale about Little Red Riding Hood. Allegedly, it’s a true story that Quentin Tarantino floated the idea about the ending to Charles Perrault. I’m still not convinced about the delivery of the takeaway from the children’s classic, but it surely took us, in a good mood, to the top where the trail finally flattens and got us rewarded with the incredible panoramic view that gives the name of the eponymous 4.5 miles trail.
Next to follow was an easy 1.7 miles descent to reach Nevada Falls. This was another great and picturesque rest stop for snacks and pumping water before the last 1.5 miles effort to the campground. About this time, it was clear that the kids were exhausted. Deyan fell asleep in Neli’s carrier but Rada showed uncharacteristic grit for a kid her age and pushed through this final stretch that made her mom and me quite proud and optimistic about the following day.
The six of us reached camp with enough sunlight to pitch our tents and cook a warm meal. As the Sun was setting, temperatures dropped drastically so Neli and I hurried up with the bed-time routines before snuggling in our tent for a well-deserved rest.
Day Two: Half Dome Summit
The alarm went off just before 6 am. It was dark and in the low 40s, so I wasn’t thrilled to crawl out of the tent and start preparing breakfast. Normally, when Neli and I have an early start to a hike, powering through the early hours is our go-to-decision and usually have a simple bite later in the morning. This wasn’t an option anymore. Our choice was already set with the decision to take our kids on a trip like this. Besides, what is a little discomfort in the face of cranky little companions for the rest of the day? Our choice was clear, the whole shebang it is, including oatmeal, milk, strawberries and bananas.
To our delight, Rada and Deyan were in high spirits that morning. This helped us to get back on the trail before our friends to give us a head start knowing that we would be slower. It is 3.5 miles and all uphill from the campground to Half Dome. We kept a decent pace for the first mile or so but slowly hikers from the campground or from the valley started to pass us by. Auri and Kimi caught up with us as well. It was time for Deyan to get in the carrier as his initial enthusiasm faded completely away. We left the tent and the camping gear at the campground, so there was a vacant spot on my back. Rada, the youngest “trooper” on the trail (as people would constantly comment on her presence), by a large margin, continued to advance with very few complaints.
At last, we emerged from the forest with a clear view of our goal. Seeing Half Dome looming above was both thrilling and intimidating. Near the base, a ranger checked our permit and pointed to a hand-written sign: “30 minutes of strenuous climbing followed by 30 more on the cables.”.
Surprisingly, the rocky terrain energized Rada.
She enjoys a good rock climb but really, she was secretly soaking the ongoing complements that kept coming her way.
Few last pushes and there we were, staring at the legendary cable climb.
The cable route.
“Legendary” is a bit of an overstatement. So much so that people will go out of their way to purchase all kinds of advertised gear for this one 400-feet stretch, all conveniently sold.... at the stores. With all this being said, I would add “safety first”. If you are uncomfortable with heights, you should consider appropriate safety gear, especially if the route is wet. Also, do NOT attempt climbing Half Dome when thunderstorms are forecast!
Just consider the following and plan accordingly to help with smoother flow and avoid clusters at the cable route:
A comfortable stairs pitch is around 35% reaching all the way to 70% in some special occasions under OSHA regulations. The grade pitch at the cable route is approximately 50%. It would make for a challenging rock climb if no cables were present. Add the cable rails and wood planks every 10 to 20 ft. and you are looking at the equivalent of relatively steep stairs. |
Recognizing the magnitude of the situation we felt comfortable for Rada to climb the route on her own while being secured to Neli with a climbing rope and I, with Deyan
still in the carrier, would follow them behind to make sure she didn’t slip or if she needed any assistance. This way we slowly made our way to the top where our goal was finally achieved. We were able to turn the very top of the Half Dome Summit into the celebrating grounds for Rada's triumph. If it wasn’t clear to us from previous adventures, then-and-there we knew her adventurer inclination was now clearly defined. Her transformation into an “outdoorsy” was complete.
Getting back to the campground was perceivably faster. We spent the afternoon washing up in the river, playing, and cooking a relaxed dinner before turning in for the night.
The Final Day
The next morning, we were up early again for a hearty breakfast before breaking camp. By 8 a.m., we were on the trail back toward Nevada Falls.
There I split up with Neli and the kids. I was going to continue on the same trail we came from back to our car and they would get down to Yosemite Valley where well-deserved ice cream was in order for everybody. This way they would only have to go downhill, and the length of the trail is approximately 3 miles shorter. In addition, they were going to get a closer look at Nevada and Vernan Falls. Down at the Valley I was going to pick them up and drive back home.
Shuttles.
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With this plan in place, I was back at the Glacier Point parking lot by noon. There is a phone reception in both locations so Neli and I were able to call each other. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that their descent to the valley has gone smoothly. Furthermore, Deyan has gone all 7 miles from Half Dome down to the Valley on his own which immediately got me thinking… what other challenge Neli and I will come up with next year for our little backpacker in training!
Itinerary Summary
Day 1: 7-mile hike from Glacier Point Trailhead to Little Yosemite Campground
Elevation gain: -1,080 ft
Duration: ~6 hours
Day 2: Day hike to Half Dome (7-mile round trip from Little Yosemite Campground)
Elevation gain: +2,667 ft
Duration: ~8 hours
Day 3:
Neli and kids: 4-mile descent from Little Yosemite Campground to Yosemite Valley
Elevation loss: -2,100 ft
Duration: ~4 hours
Stan: 7-mile hike from Little Yosemite Campground back to Glacier Point Trailhead
Elevation gain: +1,080 ft
Duration: ~4 hours
Little Yosemite Campground
For details about campfires, water access, and restroom facilities, check the official
We arrived at the campground in the late afternoon and had no trouble finding a good spot to set up. It did get a lot more crowded later in the evening. Overall, the area looked spacious enough to accommodate a lot of people.
One of the highlights of the camp is the easy, beach-like access to the Merced River — perfect for pumping fresh water and for a refreshing dip after a long day on the trail.
As for food storage, bear lockers are plentiful, conveniently scattered throughout the campground. While bear canisters are officially required, they felt somewhat unnecessary given the number of lockers available — I might have left ours behind had I known this in advance.
Preparing for the trip.
Endurance.
The weekend before our Yosemite trip, Neli and I took the kids camping in Los Padres National Forest, where we did a six-hour day hike as a single conditioning exercise for the backpacking adventure ahead. More importantly, we’ve been taking Rada hiking and backpacking since she was just a year old. While we can’t exactly put our five-year-old daughter on a structured fitness program, it’s essential that she knows what to expect on a wilderness trip like this. All of this is to say that climbing Half Dome is not a suitable first-time wilderness experience for a child — and we wouldn’t have made Rada to take on the challenge if we weren’t confident she was mentally and physically prepared for it.
Gear.
We made the trip with a one main backpack weighing just over 40 lbs., plus a child carrier backpack that also approached 40 lbs. once Deyan was in it. I already shared my thoughts on the bear canister in the previous section. I am not going to list the rest of the standard gear like water pump, stove, etc. Instead, here’s a list of extra kid-related gear that proved essential:
1. Child carrier – must be comfortable, sturdy, and well-tested before the trip.
2. Kid’s climbing harness with a line – we used a seat harness and climbing rope to secure Rada to Neli.
3. Carabiniers - for attaching the safety line and securing gear
4. Gloves to climb the cables
Food.
This was our first multi-day backpacking trip carrying food for four. We focused on keeping the weight low while ensuring the kids had enough nutrition and variety. Here’s what made it into our packs:
Freeze-dried strawberries, bananas, and broccoli
Instant rice and pasta
Dry milk
Pouched tuna
Nuts and RXBARs
Jerky
It turned out to be a solid balance — lightweight, easy to prepare, and kid-approved (for the most part).
Favorite Brewery in the Area:
→ Around the Horn Brewing Company Located on CA-120 in Groveland, it’s a must-stop for me on a way back home. |
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