North Dome Rock Climbing
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Elevation: | 7,170 ft |
GPS: |
37.75783, -119.56211 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
Page Views: | 50,855 total · 239/month |
Shared By: | Josh Janes on Sep 21, 2006 |
Admins: | Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes |
Access Issue: Latest updates on closures, permits, and regulations.
Details
Please visit climbingyosemite.com/ and nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/… for the latest information on visiting Yosemite, including permits, regulations, and closure information.
Yosemite National Park has yearly closures for Peregrine Falcon Protection March 1- July 15. Always check the NPS website at nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/… for the most current details and park alerts, and to learn more about the peregrine falcon, and how closures help it survive. This page also shares closures and warnings due to current fires, smoke, etc.
Yosemite National Park has yearly closures for Peregrine Falcon Protection March 1- July 15. Always check the NPS website at nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/… for the most current details and park alerts, and to learn more about the peregrine falcon, and how closures help it survive. This page also shares closures and warnings due to current fires, smoke, etc.
Description
The massive North Dome is like having a little bit of Tuolumne right in the Valley... or right above the Valley... and... well, I think the rock quality is better than Tuolumne too, but I can only speak for Crest Jewel. Expect a possibly long approach and descent, sun all day, possible high winds, and fantastic views down Valley and across at Half Dome.
Getting There
The two sensible approaches are to climb Royal Arches or to approach from HW 120 at the Porcupine Creek Trailhead. The former requires a lot of climbing, the latter requires 5 miles of relatively level hiking.
Royal Arches: After finishing the climbing and gaining the trail into the woods, scramble up some steep steps to a large boulder at a level area. Move around behind this boulder and pick up a good trail that heads due east along the top of the Royal Arches wall. Eventually this trail crosses some slabs and the views of North Dome tempt one to scramble directly up to it. Resist and continue into the woods until directly below North Dome and above the Washington Column. At this saddle, and just before dropping down the other side, the trail branches off up towards North Dome and past a bunch of cool boulder and obvious bivy spots. Continue into the woods on a good trail until reaching the base of the dome. Some climbs start straight ahead, others up and around the left flank.
Porcupine Creek Trailhead: Follow the trail into the woods due north until almost reaching the back (and top) of North Dome. Cross the major trail that heads west (Yosemite Falls Trail) and pick up a smaller, but well traveled, trail that winds down around the west side of North Dome. Eventually this trail falls apart and you have the choice of keeping near North Dome (possibly heinous bushwacking) or continuing well west to reach a passage down through massive, steep slabs. I've only gone down these slabs (as a descent from North Dome) and they turned out to be quite easy, but I was left in doubt as to whether they'd be passible (and whether or not I was going the right way at all) until the very end.
Royal Arches: After finishing the climbing and gaining the trail into the woods, scramble up some steep steps to a large boulder at a level area. Move around behind this boulder and pick up a good trail that heads due east along the top of the Royal Arches wall. Eventually this trail crosses some slabs and the views of North Dome tempt one to scramble directly up to it. Resist and continue into the woods until directly below North Dome and above the Washington Column. At this saddle, and just before dropping down the other side, the trail branches off up towards North Dome and past a bunch of cool boulder and obvious bivy spots. Continue into the woods on a good trail until reaching the base of the dome. Some climbs start straight ahead, others up and around the left flank.
Porcupine Creek Trailhead: Follow the trail into the woods due north until almost reaching the back (and top) of North Dome. Cross the major trail that heads west (Yosemite Falls Trail) and pick up a smaller, but well traveled, trail that winds down around the west side of North Dome. Eventually this trail falls apart and you have the choice of keeping near North Dome (possibly heinous bushwacking) or continuing well west to reach a passage down through massive, steep slabs. I've only gone down these slabs (as a descent from North Dome) and they turned out to be quite easy, but I was left in doubt as to whether they'd be passible (and whether or not I was going the right way at all) until the very end.
Classic Climbing Routes at North Dome
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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