6 OF 11How Do I Hike Half Dome? The most iconic hike in the park, Half Dome is an intense 10- to 12-hour journey that culminates in a 400-foot ascent along cables fastened to the sheer cliff. If you’re up for the challenge (and not afraid of heights), the payoff is worth the effort, with truly outstanding panoramic views from the valley to the High Sierra—but to get there, you’ll have to plan ahead. Half Dome can only be hiked between Memorial Day and mid-October, and there are two different lottery systems for the permit required to do it: a preseason option that offers 225 permits daily (applications must be submitted between March 1-31), and a daily lottery for which you can apply for 75 last-minute permits two days in advance. There is a non-refundable $10 fee to apply and another $10 fee for the actual permit.