A Staggeringly Large and Stunning Granite WallĪlright, so what is El Capitan? Basically, El Cap is a large vertical rock that rises up about 3,000 feet (915m) above the floor of Yosemite Valley. Originally known as To-tock-ah-noo-lah to the Southern Sierra Miwok people of the greater Yosemite Valley region, El Cap’s staggering granite walls have long been a source of intrigue for climbers who sought out a myriad of ways to reach the formation’s summit. While the first climbing ascent of El Capitan didn’t happen until Warren Harding (not the president…) climbed “The Nose” over the course of 47 days in 1958, these days, skilled climbers regularly ascend one of El Cap’s many routes in a week to ten days. However, the current speed record for climbing all 3000 feet of “The Nose” is just under two hours – an incredible feat. That being said, the easiest and simplest route to the top of El Cap has always been to hike up the backside to the summit, which offers hikers the same fantastic views without the need for technical climbing gear or experience. There are a number of ways to hike to the top of El Capitan, though the minimum distance is at least 15 miles for the roundtrip journey. As you can imagine, this is no walk in the park, so to speak, so you’ll want to budget a long day to complete this hike. In fact, you could even turn this hike into a backpacking trip, but you’ll need to apply for a Yosemite wilderness permit to spend a night in the backcountry. Here are your best options: Tamarack Creek Trailhead (in Tamarack Flat Campground) Whichever trail you choose to take to the top of El Cap, though, the views won’t disappoint! Trailheads for an El Capitan HikeĪs we’ve mentioned, there are a number of different ways to hike to the top of El Capitan. The Tamarack Creek Trailhead is located in the Tamarack Flat Campground, which is off of Tioga Road (Hwy 120), some 45 minutes north of Yosemite Valley. The campground has 52 first-come, first-served tent sites, so it’s a good place to sleep the night before and after a hike up El Cap.įrom the trailhead, it’s approximately 16.6 miles (round trip) to the top of El Capitan. Once you get onto the trail, it’s a pretty straightforward adventure on a maintained path, though you’ll have beautiful views along the way!ĭo keep in mind, though, that Tioga Road is closed during the winter (generally December to May) due to heavy snowfall, so hiking El Cap from Tamarack Creek is a summertime experience. The Old Big Oak Flat Trailhead is located along Big Oak Flat Road, some 3.7 miles west of the junction with El Portal Road and Yosemite Valley. Once you get to the trailhead, you’ll pick up the path that takes you to the top of El Capitan over approximately 16.4 miles, round trip. The trail from Old Big Oak Flat takes you through a number of forested gullies and may require you to cross some high water in the park’s many rivers, such as Tamarack Creek, especially in the early summer. So, if you don’t have extensive river crossing experience, this trail might not be the best for you, or you should be ready to turn back if the situation is beyond your comfort level. The Yosemite Falls Trailhead is located in Yosemite’s iconic Camp 4, long known as a hangout for the region’s top climbers.

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