Taft Point in Yosemite National Park is a stunning hike that overlooks the valley on top of sheer cliffs. It is certainly on a short list of the best easy hikes in Yosemite. If features incredible views of El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, the valley, and unique rock formations, cliffs, and fissures.

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Difficulty – Easy
Distance –2.2 miles (3.5 km)
Height – 7,500 feet (2286 m)
Elevation gain – 200 ft (60 m)
Duration – 2-3 hours round trip
Hike Class: Class 2
Trailhead Location – Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Trailhead
Dogs – Not allowed

Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Trail Map

Because Taft Point shares the same trailhead as Sentinel Dome, it is commonly hiked together with both as they are both relatively short hikes with incredible views, and are vastly different. We will cover the distance for combining both below as well.

Distance – 2.2 miles (3.5 km) round-trip; 2 hours,
Elevation Gain  – 200 ft (60 m) elevation gain

Taft Point has incredible views of Yosemite Valley, particularly El Capitan and Yosemite Falls. Once hikers get near Taft Point, they find dramatic cliffs, narrow fissures (large cracks/fractures in the rock), and these fishers and cliffs drop over 1,500 feet in several cases.

The views are incredible, and the rock formations are very unique.

Difficulty – Easy
Distance – 2.2 miles (3.5 km)
Elevation gain – 430 ft (131 m)
Duration – 2-3 hours round trip

Hikers begin at the trail by the bathrooms at the Sentinel Dome & Taft Point trailhead.

The trail is easy to follow, and well marked. The trail takes you through some beautiful forest. As hikers approach the final ascent of the dome, a couple other trails split off to the right. If hikers simply stay left, they will make their way on the most direct trail to the summit.

Difficulty – Intermediate
Distance – 4.9 miles (7.9 km)
Elevation Gain – 1,000 ft (300 m)
Duration – 3-4 hours round trip

Anyone looking to take these two short hikes and turn them into one intermediate hike should do both Taft Point and Sentinel Dome. Leaving from the trailhead, hikers can choose to go to either the Dome, or Taft Point first. Both are very unique and stunning in different ways, but highly recommended. This loop can be lengthened via the Pohono Trail to Roosevelt Point, but the quickest way to do the loop is to just walk back to the trailhead and continue on to either Sentinel Dome or Taft Point in an out-and-back method for each hike.

Refer to trail closures and winter hiking info here.

Nearby lodging and campground information can be found here.

And getting backcountry/wilderness camping permit info can be found here.

Here is a detailed weather forecast for the area:

Today
Sunny. High near 65, with temperatures falling to around 63 in the afternoon. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday
Mostly sunny. High near 60, with temperatures falling to around 57 in the afternoon. West southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. South southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Monday
A slight chance of rain after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday Night
A slight chance of rain before 8pm, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. South southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

Tuesday
A chance of snow before 11am, then a chance of snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms between 11am and 5pm, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. South southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Directions to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Trailhead:

A fissure near Taft Point

Taft Point Views

Views from near the top of Sentinel Dome

Views from Sentinel Dome