Don’t follow the crowd to Glacier Point to catch that unforgettable Yosemite sunset. Hike to the lesser frequented, more expansive view at Sentinel Dome.
Following our hike back from Taft Point, we decided to sneak in one more hike before sunset. It was already 6:30PM and the sun was coming down fast, so we had to make this quick. We took the path on the right of the parking lot towards Sentinel Dome and were off. The trail was 1 mile in each direction (2 miles roundtrip), so we knew we could get it done within an hour, and be back just after sunset.
We had run into a lady previously who told us Sentinel Dome was not worth seeing. We were a bit confused by her statement, but like usual decided not to take her word for it and see it ourselves. Thank god we did. The tricky part about Sentinel Dome is that at one point the trail is cut off and you think you’ve made it to your destination. That is not the case! You will come across a flat and rocky area and see a dome like mountain next to you. This is not the end of the trail, you need to continue and climb the TOP of that dome to reach Sentinel Dome.
This is not the end point, this is Sentinel Dome and you need to climb to the top!
The view at the top is beyond rewarding. Miles and miles of unobstructed views in every direction—360°. We made it just in time to watch the sunset and there were barely any people here since they were all at Glacier Point. I honestly think the view from here was better than Glacier Point so I highly recommend you all do this instead! On one side of the dome you see Half Dome and the neighboring panorama. The surrounding high country seems to add an extra layer to the view, dramatizing it much more than if you were at Glacier Point.
On the other side of Sentinel Dome, you will see the Three Brothers to the left and El Capitan to the right.
We wanted to avoid having to walk back in the dark and maybe encountering another Black Bear, so tried to get a move on before the sun completely set. Unfortunately, the sun set faster then we expected and we found ourselves walking back in the dark a little! Be careful walking back, at one point we lost our way, but quickly found the trail once again.
This was the start of an amazing trip, we already were liking Yosemite more than any other destination we visited in so far in California and the feeling wouldn’t stop there. The next day we would spend the entire day taking on Panorama trail, a 10-mile hike that takes you through all of Yosemite Valley from top to bottom.
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