Sentinel Dome - Secret Jewel of Yosemite Valley

Any postcard from Yosemite Valley has the Half Dome glowing in the orange light of the sun. I am always lost with the beauty of the valley, that I have never stopped to think from where this beautiful shot was taken. Every hiking guide talks about the adrenalin rush from Half dome hike or the splendor of the Upper Yosemite falls. Travelguides mention Glacier point as one of the best vista point. However, not a single place did I see Taft Point and Sentinel Dome. So much, that at the visitor's information center, the guide was searching for these locations in the map.

Where do I begin to explain the beauty of Sentinel Dome. It's the only one spot in the valley, with a 1.1 mile hike, you get to see the entire Yosemite valley in its full grandeur, an unblocked 360 degree view, Half dome glowing at sunset. You can't but drown in the marvel that the glaciers have craved over the years. Yosmite valley, with its different peaks, the varying heights, the varying architectures, a photographer's dream, a painter's inspiration and nature at its best. All of these visible only from the Sentinel dome.

Now why is this better than Half dome, well, you can watch the splendor of half dome from the peak of half dome can you? As far as Glacier point, well you don't get the 360 degree view.

As far as the hike, if you snooze, you can so easily miss it. Its on Glacier point road, about 5-10 miles before glacier point on hwy 41. Its shares the parking lot with Taft point. We did a circular loop hike, from the parking lot to Taft point and took the route towards Glacier point. This route from Taft to Glacier is a very scenic route with some breathtaking views of the valley. The last mile to Sentinel Dome has some medium grade switch backs, and the last 200 meter is steep. So watchout for those kids. We completed the hike with a 1 mile hike down from Sentinel back to the same parking lot, a total of 5 miles. But if you wish, you can finish the entire hike in 2.2 miles.

I have read about and hiked so many trails in Yosemite but I wonder why no one ever mentions Sentinel Dome, easily the best kept secret and a jewel of Yosemite.

For me, it was the best hike ever, not just because it was my first hike with my 9 month old daughter on a backpack, but we got to see the Yosemite valley as nature intended it to be.