Half Dome vs Angels Landing and The Narrows: Which Should You Hike?
Choose Half Dome if you want a very strenuous, long day (or a split overnight) that ends on a cabled granite summit and you can secure a cables permit; choose Angels Landing and The Narrows if you prefer two shorter, separate hikes, one exposed and chained, one a river wade.
Half Dome and Angels Landing and The Narrows at a glance
Half Dome & Yosemite Valley is a 14–16 mile out-and-back in California that climbs beside waterfalls and finishes on steel cables up smooth granite. Zion's pairing combines Angels Landing, a 5.4 mile chained ridge, with The Narrows, a river walk. People weigh them because both are famous National Park Service icons with permit-controlled exposed sections.
| Half Dome | Angels Landing and The Narrows | |
|---|---|---|
| Place | Sierra Nevada · California, USA | Colorado Plateau · Utah, USA |
| Distance | 14–16 miles (22.5–25.7 km) round-trip | Angels Landing: 5.4 mi (8.7 km) round-trip. The Narrows (bottom-up from Temple of Sinawava): up to ~9.4–10 mi (15–16 km) round-trip to Big Spring, or ~6 mi (9.7 km) round-trip if turning around at Wall Street |
| Elevation gain | ~4,800 ft (1,460 m) | Angels Landing: 1,488 ft (454 m). The Narrows: a mostly flat river walk, roughly 300–400 ft (90–120 m) gain to Big Spring |
| Difficulty | Very strenuous | Angels Landing: Strenuous (exposed chained sections, permit required). The Narrows: Moderate to strenuous (wading a river with current and flash-flood risk, but no technical climbing) |
| Route type | out-and-back | out-and-back |
| Official season | Roughly late May to mid-October, whenever the cables are up (check NPS for this year’s dates) | April to May and September to October |
| Managed by | U.S. National Park Service | U.S. National Park Service |
Effort and difficulty
Half Dome is the far bigger commitment: 14–16 miles (22.5–25.7 km) round-trip with about 4,800 ft (1,460 m) of gain, rated very strenuous. Angels Landing is 5.4 miles (8.7 km) with 1,488 ft (454 m) of gain, rated strenuous because of its exposed chained sections. The Narrows adds up to roughly 9.4–10 miles (15–16 km) round-trip to Big Spring, or about 6 miles (9.7 km) to Wall Street, with only roughly 300–400 ft of gain. Its effort comes from wading against current, not climbing, and it is rated moderate to strenuous.
Season, permits and booking
Half Dome is tied to the cables: roughly late May to mid-October, whenever they are up, and the cables require a permit distributed by lottery. Angels Landing's official best seasons are April to May and September to October, with a permit via a seasonal and day-before lottery. A top-down Narrows hike or any overnight needs a wilderness permit, and the flash-flood forecast should be checked before entering the river. Confirm current dates and processes with each managing authority.
Which one is right for you?
Choose Half Dome if…
Pick Half Dome if you are already comfortable with very long days, sustained climbing and exposure, and you want a single big objective. It suits hikers willing to start before dawn and set a firm turnaround time, or to split the effort with a backcountry night. It is not a first outing; plan the schedule around the cables rather than the mileage.
How to hike Half Dome & Yosemite ValleyChoose Angels Landing and The Narrows if…
Pick Angels Landing and The Narrows if you want variety without one punishing day. Each works as its own day hike, and The Narrows can be as short or long as you like since you simply turn around. It suits hikers who want one exposed chain section and one river wade, and who are comfortable with the permit and flash-flood planning involved.
How to hike Zion — Angels Landing & The NarrowsWhat the two have in common
Both are out-and-back routes managed by the National Park Service, and both include a famous exposed or demanding section that draws a permit requirement. Each rewards an early start, and each asks you to respect conditions: afternoon storms on Half Dome's granite, and flash-flood risk in The Narrows. Both also work well as day hikes if you plan the timing carefully.
How your choice changes what you pack
Half Dome points toward a larger pack with plenty of water, layers for early-morning cold, and extra food for a very long day, plus camping gear if you split it. Angels Landing needs a lighter daypack and grippy footwear for the chains. The Narrows shifts the focus to footwear and clothing that handle wet, cobbled river walking, plus dry storage for essentials.
Common questions
Which is harder, Half Dome or Angels Landing?
Half Dome is harder overall. It is rated very strenuous at 14–16 miles with about 4,800 ft of gain, while Angels Landing is rated strenuous at 5.4 miles with 1,488 ft of gain. Angels Landing's difficulty comes mainly from its exposed chained sections.
Which is better for first-timers?
Neither is a gentle starter, but The Narrows is the most flexible: you wade upstream only as far as you like. Check the flash-flood forecast first. Half Dome is the least suited to beginners because of its length, climbing and cables.
Do both require permits?
Yes, in the exposed sections. Half Dome's cables require a permit via lottery whenever they are up, and Angels Landing requires one via a seasonal and day-before lottery. A top-down Narrows hike or overnight also needs a wilderness permit.
Can I do each in a single day?
Both are described as workable day hikes. Half Dome's one-day version starts in the dark and runs long, while Angels Landing and The Narrows are usually given separate days. Half Dome can also be split with a backcountry night.
Sources
- U.S. National Park Service — nps.gov/yose: official information for Half Dome.
- U.S. National Park Service — nps.gov/zion: official information for Angels Landing and The Narrows.
Conditions, permits and access rules change without notice — confirm current information with each managing authority before you go. See our editorial policy.