Hiking Half Dome and the Diving Board: A Yosemite Backpacking Story

This wasn’t the trip I had planned, but when a last-minute permit popped up for Little Yosemite Valley and Half Dome, I jumped on it. I’d been sick for weeks, hadn’t trained, and wasn’t exactly in peak backpacking shape. But something in me knew I needed a few days in the mountains, even if I didn’t have a perfect plan. What followed was four days of steep climbs, unexpected stillness, cold river baths, and one of the most intense (and rewarding) hikes I’ve done in a while.

The permit gave me access to camp in Little Yosemite Valley for three nights and included a Half Dome cables permit. I’d never been up that route before, and although it’s a popular hike, I was curious to experience it for myself. Day two was the Half Dome climb—an early start, a coffee break with a view, and a slow push to the top. The cables were just as wild as I expected, and the views from the summit didn’t disappoint.

On day three, I set out for something a little less known: the Diving Board. There’s no official trail to get there, just a GPS track and a series of well-placed cairns that guide you through forest, sand, and rocky terrain. The last section was a hands-and-feet scramble, followed by some bushwhacking and a moment under a rock to wait out the raiin. The footage from the top didn’t quite turn out, soft focus, fading light, and my little brain scrambling to make sense of it all, but the view was incredible, and the effort it took to get there made it even more special.

I filmed this trip mostly in a quiet, immersive way. Lots of natural sound—wind, waterfalls, footsteps. Fewer words, more breathing. But between the hard climbs and silent views, I found space to reset. Not everything went perfectly (I blew the focus on my Diving Board footage, for starters), but that’s part of the experience, too.

If you’ve ever hiked Half Dome, or thought about doing it, you’ll probably recognize that mix of awe, nerves, and “What am I doing up here?” energy. And if you haven’t heard of the Diving Board… well, you’ll see why I wanted to find it.

This blog pairs with my latest video on YouTube, which captures the journey through Half Dome, a stormy night at camp, and the remote climb to the Diving Board.

If you’ve hiked in Yosemite—Half Dome, the Diving Board, or anywhere else—I’d love to hear your stories in the comments. What’s the one trail that surprised you the most?

Thanks as always for following along, see on the next adventure.

~Andrew