Half Dome Trail vs Hidden Canyon
A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.
Units
| Half Dome Trail | Hidden Canyon | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 2.0 mi3 km | 1.0 mi2 km |
| Elevation gain | 1,490 ft454 m | 1,562 ft476 m |
| Typical duration | 1 day | 1 day |
| Difficulty | — | — |
| Route type | Point-to-point | Point-to-point |
| Network | Regional | Local |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Best time to hike | Best from June to September | Best from April to May |
| Route & GPX | Route & GPX |
Half Dome Trail vs Hidden Canyon: which should you hike?
At 2.0 mi3 km, Half Dome Trail is the longer route — roughly 1.0 mi2 km more than Hidden Canyon (1.0 mi2 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Hidden Canyon is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.