Half Dome Trail vs Mount Whitney Trail
A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.
| Half Dome Trail | Mount Whitney Trail | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 3 km | 12 km |
| Elevation gain | 458 m | 2,087 m |
| Typical duration | — | — |
| Difficulty | — | — |
| Route type | Point-to-point | Point-to-point |
| Network | Regional | Regional |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Best time to hike | Best from June to September | Best from June to August |
| Route & GPX | Route & GPX |
Half Dome Trail vs Mount Whitney Trail: which should you hike?
At 12 km, Mount Whitney Trail is the longer route — roughly 9 km more than Half Dome Trail (3 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Half Dome Trail 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.