Yosemite Forum

I walked the Sentinel Dome trail last week. I noticed that the last part of the trail follows an old road, but on the south side of the dome the trail continues west to join up with the Taft Point trail/trail head. But the road seems to continue on to the Glacier Point Road. Is there is some reason one couldn't use the road for the whole walk, making the trip up Sentinel Dome faster and easier? I ask mainly because my wife has arthritis and the non-road part of the trail is a bit rough for her at points.

Thanks

odd man out wrote:I walked the Sentinel Dome trail last week. I noticed that the last part of the trail follows an old road, but on the south side of the dome the trail continues west to join up with the Taft Point trail/trail head. But the road seems to continue on to the Glacier Point Road. Is there is some reason one couldn't use the road for the whole walk, making the trip up Sentinel Dome faster and easier? I ask mainly because my wife has arthritis and the non-road part of the trail is a bit rough for her at points.

No, you could use it. Decades ago you used to be able to drive part way up to Sentinel Dome (to the saddle east of the dome), park, and walk a short way to the top. The unpaved parking lot is still visible, without the markings or signs.

There is a limit of 8 people in the Yosemite wilderness areas for cross-country (off-trail) travel. But even that doesn't apply to you as this area is not in the Yosemite Wilderness Area.

It (the old road) isn't on current maps and there won't be any signs, but it shouldn't be too hard to find. A 1951 map shows the road in good detail to sentinel Dome:
http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/maps/ ... p_1951.jpg

The last map I find it is 1969.
http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/maps/ ... p_1969.jpg
It's shown as a trail in 1973:
http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/maps/ ... p_1973.jpg
Here's a list of historic (old) Yosemite maps by year:
http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/maps/

As I remember the dirt road has rocks and ruts in it, so take your time.

The trail is on current maps as well. http://www.yosemite.ca.us/maps/yosemite ... p_2008.jpg It's harder to find from the Glacier Point end and involves some elevation gain, but it's do-able.

If your wife has a disabled placard, she can get a disabled access permit from a ranger to drive / ride on the road out to Mirror Lake and the Mariposa Grove road. But that won't help her to get up Sentinel Dome.

I took the map above and drew where the road connects with GP.

From the map you can see... drive past Taft TH... it's straight... and then makes a left...
right at the next turn... you will see the gate for the old road... on the right hand side... there is
a fairly large area that you can park your car in. Parking is limited but there. It's not paved though.

If you have other questions you may want to try yosemitenews.info
I personally rarely look at this forum due to the small number of views.

Have fun