Looking west down Yosemite Valley from the Pohono Trail. El Capitan is on the right.
The trailhead for this hike lies along Glacier Point Road and is shared with the
Taft Point and The Fissures Trail. The hike to the top of Sentinel Dome can be popular and the parking area along the road can get full. Plan on showing up early to ensure a spot.
Soon after the trailhead there is a T intersection. There are two options here, depending upon your desired hiking distance and available time. For a quicker path to the summit turn right for an out and back to Sentinel Dome. The hike described here will include the peak but also features a trip around the base of the dome. So turn left to start the circumnavigation.
A large mound of white quartz can be spotted to the right of the trail. When the trail intersects with the Pohono Trail turn right.
Austin Explorer and Half Dome as seen from the summit of Sentinel Dome.
The trail's travel through wooded terrain will end as it nears the edge of Yosemite Valley's rim. Here you'll find numerous breathtaking vistas up and down the valley. El Capitan will be visible throughout. Half Dome will have to wait for the summit.
There's a little bit of confusion with a number of trail segments near the point where the Pohono Trail intersects with the path to the summit, but the signs pointing to the Sentinel Dome should clear things up fairly easily.
Looking off far into the distance to some of the high Sierras from Sentinel Dome.
The slope can be quite steep at times and can be a bit tiring after several miles of hiking. The tree cover holds up on this side of the dome through a good part of the last climb to the top. When nearing the peak the trees dissipate and the largely barren solid rock mound of the summit becomes apparent.
The views from the top are spectacular. Not even nearby Glacier Point can match Sentinel's views of El Capitan, Half Dome and Nevada Falls.
When descending from the dome look for signs pointing to the right towards the trailhead. The trail passes through alternating segments of forested patches and more sparsely vegetated rock covered fields. By the time one gets back to the T intersection encountered earlier the trailhead will be visible to the left.