Yosemite
Also known as: The Valley, El Cap, Half Dome
El Capitan; Half Dome; Yosemite Falls; iconic granite valley
The climbing
What there is to climb at Yosemite, and whether a mixed-ability group can split up here.
3000+ routes; 350+ big-wall lines
The Nose 5.9 C2 / 5.14a; Astroman 5.11c; Half Dome Regular NW Face; Freerider 5.13a; Midnight Lightning V8
Multi-pitch teams on walls; single-pitch crags (Swan Slab, Church Bowl); Camp 4 boulders for non-wall members
Mixed-ability friendly; beginners on valley crags/guided; walls expert-only
Rock & setting
Glacier-polished granite; excellent solid; can be slick
Trad cracks; big-wall aid/free; slabs; polished granite; high exposure
Varies by wall; El Cap SE morning sun; north faces shaded/cold
Very busy spring/fall; wall routes queue; backcountry quieter
Season & conditions
Spring-fall; summer hot on valley floor, cooler on shaded walls; winter cold/snow
Apr-May; Sep-Oct
Spring waterfalls; fall stable dry granite; firefall optics Feb
Afternoon heat; sudden storms; rockfall; cold nights on walls
Approach & gear
Park entry fee per vehicle; peak-season entry reservation may apply; free wilderness climbing permit required for overnight big-wall bivy. Confirm.
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
5-45 min valley cragging; longer to Half Dome/backcountry walls
Fresno/Merced ~3-4h drive; YARTS bus; free valley shuttle; car useful
Double rack + wall kit for big walls; standard trad rack for cragging; patchy cell service in valley
Camp 4 climbers campground (walk-in, peak-season lottery, per-person fee); Pines campgrounds (reservation); lodges; backpacker sites. Confirm.
Valley village stores; food; gas; showers; medical clinic; visitor center
Bolting & safety
Mostly trad; sparse bolts; fixed anchors vary in age; check gear placements. Confirm.
Rockfall; long committing walls; heat/dehydration; bears (food storage required); afternoon storms
Not required; Yosemite Mountaineering School authorized concessionaire
YOSAR search-and-rescue; NPS rangers; clinic in valley; dial 911
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand crag report.