El Capitan Trail,
Yosemite National Park
Elevation
The El Capitan Trail has a maximum elevation of 7,779 ft., a minimum elevation of 5,876 ft. and an elevation range of 1,903 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 5.2 mi | 5,876 ft | 7,779 ft | 1,903 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 2.6 hrs | 165.7 | 1,988 ft | 243 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 2.1 hrs | 20.2 | 243 ft | 1,988 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF El Capitan Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: Ackerson Mountain, CA
- North Topo Map: Tamarack Flat, CA
- Northeast Topo Map: Yosemite Falls, CA
- West Topo Map: El Portal, CA
- Topo Map: El Capitan, CA
- East Topo Map: Half Dome, CA
- Southwest Topo Map: Buckingham Mountain, CA
- South Topo Map: Wawona, CA
- Southeast Topo Map: Mariposa Grove, CA
Difficulty
The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the El Capitan Trail compared to two other trails. The x-axis is cumulative elevation gain and the y-axis is maximum elevation. The length of the trail is reflected in the size of the bubble.
FAQ
What is the length of the El Capitan Trail?
The length of the trail is 5.2 miles (8.4 km) or 11,500 steps.
How long does it take to hike the El Capitan Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 2.6 hours in one direction and in 2.1 hours in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) may be present in this area. The American dog tick transmits Tularemia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) may be present in this area. The Western blacklegged tick transmits Anaplasmosis and Lyme Disease.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.