Hiking Yosemite North Rim Grand Loop | Part 1: Snow Creek, Indian Rock & North Dome | 4K HDR

This silent hiking video documents Part 1 of a long loop hike in Yosemite National Park. The complete route covers approximately 33.8 km (21.0 mi) with around 2,310 m (7,590 ft) of cumulative elevation gain, beginning and ending on the Yosemite Valley floor. The overall loop climbs the Snow Creek Trail to the north rim of Yosemite Valley, passes Indian Rock Arch and North Dome, continues west along the north rim toward Yosemite Point and Upper Yosemite Falls, and finally descends back to the valley via the Yosemite Falls Trail. The highest point of the hike is near Indian Rock at approximately 2,549 m (8,362 ft) above sea level. This Part 1 section documents the eastern half of the loop, from the Yosemite Valley trailhead to the summit area of North Dome. The route passes Mirror Lake before climbing the steep Snow Creek Trail, gaining roughly 720 m (2,360 ft) in less than 4 km (2.5 mi). After reaching the north rim forest plateau, the trail continues through mixed conifer forest toward Indian Rock, a natural granite arch formation and the highest point of the hike, before traversing Indian Ridge toward North Dome with extensive views of Half Dome and the central Yosemite high country. Seasonal water sources along this section of the route may include Tenaya Creek near Mirror Lake and Snow Creek along portions of the Snow Creek Trail. Availability varies significantly depending on season and annual snowpack, and later sections of the north rim may have limited or no reliable flowing water during late summer and fall conditions. Filmed in real time in 4K HDR, with ambient hiking sounds, the video presents an objective visual record of trail conditions, terrain, elevation gain, forest environments, exposed granite landscapes, and panoramic viewpoints across the eastern Yosemite north rim. This video is part of a series documenting a California hiking trip in autumn 2024. This video is optimized for high-resolution HDR displays. Creating this content requires significant work. You can support the channel by purchasing the original music at https://rubihammer.bandcamp.com/ or by buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rubihammer Video recording, hiking and traveling gear I use: Ultralight 4K Cinema Gear, For Hikes & Scenic Drive Video Recording (Amazon affiliate link): https://amzn.to/49FL2JK Immersive Audio & Field Recording for the Outdoors (Amazon affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3NISFq3 Ultralight Hike & Trail Run Essentials (Amazon affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4k6xZVi Technical Hiking and Trail Running Apparel (Amazon affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3LAuEkx Endurance Fuel & Trail Nutrition (Amazon affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4abmZCy Wilderness Tools & Road Trip Survival (Amazon affiliate link): ​​https://amzn.to/3ZwXCow Data Storage: Outdoors to Studio (Amazon affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4blosY4 DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links provided I may receive a small commission, but without any additional charge to you. Video Chapters: 0:00:00 Geographic overview and Introduction 0:01:25 Trailhead at the Yosemite Valley floor to Mirror Lake 0:41:20 Mirror Lake to Snow Creek Trail junction 0:58:40 Snow Creek switchbacks — the major climb to the north rim 2:21:45 Top of Snow Creek to Snow Creek Footbridge and the North Dome trail junction 3:19:30 North Dome trail junction through the forest toward Indian Rock 3:42:00 Indian Rock — highest point of the hike 3:51:30 Indian Ridge to the summit area of North Dome 4:42:00 Views from North Dome and hike stat summary