mt. dana

getting there

to get to mt Dana from the west take hwy 120 through Yosemite to the east entrance and park in the parking lot just inside the park.this is where you start your hike. From the east take 395 to Lee Vining and turn onto 120 going east. Enter the park and turn right into the parking lot. Thetrail is not marked so just start hiking directly across from the toll booth and u will find a well worn trail, within 100 yards.

the hike

The hike is 3000 feet in 3 miles, so it is almost straight up all the way. However at the beginning  the first 1/2-3/4 of a mile is gently sloped, but then becomes steep.the trail winds up the hill  and quickly rises above the tree line. from here until the rock structure(2miles) the trail switchbacks up rocks and talus.one you reach the stone wall at the top of the first hill, you can clearly see the summit ahead of you. just a heads up when you reach the part of the trail where it starts going up again into boulders, the trail will disappear and separate in all directions. There are occasional rock statues to guide you, but really you need to just keep going up, and keep right.(the left side of Mt. Dana is a steep cliff:).)