Liberty Cap (California)

{{Short description|Granite dome in Yosemite National Park, USA}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2018}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Liberty Cap | image = Yosemite Nevada Fall11.JPG | image_caption = Liberty Cap is next to Nevada Fall | image_size = 240 | elevation_ft = 7080 | elevation_ref = {{NAVD88}}<ref name=pb>{{cite peakbagger|pid=21399|name=Liberty Cap, California |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref> | prominence_ft = 956 | prominence_ref =<ref name=pb/> | range = [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] | parent_peak = [[Half Dome]]<ref name="loj"> {{cite loj |id=58201 |name=Liberty Cap |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref> | location = [[Yosemite National Park]], [[Mariposa County, California|Mariposa County]], [[California|California, U.S.]] | map = California#USA | map_caption = Location in California | map_size = 240 | label_position = below | coordinates = {{coord|37.728533|N|119.532556|W|type:mountain_region:US-CA_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref =<ref name=pb/> | topo_maker = [[United States Geological Survey|USGS]] | topo_map = Half Dome | type = [[Granite]] [[granite dome|dome]] | age = Cretaceous | first_ascent = | easiest_route = [[Scrambling|Scramble]], {{YDS|2–3}}<ref name="sp">{{cite summitpost |id=151618 |name=Liberty Cap|access-date=22 January 2014}}</ref> }}

'''Liberty Cap''' is a [[granite dome]] in [[Yosemite National Park]], California, United States which lies at the extreme northwestern margin of Little Yosemite Valley. It lies adjacent, to the north of [[Nevada Fall]], on the [[John Muir Trail]]. It rises {{convert|1700|ft|m}} feet from the base of Nevada Fall to a peak elevation of {{convert|7080|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}. A smaller, mesa-like dome called [[Mount Broderick]] stands immediately adjacent to Liberty Cap.

==Origin of the name== [[California Governor]] [[Leland Stanford]] visited [[Yosemite Valley|Yosemite]] in 1865, and he and [[James Hutchings]] visited [[Nevada Fall]]. Stanford didn't like any proposed names, and, looking at [[Half cent (United States coin)|half-dollar]] reputably produced by Hutchings, saw a resemblance between the Liberty Cap and the [[coin]]'s [[cap of liberty]] and decided the name better,.<ref name="Yosemite Valley Place Names">{{cite web|url=http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/yosemite_valley_place_names/#l|title=Yosemite Valley Place Names|first=Richard J.|last=Hartesveldt|year=1955|access-date=May 2, 2016}}</ref>

== Climbing == The easiest routes starts at [[Happy Isles]] in [[Yosemite Valley]] and follow either the [[John Muir Trail]] or the [[Mist Trail]] to the top of [[Nevada Falls]]. Cross the bridge over the [[Merced River]] and climb the short ridge. From the granite slabs on the ridge ascend the Northeast Gully ({{YDS|2–3}}) to the summit.<ref name="sp"/>

There are a number of [[Technical climb|technical routes]] on Liberty Cap ranging in difficulty from class 5.8 to 5.11.<ref name="sp"/>

Climbing Liberty Cap requires a wilderness permit, obtainable at all Yosemite visitor centers.

== References == {{reflist}}

[[Category:Granite domes of Yosemite National Park]] [[Category:Mountains of Mariposa County, California]]