{{Short description|Peak in Yosemite National Park, USA}} {{for|the granite dome near Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park|Sentinel Dome}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Sentinel Rock | image = Yosemite National Park 1989 21.jpg | image_caption = A photo of Sentinel Rock in Yosemite Valley | image_size = 200px | elevation_ft = 7038 | elevation_ref = <ref>{{cite web | url = https://home.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/natural-resource-statistics.htm | title = Natural Resource Statistics | work = Yosemite National Park | publisher = National Park Service | access-date = 2009-01-28}}</ref> | location = Yosemite National Park<br/>Mariposa County, California, U.S. | map = California#USA | map_caption = Location in California | map_size = 240 | label_position = below | range = Sierra Nevada | coordinates = {{coord|37.7288151|N|119.594331|W|type:mountain_region:US-CA_scale:100000_source:GNIS|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | range_coordinates = | coordinates_ref = <ref name="gnis">{{cite gnis |id=253840 |name=Sentinel Rock |accessdate=2009-01-28}}</ref> | topo = USGS Half Dome | rock = Granite | age = Cretaceous | first_ascent = June 30 - July 4, 1950<br/>by Allen Steck and John Salathé<ref name="rockclimbing"/> | easiest_route = Circular Staircase ({{YDS|5.8}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.supertopo.com/rock-climbing/Yosemite-Valley-Sentinel-Rock-Circular-Staircase |title=Circular Staircase, Sentinel Rock 5.8 |publisher=SuperTopo.com |accessdate=2016-03-27}}</ref> }}

'''Sentinel Rock''' is a granitic peak in Yosemite National Park, California, United States. It towers over Yosemite Valley, opposite Yosemite Falls.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/formations.htm|title=Rock Formations in Yosemite|work=Yosemite National Park|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=2007-08-14}}</ref> Sentinel Rock lies {{Convert|0.7|mi|1}} northwest of Sentinel Dome.

==Geology== Sentinel Rock formed when masses of rock split off Yosemite Valley's south-side cliff, along steep joints trending nearly east–west. This formed the near-vertical north face of Sentinel Rock.<ref name="wr.usgs.gov">{{cite web|title=Bedrock Geology of the Yosemite Valley Area Yosemite National Park, California|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321165731/https://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/yos/I_1639.html|url=https://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/yos/I_1639.html|archive-date=March 21, 2017|publisher=USGS|work=Geology and National Parks|access-date=March 20, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Climbing== The most famous climbing route is the ''Steck-Salathé route'', which is rated a {{YDS|5.10b G}} A0.<ref name="rockclimbing">{{cite web |title=Steck-Salathe |url=http://www.rockclimbing.com/routes/North_America/United_States/California/Yosemite_N..._Park/Yosemite_Valley/Sentinel_Rock/North_wall/Steck-Salathe_1594.html |publisher=rockclimbing.com |accessdate=2014-01-20}}</ref>

Climber Derek Hersey died while attempting to free solo climb Sentinel Rock in 1993.<ref name="Psychology Today">{{cite journal |author=Roberts, Paul |title=Risk |date=1994-11-01 |journal=Psychology Today |url=http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200910/risk |accessdate=2011-07-27}}</ref>

==Gallery== <div style="max-width: 500px;"> <gallery mode=slideshow> File:Yosemite National Park, Sentinel Rock.jpg|Northwest aspect File:Yosemite National Park - Sentinel Rock.jpg File:Sentinel Rock, Yosemite National Park.jpg|Sentinel Rock (right) in Yosemite Valley. (camera pointed east) </gallery> </div>

==See also==

* Sentinel granodiorite

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{commons category-inline |Sentinel Rock}}

Category:Mountains of Mariposa County, California Category:Mountains of Yosemite National Park Category:Mountains of Northern California Category:Climbing areas of California

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