A process is described for the production of cyclohexanedimethanol by hydrogenation of a dialkyl cyclohexanedicarboxylate which comprises:(a) providing a hydrogenation zone containing a charge of a granular heterogeneous ester hydrogenation catalyst;(b) forming a vaporous feed stream of a hydrogen-containing gas,and a hydrogenatable material comprising a dialkyl cyclohexanedicarboxylate at a feed temperature which is in the range of from about 150.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. and which is above the dew point of the feed stream and at a feed pressure in the range of from about 150 psia (about 10.34 bar) to about 2000 psia (about 137.90 bar), said vaporous feed stream having a known hydrogen-containing gas:dialkyl cyclohexanedicarboxylate ratio;(c) supplying the vaporous feed stream to the hydrogenation zone;(d) maintaining hydrogenation conditions in the hydrogenation zone which are effective to maintain the reaction mixture in contact with the hydrogenation catalyst above its dew point;(e) passing the vaporous feed stream through the hydrogenation zone; and(f) recovering from the hydrogenation zone a product stream containing cyclohexanedimethanol.In this process it is preferred to use dimethyl 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate to produce 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol.