Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America, plunging a combined 2,425 feet in three sections: Upper Yosemite Fall at 1,430 feet, the middle cascades at 675 feet, and Lower Yosemite Fall at 320 feet. The sight of this massive column of water thundering down a sheer granite cliff face into the mist-shrouded boulders below is one of the most iconic images in all of American wilderness. On sunny spring days, rainbows arc through the spray at the base, creating a scene that has drawn visitors for over 150 years.

The experience of Yosemite Falls depends on which trail you choose. Lower Yosemite Fall is reached by an easy, mostly flat one-mile loop from the shuttle stop, making it accessible to nearly everyone. Upper Yosemite Fall Trail is a grueling 7.2-mile round-trip climb gaining 2,700 feet, with switchbacks carved into the granite that reward hikers with heart-pounding views from the rim. The trail to the top passes Columbia Rock at the halfway point, a worthy destination on its own.

Peak flow occurs from late April through June during snowmelt, when the falls roar with such force that the ground trembles and mist drenches everything within a hundred yards. By late summer the falls often slow to a trickle or stop entirely. February visitors should look for the famous ice cone that builds at the base of Upper Fall, sometimes reaching 200 feet tall. Arrive early in spring to beat the crowds that pack Yosemite Valley.