Upper Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
| Address: | Yosemite Village, CA 95389, USA |
| GPS: |
37°45'19.3"N 119°35'2.2"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
| Trail Length: | 7.20 miles |
| Trail Type: | Out & Back |
| Hike Difficulty: | Advanced |
| Elevation Gain: | 2500 feet |
| Trails/Routes: | 2.9 mi |
Lakes Rivers Waterfalls Streams Trails Rocks National Park
Hike
Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America, standing at 2,425 feet. It's made up of Upper Yosemite Falls, Lower Yosemite Falls, and the middle cascades. Lower Yosemite Falls has its own one mile hike that takes you around the base of the falls if you're looking for something a little less strenuous.
With an elevation gain of about 2600 feet, the hike to the top of Yosemite Falls is one of the more difficult day hikes in the park. It's about 7.2 miles and is filled with steep, rocky switchbacks. Many hikers choose to turn around at Columbia Rock, which is about two miles in and offers great views of Half Dome and Yosemite Falls. But to see it from the top, it's about an extra five miles going straight up.
The falls dry up as early as August, so make sure to visit in the spring after the snow melts.
More Information
Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
- Head northeast on Northside Dr toward Lower Yosemite Fall TrailToll road(0.2 mi)
- Turn left onto Village DrToll road(0.4 mi)
- Turn left onto Castle Cliffs CtToll road(0.1 mi)
Take the shuttle and get off at stop #7.
Trails
Distance ?
2.9 milesElevation Gain ?
2,461 feetReal Ascent ?
3,730 feetReal Descent ?
1,269 feetAvg Grade (10°)
18%Grade (-74° to 65°)
-348% to 212%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.
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