Yosemite Falls

Consisting of three cascades totalling 2,425 feet, Yosemite Falls are the highest in the United States. Yosemite Creek meanders through Eagle Creek Meadow before hurling itself over a cliff more than 1,430 feet to form the upper falls. The middle cascades are a series of five falls that drop 675 feet, which are often overlooked because they can’t be seen from the valley, and are relatively hard to access. The lower falls are the most popular and plunge 325 feet before joining the Merced River on the valley floor.

Aside from the falls, incredible granite rock formations, thousands of lakes, ponds and streams, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, and massive stands of giant sequoia trees all exist within Yosemite National Park. The falls are located within the most popular part of the 750,000 acre park, the easily accessible Yosemite Valley. The Falls can be seen from many places throughout the valley, with the most impressive vantage points found near Yosemite Village and Yosemite Lodge. The falls flow from November to July, then slow to a trickle for the rest of the year. They are most impressive in May, just after the snow melts.

Making it happen

Yosemite is a four-hour drive from major international airports in the San Francisco Bay area. Smaller airports with frequent domestic flights are located in Fresno, Merced, and Modesto, all within two hours of the park. Most travelers still prefer to travel to Yosemite by car, and there are four entrances into the park from the east, west, and north. Yosemite can be quite congested during the summer months, so free shuttle buses are provided to save you time and keep the roads from becoming overcrowded.

Yosemite Valley is the most popular part of the park, with easy access to Yosemite Falls and amazing views of the granite monoliths, El Capitan and Half Dome. As the snow begins to melt, many spectacular waterfalls encircle Yosemite Valley, providing visitors with breathtaking views and the music of thundering water throughout the valley.

Yosemite Village is the most developed part of the valley, with an abundance of shops, restaurants, hotels, lodges, and campgrounds. From the village, you can easily walk to the base of Yosemite Falls, plus dozens of other waterfalls, lakes, and vistas. The strenuous hike to the upper falls will take between 6 and 8 hours, with a vertical rise of 2,700 feet.

The most beautiful and breathtaking sites in Yosemite are accessible to everyone. And no matter where you travel in this majestic park, you’re sure to find a breathtaking landscapes that you will remember forever.