Yosemite NP – Upper Yosemite Falls Hike

on July 04, 2023

Introduction:

What? :

Yosemite Falls (2,425 ft), one of the world's tallest waterfalls, is actually made up of three separate falls: Upper Yosemite Fall (1,430 feet), the middle cascades (675 feet), and Lower Yosemite Fall (320 feet).

Upper Yosemite Falls from Glacier Point:

View from the hike:

View from the Valley:

You can see the upper Yosemite Falls from numerous places around Yosemite Valley, climbing to it top and looking down is long strenuous hike but the panoramic view from the top rewording.

From Lower Yosemite Falls trailhead to Upper waterfall viewing point this is 7.6 miles round trip; If you are hiking up to Yosemite Point this is total of 9.4 miles.

This trail is not about the milage but rather the elevation gain, and you will get plenty of it. Total elevation gain is 3,000 feet to the top of Yosemite Falls or 3,700 feet to Yosemite Point.

Hiking Time: plan for 6 - 10 hours for this hike.

Additional Yosemite hikes Blogs:

Where? :

Located above the Yosemite Valley, the trailhead to this hike is starting just after camp 4. Shuttle stop #7.

Google Map Link

When? :

The trail is open year-round.

The water flows is approximately November through July, with peak flow in May. In late summer the waterfall can get completely dried.

During snowstorm the trail can be covered with snow or ice so come prepared.

During the summer month it can get hot so bring with you enough water for a day hike.

Due note 1: The Camp 4 parking area is for campers only, but there is parking at the Yosemite Falls parking area across the street from, and just beyond the entrance to Camp 4.

Due note 1: Ride the shuttle to stop #7 and walk directly across the street to Camp 4

Due note 1: Although it is long and strenuous hike (both going up and down) as any other trail that start at the valley this is VERY popular trail so do expect many other hikers along the trail.

Start your hike early; The upper portion of the trail is exposed to the sun, and it can become very hot mid-day in the summer.

Due note 1: Take enough water with you.

Due note 1: This trail is not for everyone, know your limits, walk slowly going up and carefully going down and drink a lot of water.

Due note 1: The National Park Service recommends 4 liters of water per person. Drinking water is not available along the trail. A drinking fountain is available near the trailhead in Camp 4. If you are planning to refill water from running creeks use filtration system to clean the water before drinking.

Due note 1: Hiking poles are highly recommended both to help in the climb and also to provide stability when walking down.

My thoughts:

I hiked this trail several times and enjoy it very much. The trail is steep with endless switchbacks climbing up the cliff side and the creek. The narrow steps descending to the top of the waterfall view platform and looking at the waterfall from above is rewording. The panoramic view from above is breath taking, the valley below you and Glacier point cliffs on the other side.

I highly recommend keep climbing to Sierra Point where the view is a lot more open.

The Hike:

From Lower Yosemite Falls trailhead to Upper waterfall viewing point this is 7.6 miles round trip; If you are hiking up to Yosemite Point this is total of 9.4 miles.

This trail is not about the milage but rather the elevation gain, and you will get plenty of it. Total elevation gain is 3,000 feet to the top of Yosemite Falls or 3,700 feet to Yosemite Point.

Hiking Time: plan for 6 - 10 hours for this hike.

The trail start near the large boulders at the bottom of the cliff and immediately it start climbing up with countless switchbacks passing through oak woodland.

One mile and 1,000 ft climb into the hike and you will reach to Columbia Rock. Here you can enjoy, after organizing your breath, a spectacular view of Yosemite Valley below you, and Half Dome, and Sentinel Rock on the other side of the valley.

Keep hiking up and after short climb the rail start to go down.

From Columbia Rock, it is another 0.5 miles to get a stunning view of Upper Yosemite Fall.

The viewpoint is the trail itself; you can see from here how the upper Yosemite Fall taking the 1,430 feet plunge down the cliff.

In this short section of the trail, where it is going parallel to a base of granite cliff, the view to the waterfall is completely open and the trail is relatively flat.

Soon after this short section below the waterfall about 1.85 miles into the hike, the trail pulls away from the waterfall into the woods to the left into the direction of a side ravine. From here you start to climb again.

After short walk up in the trees the trail get into an open slope, here the trail is steep and rocky with many switchbacks. This section of the trail is exposed to the sun, and during hot summer mid-day you will feal to combination of the climb and the heat, take it slow.

This long section will lead you to the top of the climb.

Once you get to the top of the climb you will get back into pine forest, cross the creek and follow the signs to Yosemite Falls overlook to your right.

Short walk over the hill and the valley view will be in front of you. You can clearly see Sentinel Dome and Glacier Point on the other side (you can’t see Half Dome from this point).

Walk down to the left trough series of narrow, over the cliff, stairs, hold the rails for safety and walk down to the lower viewing platform.

From here you can enjoy the view of the valley and the waterfall flowing over the cliff 1,430 feet down to the valley below you.

This is an astonishing sight; you can peer over the rail and see Yosemite Falls flowing over the cliff from a unique vantage.

Try not the take a long rest here and allow others to enjoy this spot, walk back up and rest over there.

From the top of the Yosemite Falls Trail, you can extend your hike east and up to Yosemite Point.

This will add you 0.8 mile of hiking, that you will need to hike back.

You need to follow signs for North Dome.

Cross the wooden bridge and start climbing up the mountain side, climbing 700 ft up the hill. At the end of this climb you will see the viewing platform to your right.

Yosemite Point offers direct views of Half Dome that is not visible from upper Yosemite viewing point.

If you will look closely down to your right you can see Lost Arrow Spire top up close, maybe you will see rock climbers finish their climb with overhanging between the rock needle and the main cliff wall.

From here you can keep hiking up to another viewing point or start with your hiking back down.

Going down:

Now when you climb all the way up you need to walk down the same way.

Going down is a strenuous almost as to get up here. You are tired from the long hike, endless switchbacks, steps that can be sleeper and load on the knees. You may feel almost as difficult going down as it is going up.

Again, take it slow, take rest stops, eat something and hopefully you bring enough water with you for this long hike.

Once you are passing Columbia Rock you think you are almost done but you still have 1 mile of hiking down.

www:

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/yosemitefallstrail.htm

Additional Pictures:

Comments