Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls is a waterfall in Yosemite National Park in California that drops in three sections over a combined height of 2,425 feet (739 meters). The upper portion plunges down, followed by a middle cascade and a lower section that collects at the valley floor.

The area was home to the Ahwahneechee people before European settlers arrived in the 1850s. The waterfall itself was carved by glacial movements that scraped away the hard granite bedrock over thousands of years.

The name comes from the Miwok language and means something like big mouth, referring to the wide cleft from which the water plunges. Today, viewpoints along the trails mark the best spots to see the entire drop in full view.

The lower section is reachable via a short level trail, while climbing to the top requires a full day of demanding hiking with many steep switchbacks. Spring offers the strongest flow, while late summer may see the water reduce to a trickle or stop completely.

On cold winter days, the mist at the base of the upper section freezes into a cone-shaped ice tower that can reach up to 300 feet (90 meters) high. This ice cone grows as long as the spray freezes in the air and piles up layer by layer.

Location: Mariposa County

Height: 436 m

Width: 27 m

Part of: Yosemite Creek

GPS coordinates: 37.75144,-119.59714

Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:36