Columbia Rock

Columbia Rock is the first real payoff on the Yosemite Falls Trail — a granite overlook reached after a steep mile of switchbacks out of the Camp 4 trailhead. It's the spot locals send people who want the valley view without committing to the full climb to the top of Upper Yosemite Fall.

Trail Details

• Distance: 2 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 1,000 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Time: 2-3 hours round trip
• Trailhead: Camp 4 area, near shuttle stop #7

The trail switches back dozens of times climbing out of the valley floor, front-loading almost all of its elevation gain into that first mile. There's little shade, and the grade doesn't ease until you're standing on the rock.

The View

From Columbia Rock you get a wide, unobstructed look across Yosemite Valley to Half Dome and Sentinel Rock — the same skyline you'd otherwise only see looking up from the valley floor. It's worth the climb any time of year, including winter, when the trail beyond toward the falls can be icy or closed.

Going Farther

If you want more, the trail continues another half mile toward Upper Yosemite Fall, close enough in spring and early summer to catch mist off the water. Past that point, it keeps climbing toward the actual top of the fall — a full 7.2-mile round trip and a different undertaking entirely. Treat Columbia Rock and the summit of Upper Yosemite Fall as two separate hikes, not one plan with a built-in bailout.