Lower Yosemite Fall Trail

The Lower Yosemite Fall Trail is the easiest way to stand near the base of Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in North America. This 1-mile paved loop gains only about 50 feet of elevation and takes most people around 30 minutes, which makes it one of the few hikes in Yosemite Valley that works for strollers, wheelchairs, or anyone short on time.

What You'll See

The loop winds through boulder-strewn forest along Yosemite Creek, with several vantage points of both the upper and lower drops. What you're looking at is really one 2,425-foot waterfall system in three stages — the section directly ahead is the final 320-foot plunge of Lower Yosemite Fall. During peak runoff, spray reaches the viewing bridge well before you do.

When the Falls Actually Run

Yosemite Falls is fed by snowmelt, not a spring, so timing matters more than at most waterfalls. Flow peaks in spring and early summer, then the falls often thin to a trickle or dry up completely from late July or August through October. Come April through June for the full roar; come in late summer and you'll mostly see bare granite.

Getting There and Getting Around

There's no parking at the trailhead. Ride the free Valleywide Visitor Shuttle (7am-10pm) to Shuttle Stop #6, or park at Yosemite Village or the Yosemite Falls parking area and walk in. The eastern half of the loop is paved and wheelchair accessible whenever it isn't covered in ice or snow.

Stay on the marked path — the boulders scattered around the base look climbable but stay slick even when dry, and off-trail scrambling here has led to serious injuries.