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The Cascades Viewpoint
A roadside waterfall view and picnic stop minutes from Yosemite Valley.
About
The Cascades is a waterfall you can see without leaving your car — a roadside pullout and picnic area on El Portal Road (Highway 140), about 10 minutes' drive from Yosemite Valley, on the stretch between the Arch Rock Entrance and the valley floor. Cascade Creek drops steeply just across the road from the picnic tables, making this one of the easiest waterfall views in the park for anyone short on time or unable to hike.
What's There
The National Park Service lists grills, picnic tables, restrooms, recycling stations, and wheelchair-accessible facilities, including extended-top accessible tables and a vault toilet at the parking area. Canyon live oaks and ponderosa pines shade the tables, and the site operates year-round. The pathway to the picnic area itself is on a slight, unpaved incline, so wheels and strollers may hit a few uneven or rocky stretches.
Best Time to Visit
The Park Service describes The Cascades as a lesser-visited waterfall that's stunning in spring, when snowmelt sends Cascade Creek rushing past the picnic area. Like most Yosemite waterfalls, expect the flow to thin out considerably by mid-to-late summer.
Water Safety
The Park Service is direct about the risk here: swift-moving, cold water is very dangerous and even deadly, particularly during spring runoff. Keep kids and pets back from the creek's edge, and store food properly — this is bear country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Cascades a hiking trail?
No — it's a roadside viewpoint and picnic area on El Portal Road (Highway 140). You can see the waterfall from the pullout without hiking anywhere.
When does The Cascades have the most water?
In spring. The National Park Service describes it as a lesser-visited waterfall that's stunning in spring during snowmelt runoff; like most Yosemite waterfalls, it thins out by mid-to-late summer.
Is the picnic area wheelchair accessible?
Yes — extended-top accessible picnic tables, accessible restrooms and grills, and designated accessible parking are provided, though the path to the tables has a short unpaved incline with some uneven ground.
Is it safe to get close to Cascade Creek?
Use caution. The Park Service specifically warns that the swift-moving, cold water here is dangerous and even deadly, especially during spring runoff, so keep back from the banks.
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