Wapama Falls - California Waterfalls; Yosemite Natl. Park, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir-hike/trail/map/directions

Wapama Falls is the jewel of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and a must see visit in the spring. Try not to neglect going to Hetch Hetchy while on your visit to Yosemite Valley.

It is an easy 2.5 mile hike along the reservoir to Wapama Falls. Just a little past Tueeulala Falls, Wapama Falls is more powerful and impressive. It is a 1300 ft. long cascade, which rages in the spring-time. We got very wet just crossing the bridge over Falls Creek, where Wapama Falls flows over (instead of under) in some places. Then we climbed up on the rocks to have lunch with a great view of both waterfalls. If Wapama Falls is really raging strong in the spring, it will be impossible to cross the bridge (and possibly deadly if you try it), but this will only be the case at the height of snow melt.

I have seen Wapama Falls listed at a height of 1700 ft. But is actually around 1300 ft. tall. The higher figure probably originates from before the O'Shaughnessy Dam was built. At that time, Wapama Falls would have been about 400 ft. higher than it is today.

There is one more waterfall in the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir area, 30 ft. Rancheria Falls. It is a long 4 miles past Wapama Falls, with a 1200 ft. elevation gain. We did not make the long trip out to see it when we were here.

18 Miles NNW Yosemite Valley CA (Elev. 5981 ft)

Overnight
A chance of rain and snow before 2am, then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a steady temperature around 37. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Sunday
Snow before 10am, then rain and snow between 10am and 1pm, then rain likely after 1pm. Snow level rising to 7100 feet in the afternoon. High near 45. Wind chill values as low as 27. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southwest in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
Sunday Night
Rain, mainly before 2am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Snow level 6900 feet. Low around 31. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday
Rain and snow showers, becoming all snow after 11am. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. High near 40. Wind chill values as low as 19. Breezy, with a southwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.
Monday Night
Snow showers before 11pm, then a chance of snow after 11pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 25. West southwest wind 10 to 15 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
Tuesday
Snow, mainly after 11am. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 35. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible.
Tuesday Night
Snow showers likely before 11pm, then a slight chance of snow after 11pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Wednesday
A 20 percent chance of snow after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. South wind around 5 mph becoming east northeast in the morning.
Wednesday Night
A 30 percent chance of snow before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday
A 30 percent chance of snow after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 42. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
A 30 percent chance of snow. Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming east northeast in the evening.
Friday
A slight chance of rain and snow. Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 32. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east northeast in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.