Upper Yosemite Falls - California Waterfalls; Yosemite Natl. Park, Yosemite Village-hike/trail/map/directions

Upper Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park, California, is one of the most spectacular sights in all of the United States. In the summer, the water flow dwindles to almost nothing, but in the spring during snow melt, the waterfall is overwhelming. Upper Yosemite Falls can be seen along the roadside at a number of viewpoints along Southside Drive. The best ones are at Cooks Meadow and Swinging Bridge, and it also can be seen along the trail to Lower Yosemite Falls.

For those with a lot of energy, it is a grueling 3 hour hike to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls. It is well worth the effort, however. The best views of the upper falls you will find a little ways past Columbia Rock, about 1.5 miles from the bottom. Also just past Columbia Rock, there is a little side trail on the right, just before you get your first view. Take it. It is a very short walk that leads to a single viewpoint of the upper, middle, and lower falls (it is the only viewpoint for the middle falls). If you continue up the trail, you will get some closer views of Upper Yosemite Falls. Then the trail continues to the top (another 2 hours of hiking). There is not really a good view of the upper falls at the top, though you can get to a scary ledge beside the waterfall, looking down to the bottom. There are awesome views of the valley from the top, and if you are there in the summer months, you can actually swim in Yosemite Creek at the top. Now that is refreshing after a grueling 3 hour hike! But in the spring, the creek is flowing far too fast.

Together with Lower Yosemite Falls (320 ft.) and the middle cascades (675 ft.), the total height of the waterfalls is 2425 ft., making this the one of the highest waterfalls in the world. It is often said to be the 5th highest, though actually there are quite a few others that are higher (unofficially). At any rate, it is easily the single best thing in a national park that has plenty of incredible sights to see.

Yosemite Valley CA (Elev. 4760 ft)

This Afternoon
A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. West wind around 10 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 46. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Saturday
Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 73. Light and variable wind becoming west southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 49. East wind around 5 mph becoming north in the evening.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 78. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming west southwest in the morning.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 51. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 77. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 48. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the evening.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 70. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Wednesday
A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest in the morning.
Wednesday Night
A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with a high near 61. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.