Lower Yosemite Falls Easy


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Location: Yosemite Village, Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County
Stream: Yosemite Creek
Alternate Names:

Height: 320 ft.
Access:   car   wheelchair   dog  
Distance: 0.6 miles (RT)
Elevation: 4000 ft.
Season: Apr-Jul
Form:   horsetail
Lat/Long:37.75132, -119.59656
Directions:The Lower Yosemite Falls parking lot is now permanently closed. Park in the Yosemite Lodge parking lot, if you can find one of the few legal spaces, and walk across the road and up to the viewpoint for Lower Yosemite Falls. Otherwise, park in Yosemite Village and take the shuttle to the lower falls.

Yosemite National Park in California is truly magnificent. It is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. It is home to the highest waterfalls in North America, and they are nothing less than spectacular. It is home to some absolutely huge, incredible rocks (such as Half Dome, and El Capitan). It is home to some old growth forests. The scenery is awesome. You will not be able to see everything in a single trip. We have been there three times now, and there is still so much more we want to see there. You will need to make reservations for camping or lodging well in advance, due to the large number of tourists that go there (at least 3 months to 1 year). One other recommendation: if you are going there to see the waterfalls, you should go in mid May to early June. A lot of the waterfalls dry up over the summer, or do not flow with as much force in later months. We have been there in July and in late May, and in March. Although the waterfalls were still great in July (the ones that were still flowing), in May they are absolutely overwhelming. We can not describe in words how incredible these waterfalls are. They take your breath away.

Everyone who goes to Yosemite National Park, will see Lower Yosemite Falls. It is easy to get to, however they have now officially closed the lower falls parking lot. It is a busy place, but Lower Yosemite Falls is impressive nonetheless. Together with Upper Yosemite Falls (1430 ft.) and the middle cascades (675 ft.), the total height of the waterfalls is 2425 ft., making this the 5th highest waterfall in the world. In the spring, you will likely get wet just standing at the viewpoint. The actual waterfall is still a few hundred yards away. That is how powerful these waterfalls in Yosemite are. In the summer months, you can climb up the rocks to get a closer view, but in the spring it would be very dangerous to do so. I love coming here in the early morning hours when not many other people are around. You can also usually see a rainbow on the lower falls in the early morning (see above photo).

Yosemite Valley CA (Elev. 4760 ft)

Today
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Snow level 6500 feet lowering to 5400 feet in the afternoon . High near 47. Wind chill values as low as 30 early. West southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Tonight
Rain showers before 8pm, then snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 25. West southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
Tuesday
Snow, mainly after 11am. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 41. Wind chill values as low as 22. Light south southwest wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.
Tuesday Night
Snow, mainly before 11pm. Low around 22. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Wednesday
A slight chance of snow between 11am and 2pm, then a slight chance of rain after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday
A 20 percent chance of rain after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. West wind around 5 mph becoming east northeast in the evening.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 56. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the morning.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 31. West wind around 5 mph becoming east northeast after midnight.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 60. East northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 35. North wind around 5 mph becoming east northeast in the evening.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 64. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon.

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Other waterfalls nearby:

Upper Yosemite Falls 0.35 miles
Lehamite Falls 1.15 miles
Royal Arch Cascade 1.37 miles
Staircase Falls 1.60 miles
Sentinel Falls 1.82 miles
Horsetail Falls 2.59 miles
Lower Illilouette Falls 2.92 miles
Ribbon Falls 2.95 miles
Illilouette Falls 3.18 miles
Vernal Falls 3.25 miles
Silver Apron Falls 3.37 miles
Snow Creek Falls 3.41 miles
Tenaya Falls 3.58 miles
Bridalveil Falls 3.59 miles
Nevada Falls 3.86 miles
Widows Tears 4.84 miles
Silver Strand Falls 5.05 miles
Lower Pywiack Cascade 5.88 miles
Merced River Falls 6.24 miles
Pywiack Cascade 6.26 miles
Cascades 6.40 miles
Tamarack Falls 6.43 miles
Wildcat Falls 6.68 miles
Bunnell Cascade 6.74 miles
Tioga Pass Falls 6.84 miles
Clark Fork Falls 7.07 miles
South Fork Tuolumne Falls 7.25 miles
Upper Tenaya Creek Falls 7.78 miles
Grouse Creek Falls 8.11 miles
Echo Creek Falls 8.55 miles
Avalanche Creek Falls 8.72 miles
Silverlace Falls 9.01 miles
Foresta Falls 9.58 miles
Lower Foresta Falls 9.94 miles

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