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

Height: 1430 ft.
Access:   car   wheelchair   hike   nodog  
Distance: 7 miles (RT) (hike)
Elevation: 4000 ft. (+2700 ft.) (hike)
Season: Mar-Jul
Form:   plunge
Lat/Long:37.75632, -119.59683
Directions:The trailhead to Upper Yosemite Falls is at Sunnyside walk-in campground on Northside Drive, just a little west of Lower Yosemite Falls. If you can find one of the very few legal spaces, park at Yosemite Lodge (across from Lower Yosemite Falls) and walk up the road to the trailhead; otherwise you will need to take the shuttle from Yosemite Village.

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)

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.

Get Google Maps directions to trailhead

Zoom out on map to see all nearby waterfalls:

Other waterfalls nearby:

Lower Yosemite Falls 0.35 miles
Lehamite Falls 0.99 miles
Royal Arch Cascade 1.46 miles
Staircase Falls 1.87 miles
Sentinel Falls 2.17 miles
Horsetail Falls 2.79 miles
Ribbon Falls 3.08 miles
Lower Illilouette Falls 3.19 miles
Snow Creek Falls 3.34 miles
Vernal Falls 3.45 miles
Illilouette Falls 3.47 miles
Tenaya Falls 3.55 miles
Silver Apron Falls 3.56 miles
Bridalveil Falls 3.82 miles
Nevada Falls 4.05 miles
Widows Tears 5.06 miles
Silver Strand Falls 5.26 miles
Lower Pywiack Cascade 5.76 miles
Pywiack Cascade 6.15 miles
Merced River Falls 6.32 miles
Tamarack Falls 6.49 miles
Cascades 6.49 miles
Tioga Pass Falls 6.51 miles
Wildcat Falls 6.78 miles
Bunnell Cascade 6.79 miles
South Fork Tuolumne Falls 7.11 miles
Clark Fork Falls 7.33 miles
Upper Tenaya Creek Falls 7.63 miles
Grouse Creek Falls 8.29 miles
Echo Creek Falls 8.57 miles
Avalanche Creek Falls 8.92 miles
Silverlace Falls 9.06 miles
Foresta Falls 9.72 miles

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