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    Chilnualna Falls Trail

    4.6 (18 reviews)

    Chilnualna Falls Trail Photos

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    Look beyond the trees
    Omar A.

    I had my headphones on high as I started to walk this trail. The song that came on was "I Walk Alone" by the supergroup of the underground known as Pinhead Gunpowder. I couldn't have picked something more appropriately fitting to the moment so I will just let the genius of Aaron's words [as chanted by Billie Joe] do their part for this review, as they conveniently did for me on my walk up to this waterfall view: "I walk a crooked twisting path that seems to be leading nowhere. I do what seemed to be the right thing at one time. But now that time has passed, I'm the last one walking down this path."

    Accessible waterfall. In November anyhow.
    Emilio M.

    Not too far from highway 41 in the Yosemite forest you'll find this relatively easy waterfall hike to access. Just park your car & go. Ill be honest tho... We didn't go the full distance. We did however come across 2 small waterfalls in the 1 mile of the 5 mile hike. So that was the easy part and good enough for us. There are small pools of water to get to and set up a picnic or just soak your feet. If you're able bodied the hike should be a piece of cake. There is also a horse trail. Id say the only thing that you should be conscious and respectful of is the coyotes, bears or mountain lions that you may or may not encounter. Always stay vigilant and remember to clean up any trash you leave behind. Remember to just breathe and take in the sights & sounds when here. Have fun!

    Khammany D.

    Went Sunday. August. It just started "cooling down" so perfect weather to be hiking about mid 60s to 70s. About nine miles total from the parking lot. Took the walking trail (there's also the horse trail)... Leads one to a water fall then a couple more turns to the sign that's says 4.1 miles to Chilnualna Falls. Fellow hiker did the entire trail bare footed. Facts! Nice and very clean trail. There wasn't much of a water fall when you go to the the top but there are water holes where you can dip in or even filter water to drink. I had to filter some more water for my camelpack. LOTS of bees up there. So if you are allergic and/or afraid of them DO NOT go to the top. Also, the trail is very easy to find. It's not too far from the entrance of Yosemite... Just follow the signs! Dont forget sunblock, hydration, and a snack!! Happy hiking!!

    Dang L.

    One of the hidden gems of Yosemite. Reason why is because of the beautiful scenery without all of the tourists. Overall, the hike is hard, but doable. The waterfall and views are well worth the hike. I remember standing at the bottom of the parking and looking all the way at the top and thinking, "omg this is the last time I let my girlfriend choose the hike. That mountain is ridiculously tall". It turned out to be easier than it appears and the incline is actually a lot more gradual than it looks. Oh yeah, we actually did half of this hike in the rain because we forgot to check the weather. Still worth it. The trail is pretty wide, just make sure you do not accidentally go down the "stock trail" and you will be fine. When you see the stone steps, you are close to completing the hike. Good luck!

    Kimmy R.

    I really enjoyed this hike. We did the 8 mile route, and it was very rewarding. Throughout this hike there are many different water falls. There are two in the beginning of the hike. It is so refreshing and perfect for the long hot journey. For the most part this trail is empty, besides the few people in this hike. A few downsides are that there are bees on this hike. There are also weird flies that love to bite and swarm you after swatting them away. This is near the top or end of hike however. At the top of the hike, it is so beautiful and worth the journey. I would strongly recommend all hikers to hike this route.

    view from about halfway up the trail

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    11 years ago

    Not congested, beautiful scenery and not really taxing on folks my age! It was gorgeous! Swinging bridge is a must!

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    Review Highlights - Chilnualna Falls Trail

    I've swam naked in the waters of Chilnualna Creek; the cold, glacial runoff all around me reminding me I'm alive.

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    Tiltill Valley - This is the the 5900 peak where I   was standing.

    Tiltill Valley

    5.0(1 review)
    0.5 mi

    Trail head Elevation: 3818 Feet…read more Top Elevation: 5,900 Feet Trail Type: Out-and-back Range: 2.7 Miles from Rancheria Falls Type: Moderate to Strenuous Tiltill Valley is a remote valley in northern Yosemite National Park. It is accessible only to hikers. The valley is most easily reached via trail heads in the vicinity of the Hetch Hetchy Valley and Lake Eleanor.The valley provides access to many remote alpine lakes throughout the largely untamed wilderness that defines the northern portion of Yosemite National Park and the adjacent Emigrant Wilderness. This route tours the northern edge of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Across the lake, the views of Kolana Rock and the sheer granite walls of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne are majestic, contrasting pleasantly with the intimate serenity of Tiltill Valley. The trail was barely used. Strewn with broken trees and branches. We had to jump over some big branches and I have a few scratches to show for. This is one of our three day hikes from the base camp in Rancheria falls Sunday. It was a solitary hike. No one was there at all. We can not see the trail at 5900 feet. At the top at 5900 feet there was about two feet of snow. We were sinking and it was fun for a little bit but without our snow shoes it just won't work. We also decided that since we can not see the trail it is not safe to proceed. So we headed back down to camp.

    Photos
    Tiltill Valley
    Tiltill Valley - On top of a peak on Tiltilly @ 5900 Feet

    On top of a peak on Tiltilly @ 5900 Feet

    Tiltill Valley

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    YExplore Yosemite Adventures - Heads in the Clouds on Sentinel Dome

    YExplore Yosemite Adventures

    4.8(37 reviews)
    22.5 mi

    Our tour guides were absolutely amazing (John and Mia) and they were very knowledgeable and helped…read moreanswer all of our questions (about Yosemite in general, specific famous features on our hike, and even random questions about birds and plant life). The hike is as advertised (in terms of ratings and what features you will see). They always put safety first and even offered to help carry our back packs when we got tired or were crossing a small stream! They treated us like close family/friends, were encouraging us along the way, and adapted to our pace and schedule. Our group ranged from age 6 to adult and we couldn't have made it to the end of the hike without them! Book them for your tours and have fun on your Yosemite Vacation!

    Will definitely be booking again with John and Y Explore!!! Honestly when we booked the guided half…read moredome hike I went into it thinking we were just utilizing the purchased permits as hadn't won the lottery ourselves but as the day progressed I became more and more grateful for the wisdom and knowledge of our guide. From breathing techniques and tips for ascending and descending the cables to the order of of our group and perfectly timed rest breaks this was worth every penny as we had not only a successful summit but an overwhelming positive experience! Hubby and I are excited to travel again to more destination with Y Explore in the near future!

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    YExplore Yosemite Adventures - Half Dome

    Half Dome

    YExplore Yosemite Adventures - Yosemite North Dome Adventure

    Yosemite North Dome Adventure

    YExplore Yosemite Adventures - Sun on Half Dome

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    Sun on Half Dome

    Chilnualna Falls Trail - hiking - Updated June 2026

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