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Beautiful and slightly easy walk. There's a part where it goes up hill and wheelchairs and the like aren't recommended as it's a 14% grade increase. You can start from the other side as it's a loop and you won't have to deal with the uphill bit and still enjoy everything. Absolutely breathtaking, the waters were roaring and we got pretty soaked. One of my favorite things to do in the park!
This is a very convenient waterfall to see up close without hiking too far in. There is a semi-paved road going to the falls, and if you're brave, you can go deep into the waterfall hoping rocks on the way. For me, I stayed on the shore, as the rocks are slippery, and it was too crowded. I would love to see this waterfall in the winter, when the water turns to slush or even snow, as it falls from the mountain top.
Pros: *Easy Trail *Beautiful *Bus shuttle drops you off *Close to main parking lot Cons: *N/A Extra: *Go during the spring when the snow is melting so you can see the waterfall.
Extremely kid friendly. Wonderful little loop to get some light walking in. The fall was very dry and it's the beginning of October. Lots of families and hikers so no need to be afraid if you're going solo.
This is a nice 15 minute walk to see a waterfall at Yosemite. At 300 feet, Lower Yosemite Falls is the height of the Statue of Liberty or Big Ben. During peak hours in the summer, expect Disneyland crowds. Bicycles are not allowed on the trail.
This is an obviously beautiful location flooded by tourists from every walk of life. The waterfall is immediately in front of you, and you're able to scramble up to it for a closer look. The trail here is mostly flat and pretty wheelchair accessible. You won't get wet unless you choose to approach the fall or get into the creek created by it.
Definitely one of the most iconic spots in Yosemite national park. Must visit! This is a super easy hike to get to the falls. Lots of families and children does the short hike. The view is absolutely stunning, the waterfall is beautiful, very scenic. Water is freezing even when the air temperature is over 100° Nice place to wash your face and cool off. Make sure to bring lots of water and to take lots of pictures.
This was a beautiful hike! I highly recommend going straight through the entire loop. I found many hikers going up to the fall and then back the same way which was very steep and in my personal view not as enjoyable. So glad I stopped here and enjoyed this beautiful water fall!
This is a great spot to go and accessible to many. The trail is a loop, half is paved and half is kind of a rocky dirt trail. I've been to this trail many times... sometimes the water level is high, sometimes it's non existent. During summer months when the water levels are decent, the mist from the waterfall feels great! Attached is a photo I took from July 2022, the park had a permit system due to Covid which limited the number of people who could enter the park. They dropped they now, so I probably wouldn't go during the summer months (when kids are out of school) if you can. The trail gets very busy since it's right there in the valley.
This is an easy trail with big payoffs, especially if you can arrive early. Between limited park access due to COVID-19 and getting to this trail before 8am, we benefitted from seeing just about dozen or so people on this trail - total! In the past, it's hard to get a photo at the base of the falls without strangers in the background. This past Thursday morning, we had no such issues. The Trail is well paved and kept, there is a bathroom facility at the beginning where you park or get off the shuttle when it is running, and there is a lot of shade. This is a classic hike for Yosemite - it's great for first timers, families with kids, or for us it was an easy add on to our Cook's Meadow Loop hike.
It's hard to give this a good rating since we went in October. As you can read elsewhere, Yosemite Falls is dried up in October. There's not a whole lot to see. We still decided to do the hike since it was short and easy. It's a mile round trip and very flat. It's also paved (handicap accessible I believe). While there's no falls, it was kind of cool to see it without water along with the dried up riverbed. I'm sure this is definitely a great stop earlier in the season, but once it's dried up, you can skip it.
Getting there: Yosemite Falls has two "hikes" to choose from. Upper Yosemite Falls will be a much longer and elevated hike but you will be able to view the upper part of the falls. Lower Yosemite falls is just as beautiful, but very much a nature walk. If you park at the Yosemite Lodge you can walk across the street to the trailhead. Experience: We went for New Years, and it was a little chilly and a lot more crowded than we expected. We made sure to wear our masks and tried to stay away from the crowded spots. The falls were beautiful but not as full as if you see them in the Summer months.
Very easy 0.5 mile RT hike to the falls but it gets busy! We walked here from the lodge (after lunch) & you can see the falls from the lodge as you are getting closer & closer. It's a smooth pavement all the way there so anyone of all ages can easily walk there so there is no downside of putting this on your list of to-see. When you get there, there are several places you can take pictures...at the actual bottom, or you can walk around the stone wall & towards the falls so you can get a closer view. There were a ton of people who were there so expect crowds. If you are going to climb the rocks to get a closer view, be sure to have sturdy shoes or if you don't mind walking through the water. The rocks can be slippery! I've seen a few people fall in. This sight is beautiful & easy so I suggest adding it to your list! It's a great place to chill & enjoy the majestic falls. Highly recommend!
This is probably one of my favorite hikes as I love the view of the waterfall, how close the view is, the large rocks you can climb if you'd like and the walking bridge. If you are looking for a short and fairly easy hike, I'd add this one to the list. There are also man made seesaws from logs right outside the trail which are fun to check out! read more
2 years ago
Easy and short walk to Lower Yosemite Falls. This is a very popular destination due to its short distance and quick accessibility. This is a paved walkway, you'll walk through beautiful streams and stumble accidentally friendly squirrels. There were a lot of people during our visit, so it was hard to get clear shots of the waterfall. Nonetheless, you'll get to experience the mist of the waterfalls if you get close enough. This place is a must! read more
Beautiful and slightly easy walk. There's a part where it goes up hill and wheelchairs and the like aren't recommended as it's a 14% grade increase. You can start from the other side as it's a loop and you won't have to deal with the uphill bit and still enjoy everything. Absolutely breathtaking, the waters were roaring and we got pretty soaked. One of my favorite things to do in the park! read more
1 year ago
3 months ago
This is a very convenient waterfall to see up close without hiking too far in. There is a semi-paved road going to the falls, and if you're brave, you can go deep into the waterfall hoping rocks on the way. For me, I stayed on the shore, as the rocks are slippery, and it was too crowded. I would love to see this waterfall in the winter, when the water turns to slush or even snow, as it falls from the mountain top. read more
3 years ago
Pros: *Easy Trail *Beautiful *Bus shuttle drops you off *Close to main parking lot Cons: *N/A Extra: *Go during the spring when the snow is melting so you can see the waterfall. read more
This is a nice 15 minute walk to see a waterfall at Yosemite. At 300 feet, Lower Yosemite Falls is the height of the Statue of Liberty or Big Ben. During peak hours in the summer, expect Disneyland crowds. Bicycles are not allowed on the trail. read more
3 years ago
This is an obviously beautiful location flooded by tourists from every walk of life. The waterfall is immediately in front of you, and you're able to scramble up to it for a closer look. The trail here is mostly flat and pretty wheelchair accessible. You won't get wet unless you choose to approach the fall or get into the creek created by it. read more
Definitely one of the most iconic spots in Yosemite national park. Must visit! This is a super easy hike to get to the falls. Lots of families and children does the short hike. The view is absolutely stunning, the waterfall is beautiful, very scenic. Water is freezing even when the air temperature is over 100° Nice place to wash your face and cool off. Make sure to bring lots of water and to take lots of pictures. read more
4 years ago
This was a beautiful hike! I highly recommend going straight through the entire loop. I found many hikers going up to the fall and then back the same way which was very steep and in my personal view not as enjoyable. So glad I stopped here and enjoyed this beautiful water fall! read more
This is a great spot to go and accessible to many. The trail is a loop, half is paved and half is kind of a rocky dirt trail. I've been to this trail many times... sometimes the water level is high, sometimes it's non existent. During summer months when the water levels are decent, the mist from the waterfall feels great! Attached is a photo I took from July 2022, the park had a permit system due to Covid which limited the number of people who could enter the park. They dropped they now, so I probably wouldn't go during the summer months (when kids are out of school) if you can. The trail gets very busy since it's right there in the valley. read more
This is an easy trail with big payoffs, especially if you can arrive early. Between limited park access due to COVID-19 and getting to this trail before 8am, we benefitted from seeing just about dozen or so people on this trail - total! In the past, it's hard to get a photo at the base of the falls without strangers in the background. This past Thursday morning, we had no such issues. The Trail is well paved and kept, there is a bathroom facility at the beginning where you park or get off the shuttle when it is running, and there is a lot of shade. This is a classic hike for Yosemite - it's great for first timers, families with kids, or for us it was an easy add on to our Cook's Meadow Loop hike. read more
7 years ago
It's hard to give this a good rating since we went in October. As you can read elsewhere, Yosemite Falls is dried up in October. There's not a whole lot to see. We still decided to do the hike since it was short and easy. It's a mile round trip and very flat. It's also paved (handicap accessible I believe). While there's no falls, it was kind of cool to see it without water along with the dried up riverbed. I'm sure this is definitely a great stop earlier in the season, but once it's dried up, you can skip it. read more
6 years ago
Getting there: Yosemite Falls has two "hikes" to choose from. Upper Yosemite Falls will be a much longer and elevated hike but you will be able to view the upper part of the falls. Lower Yosemite falls is just as beautiful, but very much a nature walk. If you park at the Yosemite Lodge you can walk across the street to the trailhead. Experience: We went for New Years, and it was a little chilly and a lot more crowded than we expected. We made sure to wear our masks and tried to stay away from the crowded spots. The falls were beautiful but not as full as if you see them in the Summer months. read more
5 years ago
Very easy 0.5 mile RT hike to the falls but it gets busy! We walked here from the lodge (after lunch) & you can see the falls from the lodge as you are getting closer & closer. It's a smooth pavement all the way there so anyone of all ages can easily walk there so there is no downside of putting this on your list of to-see. When you get there, there are several places you can take pictures...at the actual bottom, or you can walk around the stone wall & towards the falls so you can get a closer view. There were a ton of people who were there so expect crowds. If you are going to climb the rocks to get a closer view, be sure to have sturdy shoes or if you don't mind walking through the water. The rocks can be slippery! I've seen a few people fall in. This sight is beautiful & easy so I suggest adding it to your list! It's a great place to chill & enjoy the majestic falls. Highly recommend! read more
This is one of my fav National parks. You can see so much with very little walking or effort. It's just breathtaking .. this waterfall is just one of the many sights you have to see here. We stayed at rustic lodging in the park but very close this famous waterfall. naturally the spring the waterfall with be more mighty ... but it's always worth viewing. read more
5 years ago
We literally just stumbled on this trail, went up foe the day and parked on the side of the road, were I joking the views, went into the meadow, crossed the street and somehow just started this trail up the waterfall. We had seen this waterfall all day and were saying how the closer we got the more beautiful it was, who knew we would be feet away from it but the end of the day. It was easy directions, bathrooms we close by, beautiful scenery, the deer were out. The bridges were sturdy and it felt great! To get that close and have the mist on you ans benches and other river rocks you could walk through, I mean it is just a great experience and one you can bring the kiddos to. Totally worth the trip read more
4 years ago
We parked at Yosemite valley lodge (free) and walked across. Easy, paved hiked, slight Incline 0.5mi RT. We did this hike for its easiness and also the worker at our lodge said it was her fave. I even saw people with front wheel walkers doing this hike, so ADA accessible. When you get to the falls, there are benches to sit on. If you want to get to the base of the fall, you can walk across the bridge and hike up some rocks on the right side. I attempted it with the kids but got a little scared as I had my 4yo with me. I did see people reach the base tho, I even saw a lady with baby/toddler backpack carrier hike it. I probably should've went further. Anyway, we went mid Nov 2022. There's some old snow on the grounds. The viewing area was covered in slippery ice. My husband sat there as we tried to climb closer and said he saw multiple people slip. Wear appropriate footwear but even we had hiking boots and it was still slippery. We ate after at base camp eatery- quick east cafeteria style foods. Good selection. Clean bathrooms. read more
Yosemite Falls is one of the most iconic landmarks here. So if it not on your agenda already, it should be. I enjoyed this hike immensely because, strip down all the hype of seeing a magnificent view, it was just an awesome meditative forest walk that does what a forest walk should do--grow on you each step of the way. I may be biased since we were here today late December, and I am sure that with the water flowing regularly, it is probably super beautiful. But without the crowds, there is a certain charm about this trail: the glowing rays of sun that just dance around the trees, the way you can self-direct in some spots and walk up a giant log just because you want to. Or the fact you can find some sweet pine cones to admire for a little bit. Without the gigantic waterfall, you also get to appreciate the sheer size and grandiosity of Yosemite. The rocks just below the waterfall have a certain immensity...You just have to see for yourself. Highly recommended for big groups, families, children. read more
8 years ago
5 years ago
No hike required. Great for seeing a water fall up close with the entire family. Parking is across the street. read more
We were staying at Camp 4 and looking for a short hike that was close by. Per our multiple guide books we had, we decided to walk to Lower Yosemite Falls. Short walk from our campsite to the falls, maybe around 1/2 mile. Once there though it was so crowded! Lots of people, lots of tourists, lots of kids. It's an easy access waterfall. Just walked right on up, probably took us 5 minutes. It's beautiful. We went out on the rocks to get closer to the fall. But again, it is packed with people. read more
A brisk walk from the street where you park your car... There is a fork in the road -- on your left is the Falls View, where you can see both Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls in the distance. To the right of the fork, you'll walk directly to the bottom of Lower Yosemite Falls. It's super quick, you'll be able to finish within 10 minutes and it's family-friendly. Everyone comes here to check out the waterfall, so don't miss out! It's wonderful during spring time because the waterfalls are flowing at full capacity, April is a good month! read more
Lower Yosemite Falls is an easy 30 minute loop trail starting from shuttle stop # 6. This hike is located in Yosemite Park and is 1.1 miles long. This short walk has spectacular views of upper and lower Yosemite Falls. The waterfall may be dry in the late summer and early fall but expect a lot of spray in spring and early summer. The hike features educational exhibits and picnic areas. This is considered an easy hike. This hike is perfect for young children or elderly people. If you prefer not to walk biking is an excellent option. You can rent bikes right across the street at the lodge! read more
Adventure, relaxation, hiking & shopping are rolled into one in Yosemite Village. The Lower Yosemite Falls brings out a majestic force of water that you may need a raincoat as you go near to the falls. Distances from one spot to another are quite a walk but there are rental bikes available for family or friends. The Yosemite Visitor Shop offers a wide variety of souvenirs, books, etcetera catering one's interest. I super enjoy this national park. read more
9 years ago
Yosemite Fall gives you two beautiful tiers that you can experience top and bottom. This easy one mile roundtrip takes you through a grove of lush vegetation and plants you on a bridge parallel to the lower falls. You can rock scramble here to get as close as you can, especially since mid August the water flows are less intimidating to be near. If you can get there I would highly recommend it! It'd be a shame to pass up the opportunity for an intimate encounter. The waterfall is a beauty to behold and so much more impressive up close. Theres many paths to take towards the fall so if something is too slippery or dangerous turn around and try again. Be very careful and have decent shoes or go at it barefoot like I did. Despite being heavily trafficked I didn't have too hard of a time finding street parking. read more
8 years ago
I was here in November, during Thanksgiving week. So that meant less people, but VERY dry conditions. I think California had a really dry season in general around that time. I only went up the Lower Falls, pretty much because I knew the conditions were dry and I wanted to see a few other trails that day. Maybe if I come back, I'll check out Upper Falls. It seems worth it, so who knows. I seem to be making a habit of viewing large waterfalls in the winter and THEN the summer (I did the same for Niagara Falls). The trek wasn't very difficult for the Lower Falls, and pretty soon, you see a bridge with the falls to your left. When I say dry conditions, I truly mean DRY conditions. As in, people were climbing in the bed of the falls. This was one of my favorite Yosemite experiences, and really made this part of the trip memorable for me because it was such a unique experience. It's not every day you can say you climbed the bed of a usually burbling waterfall. I only went about three quarters of the way, if not a little less, but there were some people who had climbed all the way to the actual falls. It took me a good 30-45 minutes of climbing to even get as far as I did. The tourists were doing what you'd probably expect with so much dry surface space and the waterfall so far from the bridge: they climbed into the bed because they could. And I don't mean this was reserved for adults or teens. Oh no, no. There were children younger than 10 scampering along rocks and climbing up and down without any kind of supervision. So if they could do it, I could too, right? I'm sure it wasn't allowable, but it was a really awesome experience. Being able to scale rocks over 5 feet tall (that's only a couple inches shorter than I am!), and being in an area that is usually submerged under water (or at least spraying water) was so neat. It was also a serious workout, to boot. I did the trail believing it wouldn't be that bad (it wasn't), but climbing up and down those rocks was definitely a workout. It was fun navigating taller rocks and wider rocks, and leaping across chasms to get higher up. It really made me appreciate my body, and the things it can do. Gripping into rocks with my fingertips and arms, using precise balance to walk on the jagged edges, my leg muscles to propel me up, down, and sideways, my feet to maneuver into crevices and cracks. It made me feel very accomplished to climb for a little while and turn around and see how far I'd come. Take that, summer visitors! Bet you didn't get to climb a waterfall bed. read more
Again, not really a hike, more like a walk. In the summer there is less water so you can climb the rocks to get to the pool of water at the bottom of the waterfall. Signs suggest you to not climb the rocks due to injuries before but c'mon take the risk! Just be careful, watch your step, mind other people's spaces', and you'll see how cool it is to be able to jump into the pool of water! It's freezing but totally worth the swim! Such a great experience to bath in water from a great waterfall! Next time I'm doing the Upper Yosemite Falls! It's only the tallest waterfall in America!!! C'mon! read more
20 minute walk from Yosemite Lodge. Flat paved trail is wheelchair accessible. A few benches around the lower falls to sit at. Rocks around the falls to climb around. Take your family Christmas card photos here. How can one not love nature? Automatic 5 stars. read more
If you love short hikes for really cool waterfalls, this hike is your cup of tea. You can even take a shuttle there. However, it is only a 1 mile trek so I encourage you hike it. The ttail is pretty wide and flat. It is not steep at all and you start to feel the mist from the waterfsll reenergizing you as you get closer. On the hike towards the trail, before the bridge, on the right is a hidden super secret rock trail. Warning: please be careful of falling on the rocks and getting hurt. That is always a possibility going off trail. That being said, it is really easy and a lot of people were going off trail through the rocky paths for cool pictures as well. Use your own judgment if you are feeling adventurous and you will be fine =). It is a super low risk for a pictures with high likes. read more
15 years ago
Always an adventure and the falls are amazing. It is difficult to get pictures due to the sheer size of the falls and the crush of tourists. Come in the Spring when the falls are at their finest. Be prepared to brave the crowds and wear waterproof clothes. The tour buses stop here; the falls will be at their finest; and you will get wet. For ideas on what not to wear check out my photo. Unless heels are the new hiking boot. read more
14 years ago
Unbelievable! I felt like Captain Ahab in the search of Moby Dick...for years I've been chasing the "moonbow" at lower Yosemite falls and FINALLY I SAW IT! The moon is so bright and full at certain times of the year that it hits the water at night and forms a perfect rainbow. This time 100+ spectators came at 10:40pm to see one of the most gorgeous gifts from creation. Apparently it can only be captured on film when the aperture of special lens camera are left open a minute or 2. Unfortunately, we didn't have one but you can be sure it is tatooed in my memory f.o.r.e.v.e.r.! In the meantime our group took this photo on the base of the falls. read more
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Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
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Lower Yosemite Falls - parks - Updated August 2026
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