Fig. 1. View of Yosemite Falls with the Merced River in the foreground. A U.S. National Park Service “Image” by an unknown photographer is a public domain image.

Visiting Yosemite Falls: What to Know Before You Go

Discover Yosemite Falls with this visitor guide to hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, seasonal tips, and unforgettable experiences in Yosemite National Park.

by Thomas Foxcroft

Publish Date: March 31, 2025

Revision Date: March 31, 2025

Yosemite National Park Visitor's Guide is a Trademark.

Introduction to Yosemite Falls

One of the most commanding and unforgettable sights in Yosemite National Park is Yosemite Falls. With water thundering down a cliffside carved by ancient ice and time, the falls draw the eye from nearly every direction in Yosemite Valley. They are not just a waterfall—they are a symbol of the park’s grandeur, a living monument to the forces of nature that shaped the Sierra Nevada.

Yosemite Falls is located in the heart of Yosemite Valley, just west of Yosemite Village. The waterfall descends dramatically from the northern valley wall and is visible from many parts of the valley floor, including Sentinel Bridge, Cook’s Meadow, and the grounds of the historic Ahwahnee Hotel. During late spring, when the snowmelt is at its peak, the sound of falling water echoes across the valley, and the mist carries on the breeze like a cool breath from the high country above.

At 2,425 feet (739 meters) from top to bottom, Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America and one of the highest in the world. It consists of three separate sections—Upper Yosemite Fall, the Middle Cascades, and Lower Yosemite Fall—that together form a single, breathtaking spectacle. Its vertical scale, seasonal variation, and natural setting have made it one of the most photographed and admired features in the entire park.

For generations, Yosemite Falls has served as a beacon for travelers and artists. Early visitors in the mid-19th century, including landscape painter Thomas Ayres and photographer Carleton Watkins, helped bring its dramatic beauty to national attention. Today, whether viewed up close on a hike to the base or from afar on a quiet morning walk, the falls continue to inspire awe and offer a powerful introduction to the wild heart of Yosemite.

“At 2,425 feet, Yosemite Falls is not only the tallest waterfall in North America—it’s one of the defining sights of the Yosemite Valley.”

Where is Yosemite Falls Located?

Yosemite Falls is located within Yosemite Valley, a broad, east-west valley that forms the scenic heart of Yosemite National Park. The valley’s floor is enclosed by high granite walls, with a north rim on one side and a south rim on the other. Yosemite Falls descends from the north rim of this natural enclosure, near the eastern end of the valley.

The falls lie about 4.9 miles (7.88 km) east of the valley’s western entrance, where El Portal Road, Big Oak Flat Road, and Wawona Road converge. From the eastern end of the valley near Half Dome, they are roughly 2.4 miles (3.87 km) to the west. More specifically, the base of the falls is about ½ mile (0.75 km) west northwest of the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center in Yosemite Village.

Fig. 2. Location of Yosemite Falls as it is situated in Yosemite Valley. Select the image to view an enlarged version as a PDF file. “Image” by Thomas Foxcroft is licensed via CC BY ND 4.0.

Viewing Yosemite Falls

There are many places in Yosemite Valley where you can catch sight of the magnificent Yosemite Falls, but this guide highlights just five of the most practical and memorable viewpoints. These five spots offer a variety of perspectives—some from the valley floor, one from the valley wall—and serve as excellent stops whether you’re driving, biking, walking, or riding the free shuttle. As you make your way through the valley, keep in mind that the surrounding areas near each viewpoint offer additional, informal viewing opportunities that you’re free to explore on your own.

To keep things straightforward, we’ll begin at the western entrance to the valley—the only way vehicles can enter Yosemite Valley—and present the viewpoints in the order you would encounter them as you travel along Southside Drive, then loop around to Northside Drive.

Yosemite Falls consists of three distinct sections: Upper Yosemite Fall, the Middle Cascade, and Lower Yosemite Fall. Together, they form one of the tallest waterfalls in North America, and the views change dramatically depending on where you stand and what time of year you visit.

Viewpoint 1 – Leidig Meadow

As you follow Southside Drive from the western end of the valley, you’ll pass through thick conifer forest until you reach the Swinging Bridge Picnic Area, about two miles (3.2 km) from the El Capitan Drive junction. Parking and restrooms are available here, but your first unobstructed view of the falls appears about 1,000 feet (300 meters) beyond the picnic area, in Leidig Meadow. This is viewpoint number 1—a quiet stretch of roadside where you can park and admire the falls rising across the meadow to your left. It’s an excellent place to rest, take photos, and start a walk along one of the nearby trails that leads to the base of the falls, which are about a mile (1.6 km) away.

Fig. 3. Yosmite Falls as seen across Leidig Meadow from viewpoint number 1. “Image” by Andrew Bachmann is licensed via Google Maps Terms of Service.

Viewpoint 2 – Sentinel Bridge Area

Continue down Southside Drive for about 2,900 feet (883 meters) to reach the Sentinel Bridge Parking Area, located just after you turn left onto Sentinel Drive and cross the bridge over the Merced River. Here, at viewpoint number 2, you’re about 3,400 feet (1 km) from the falls. It’s a popular picnic spot in sunny weather, with two trailheads nearby that lead directly toward the base. While the nearest restroom is at the Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead—about 2,100 feet (640 meters) away—the bridge itself and the view upstream along the river make this stop a particularly scenic and enjoyable pause.

Fig. 4. Yosmite Falls as seen across Cooks Meadow from viewpoint number 2 in the Sentinel Bridge parking Area. This image was taken late in the year, during September 2018, when the water flow was very low or not existent. “Image” by an unknown photographer is licensed via Google Maps Terms of Service.

Viewpoints 3 and 4 – At the Base of the Falls

For a closer look, continue north on Sentinel Drive to Northside Drive. From there, you can drive about seven tenths of a mile (1.2 km) to reach Yosemite Lodge Drive. The Yosemite Lodge Parking Lot is located at the end of this drive and is only about 580 feet (177 meters) from the Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead. Alternatively, you can continue east on Northside Drive and enter the Yosemite Falls Parking Area, which offers access to the same trailhead via a 3,200-foot (975-meter) trail.

This heavily wooded area near the trailhead includes amenities such as restrooms, picnic tables, and bicycle racks. More importantly, it serves as the gateway to viewpoints 3 and 4, which lie along the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, a 0.9-mile (1.5 km) loop.

Fig. 5. A view of the entire falls as seen from a point on Lower Yosemite Falls, just past its trailhead. Viewpoint number 3 is just ahead. The image was taken during July 2022, so Yosemite Creek is still flowing. “Image” by Brock Ackley is licensed via Google Maps Terms of Service.

Viewpoint number 3, the Lower Yosemite Fall Vista Point, is just 1,400 feet (427 meters) from the trailhead and brings you very close to the base of the lower fall and the creek. On your way there, you’ll catch a stunning simultaneous view of both the upper and lower falls. Viewpoint number 4, known as Yosemite Falls View, is about 1,700 feet (518 meters) from the trailhead and offers a wider vantage point that includes both falls. This spot is near one of the seasonal creekbeds that fills with rushing water during peak flow periods in spring and early summer.

Fig. 6. Lower Yosmite Falls as seen from viewpoint number 3, at the base of the falls. Taken during June 2014 when Yosemite Creek was flowing, and surrounded many other tourists. “Image” by Tyler Callahan is licensed via Google Maps Terms of Service.

Viewpoint 5 – On the Yosemite Falls Trail

For a higher and more dramatic view, head to viewpoint number 5 on the Yosemite Falls Trail. Don’t confuse this with the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail—the Yosemite Falls Trail climbs the valley wall and eventually reaches the rim for sweeping views of both the falls and Yosemite Valley.

Fig. 6. Upper Yosmite Falls as seen from near viewpoint number 5, on Yosemite Falls Trail. Taken during April 2018 when Yosemite Creek was flowing strong. “Image” by Sabrina Dadalt is licensed via Google Maps Terms of Service.

The trailhead is located along the Valley Loop Trail, about 1,200 feet (366 meters) from the Yosemite Falls Parking Area, or about 2,500 feet (762 meters) from the Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead. This trail is unpaved and steep, and you’ll need to be in good physical condition to make the climb. The first stretch winds through conifer forest, offering little to no view until you gain elevation. From the trailhead, it’s a challenging 1.3-mile (2.1 km) hike to the viewpoint. The reward is worth the effort: a high-angle perspective of the entire falls system, plus panoramic views of the valley far below.

“The best time to see Yosemite Falls is during spring, when snowmelt fuels the water flow. By late summer, the falls may shrink to a trickle—or even disappear.”

From ground-level meadows to lofty ledges, Yosemite Falls reveals a new character at every turn. Whether you stop for a moment or spend a full day exploring, each viewpoint offers a new glimpse into one of Yosemite’s most iconic sights.

Vid. 1. A motion picture about Yosemite Falls. “Video” by Yosemite Conservancy, for the U.S. National Park Service, is a public domain motion picture.

References

National Park Service. Valley Loop Trail – Yosemite National Park . Accessed March 26, 2025.