# Yosemite Falls > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Yosemite_Falls > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Yosemite_Falls.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Falls > Source revision: 1351219117 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Waterfall in California, United States This article is about a specific waterfall known as "Yosemite Falls". For other waterfalls in Yosemite, see [List of waterfalls in Yosemite National Park](/source/List_of_waterfalls_in_Yosemite_National_Park). Yosemite Falls Interactive map of Yosemite Falls Location Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California, U.S. Type Tiered Total height 2,425 ft (739 m) Number of drops 6 Longest drop 1,430 ft (436 m) Watercourse Yosemite Creek **Yosemite Falls** is the highest [waterfall](/source/Waterfall) in [Yosemite National Park](/source/Yosemite_National_Park), dropping a total of 2,425 feet (739 m) from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall.[2] Located in the [Sierra Nevada](/source/Sierra_Nevada_(U.S.)) of [California](/source/California), it is a major attraction in the park, especially in late [spring](/source/Spring_(season)) when the water flow is at its peak. ## Sections All three falls The falls consist of three sections comprising six total drops: ### Upper Yosemite Fall Yosemite Upper Falls The 1,430-foot (440 m) plunge comprises over half the total drop. Trails from the valley floor and down from other park areas outside the valley lead to both the top and base of Upper Yosemite Fall. The upper fall is formed by the swift waters of [Yosemite Creek](/source/Yosemite_Creek), which, after meandering through [Eagle Creek Meadow](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eagle_Creek_Meadow&action=edit&redlink=1), drop over the edge of a hanging valley in a spectacular and deafening show of force. ### Middle Cascades The Middle Cascades, other than the last drop, are not visible from the valley floor Between the two obvious main plunges there are a series of four smaller plunges collectively referred to as the Middle Cascades. Taken together these account for a total drop of 675 feet (206 m), more than twice the height of the Lower Fall. Because of the narrow, constricted shape of the gorge in which these drops occur and the lack of public access, they are rarely noted. Most viewpoints in the valley miss them entirely. Several vantage points for the cascades are found along the Yosemite Falls trail. Several hikers climbing down from the trail towards the cascades have required an expensive [helicopter rescue](/source/Mountain_rescue) due to steep and slippery terrain and features. ### Lower Yosemite Fall The final 320-foot (98 m) drop adjacent to an accessible viewing area, provides the most-used viewing point for the waterfalls. Yosemite Creek emerges from the base of the Lower Fall and flows into the [Merced River](/source/Merced_River) nearby. Like many areas of Yosemite the plunge pool at the base of the Lower Fall is surrounded by dangerous jumbles of [talus](/source/Scree) made even more treacherous by the high humidity and resulting slippery surfaces. ## Flow In all but the wettest years, the falls cease flowing altogether in late summer or fall. A very small number of [rock climbers](/source/Rock_climbing) have taken the opportunity to climb the normally inaccessible rock face beneath the falls, although this is an extraordinarily dangerous undertaking; a single afternoon [thunderstorm](/source/Thunderstorm) could restart the falls, sweeping the climbers off the face. Lower Yosemite Fall is easily accessible near the Yosemite Lodge in Yosemite Valley. The top of Upper Yosemite Fall may be reached via a steep, strenuous, and usually crowded 3.5 miles (5.6 km) hike beginning near [Camp 4](/source/Camp_4_(Yosemite)) in Yosemite valley. Upper Yosemite Fall may also be reached via the Yosemite Creek Trail from the [Tioga Road](/source/Tioga_Road) to the north. ## The Ahwahneechee Legend The main village of the native people of Yosemite Valley, the [Ahwahneechee](/source/Ahwahneechee), was located at the base of the falls. The Ahwahneechee people called the waterfall "Cholock" ("the fall") and believed that the [plunge pool](/source/Plunge_pool) at its base was inhabited by the spirits of several witches, called the Poloti.[3][4] An Ahwaneechee folktale describes a woman going to fetch a pail of water from the pool, and drawing it out full of snakes. Later that night, after the woman had trespassed into their territory, the spirits caused the woman's house to be sucked into the pool by a powerful wind, taking the woman and her newborn baby with it. ## Hiking Several trails are available to hikers. The most challenging hiking trail leading to the top is about 3.6 miles long and takes about two to four hours to climb, depending on a person's experience and preparedness. The most popular and easily accessible trail begins at the bridge near the bottom of the lower fall. Park naturalists treat visitors to complementary lectures about the Yosemite Valley and Yosemite falls including descriptions of various hiking trails. Park naturalists also provide assistance to visitors and give explanations about safety measures and regulations. ## See also - [List of waterfalls](/source/List_of_waterfalls) - [List of waterfalls in California](/source/List_of_waterfalls_in_California) - [List of waterfalls by height](/source/List_of_waterfalls_by_height) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Yosemite Falls"](https://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/waterfall/Yosemite-Falls-9/). *World Waterfall Database*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-galen_2-0)** ["Yosemite National Park Waterfalls"](https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/waterfalls.htm). U.S. National Park Service. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-21. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Clark, Galen](/source/Galen_Clark) (1904). ["Chapter One: Early History"](http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/indians_of_the_yosemite/chapter_1.html). *Indians of the Yosemite Valley and Vicinity: Their History, Customs and Traditions*. Yosemite Valley, CA: G. Clark. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1635187](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1635187). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Kroeber, Alfred L.](/source/Alfred_Kroeber) (1921). "Indians of Yosemite". In [Ansel Franklin Hall](/source/Ansel_Franklin_Hall) (ed.). [*Handbook of Yosemite National Park*](http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/handbook_of_yosemite_national_park/indians.html). London: G. P. Putnam's sons. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [70337415](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/70337415). ## External links [Wikimedia Commons](/source/Wikimedia_Commons) has media related to: [Yosemite Falls](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Falls) ([category](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Yosemite_Falls)) - [World of Waterfalls.com: Yosemite Falls](http://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/yosemite-yosemite-falls.html) v t e Waterfalls of Yosemite Valley Bridalveil Horsetail Illilouette Lehamite Nevada Pywiack Cascade Ribbon Royal Arch Cascade Sentinel Silver Strand Snow Creek Staircase Three Chute Vernal Yosemite v t e Yosemite National Park Attractions Yosemite Valley Yosemite Village Hetch Hetchy Glacier Point Badger Pass Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Tuolumne Meadows Tioga Pass Wawona Tree Chilnualna Falls Valley attractions Half Dome Yosemite Falls El Capitan Films: El Capitan, The Dawn Wall, Free Solo, To the Limit Bridalveil Fall Happy Isles Mirror Lake North Dome Vernal Fall Nevada Fall Little Yosemite Valley LeConte Lodge Bracebridge Dinner Yosemite Firefall Yosemite Valley Chapel Hiking trails John Muir Trail Mist Trail Panorama Trail McGurk Meadow Ostrander Lake Taft Point Sentinel Dome Alder Creek Mariposa Grove Wapama Falls Lembert Dome Rock climbs Fairview Dome, North Face Half Dome, Northwest Face Lost Arrow Spire Midnight Lightning Royal Arches Route Salathé Wall (El Capitan) Steck-Salathé Route (Sentinel Rock) Separate Reality The Nose (El Capitan) People John Muir Stephen T. Mather Galen Clark Shelton Johnson Buffalo Soldiers Chief Tenaya Ahwahnechee people Lodging and camping Yosemite Lodge at the Falls The Ahwahnee Curry Village Wawona Hotel Housekeeping Camp High Sierra Camps Camp 4 Natural disasters 1938 Yosemite TWA crash 1996 Yosemite Valley landslide 1997 Merced River flood 2013 Rim Wildfire 2022 Washburn Wildfire Transportation Nearby airports FAT RMY MMH YARTS Route 140 Route 41 Route 120 Nearby municipalities Foresta El Portal & Arch Rock Entrance Yosemite West & Chinquapin Wawona Bootjack Mariposa Briceburg Oakhurst Midpines Lee Vining Additional information History of the Yosemite area Geology of the Yosemite area List of historic places List of waterfalls Yosemite Category California Portal Authority control databases International VIAF Geographic World Waterfall --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Yosemite Falls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Falls) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Falls?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.