|
|
8.5 Cascades
| View from base
Confluence of Tamarack and Cascade Creeks
|
|
Location: Yosemite Village, Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County
Height: ~1700 ft.
Access:  
Distance: n/a
Elevation: 3400 ft.
Season: Apr-Jun
Difficulty: 
Lat/Long:37.72680, -119.71286
Directions:Along Hwy 140, drive 2.8 miles towards the valley from the Arch Rock park entrance (or 1.7 miles west from the junction with Hwy 120). There is a picnic area/parking lot on the south side of the road, and another parking lot on the north side.
|
|
The Cascades are one of the most interesting waterfalls in Yosemite National Park. They are formed by two streams, Cascade Creek and Tamarack Creek, joining together. You can get a good view of them at the viewpoint along Hwy 140. You can also drive up to the upper falls along Big Oak Flat Road (Hwy 120), at the bridge over Cascade Creek. The two creeks join together just below the bridge. The total length of the Cascades spans about 1700 ft. in height, beginning above Hwy 120, and ending just before the creek crosses under Hwy 140.
At the viewpoint along Hwy 140, you will see Cascade Creek make an incredible final plunge of about 580 ft. There is a trail from here to the base of the falls. It starts between a couple buildings just east of the viewpoint, and leads up in about a half-mile to an incredible overlook at the base of the falls. It is very wet and misty here (you will get drenched in the spring), and difficult to get a decent photograph, but you can glimpse more of the bottom section of the falls from this point.
Zoom out on map to see all nearby waterfalls:
Other waterfalls nearby:
|