Wapama Falls - California Waterfalls; Yosemite Natl. Park, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir-hike/trail/map/directions

Wapama Falls is the jewel of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and a must see visit in the spring. Try not to neglect going to Hetch Hetchy while on your visit to Yosemite Valley.

It is an easy 2.5 mile hike along the reservoir to Wapama Falls. Just a little past Tueeulala Falls, Wapama Falls is more powerful and impressive. It is a 1300 ft. long cascade, which rages in the spring-time. We got very wet just crossing the bridge over Falls Creek, where Wapama Falls flows over (instead of under) in some places. Then we climbed up on the rocks to have lunch with a great view of both waterfalls. If Wapama Falls is really raging strong in the spring, it will be impossible to cross the bridge (and possibly deadly if you try it), but this will only be the case at the height of snow melt.

I have seen Wapama Falls listed at a height of 1700 ft. But is actually around 1300 ft. tall. The higher figure probably originates from before the O'Shaughnessy Dam was built. At that time, Wapama Falls would have been about 400 ft. higher than it is today.

There is one more waterfall in the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir area, 30 ft. Rancheria Falls. It is a long 4 miles past Wapama Falls, with a 1200 ft. elevation gain. We did not make the long trip out to see it when we were here.

18 Miles NNW Yosemite Valley CA (Elev. 5981 ft)

Tonight
Cloudy, with a low around 40. Calm wind.
Friday
A chance of rain, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. Snow level 6700 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 42. Light west wind becoming west southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night
Rain likely before 10pm, then rain and snow likely between 10pm and 11pm, then snow after 11pm. Low around 34. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday
Snow before 11am, then snow showers after 11am. Some thunder is also possible. High near 40. Wind chill values as low as 29. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
Saturday Night
Snow showers likely before 11pm, then a chance of snow after 11pm. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Sunday
A chance of snow before 2pm, then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. West wind around 5 mph becoming east northeast after midnight.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 59. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming west southwest in the morning.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 41. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east northeast in the evening.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 64. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest in the morning.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming east northeast in the evening.
Wednesday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night
A 10 percent chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming east northeast in the evening.