Upper Yosemite Falls - California Waterfalls; Yosemite Natl. Park, Yosemite Village-hike/trail/map/directions

Upper Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park, California, is one of the most spectacular sights in all of the United States. In the summer, the water flow dwindles to almost nothing, but in the spring during snow melt, the waterfall is overwhelming. Upper Yosemite Falls can be seen along the roadside at a number of viewpoints along Southside Drive. The best ones are at Cooks Meadow and Swinging Bridge, and it also can be seen along the trail to Lower Yosemite Falls.

For those with a lot of energy, it is a grueling 3 hour hike to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls. It is well worth the effort, however. The best views of the upper falls you will find a little ways past Columbia Rock, about 1.5 miles from the bottom. Also just past Columbia Rock, there is a little side trail on the right, just before you get your first view. Take it. It is a very short walk that leads to a single viewpoint of the upper, middle, and lower falls (it is the only viewpoint for the middle falls). If you continue up the trail, you will get some closer views of Upper Yosemite Falls. Then the trail continues to the top (another 2 hours of hiking). There is not really a good view of the upper falls at the top, though you can get to a scary ledge beside the waterfall, looking down to the bottom. There are awesome views of the valley from the top, and if you are there in the summer months, you can actually swim in Yosemite Creek at the top. Now that is refreshing after a grueling 3 hour hike! But in the spring, the creek is flowing far too fast.

Together with Lower Yosemite Falls (320 ft.) and the middle cascades (675 ft.), the total height of the waterfalls is 2425 ft., making this the one of the highest waterfalls in the world. It is often said to be the 5th highest, though actually there are quite a few others that are higher (unofficially). At any rate, it is easily the single best thing in a national park that has plenty of incredible sights to see.

Yosemite Valley CA (Elev. 4760 ft)

This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 57. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 84. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 75. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Sunday Night
Clear, with a low around 48. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 66. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Monday Night
A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tuesday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Snow level 5600 feet rising to 6300 feet in the afternoon. Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Light southwest wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Tuesday Night
A 10 percent chance of rain before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east northeast after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 65. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 71. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon.