Yosemite Falls
Waterfall · Yosemite Valley, California
Yosemite Falls drops about 2,400 feet from the north rim of Yosemite Valley in three parts: the Upper Fall, a run of middle cascades and the Lower Fall. It is one of the tallest waterfalls in North America and is fed almost entirely by snowmelt, so it roars in May and early June and often shrinks to a trickle or nothing by August or September. That timing decides whether the trip is worth it. The Lower Fall has a short, mostly paved loop that nearly everyone can walk, and the Upper Fall trail is a steep all-day climb. The falls sit inside Yosemite National Park, which charges an entrance fee per vehicle and has used reservation systems at busy times; the park itself is a separate Spottos place. Spring spray can soak you, and low trails in the valley flood at peak melt. Confirm fees, shuttle service and current flow with the park before you plan around the falls, and arrive early because parking is scarce.
Northside Drive, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Valley, California, 95389, United States
The falls are in the open air and never close, and the Lower Fall loop is walkable at any hour of the day or night when the valley road is open. What changes is the water: flow is highest in May and early June, drops through July, and is often dry or a thread by late summer until autumn rain and snow bring it back. Park entrance stations run around the clock, but some seasons require a reservation or timed entry for daytime arrival - confirm the current rules. The valley shuttle runs only in daylight hours and stops at the falls; check its season and last bus. Roads into the valley can close for snow, rockfall, flooding or wildfire, so check the park's road status that morning, and expect trails to close briefly when ice falls or water covers the path.