NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION Yosemite Falls is found in Yosemite National Park in California, USA
MAXIMUM HEIGHT 2,425 ft (739 m)
DAYTIME TEMPERATURES
Jan: 37°F (3°C); Apr: 50°F (10°C); Jul: 75°F (24°C); Oct: 55°F (13°C)
The tallest waterfall in North America – and the seventh highest in the world – Yosemite Falls is one of the star attractions of the world-famous Yosemite Valley in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California.
The falls plunge in three separate stages over a series of gray limestone cliffs. There’s the spectacular 1,394-ft (425-m) Upper Falls, then the so-called “cascades” (a series of smaller drops), and finally the 318-ft (97-m) Lower Falls.
Although it’s not exactly undiscovered, of course (Yosemite is one of the world’s most famous – and most popular – national parks), heading up the steep path to the Upper Falls is a great way of escaping the worst of the crowds, and there are superb views en route.
Yosemite Falls
Practical Information
Getting There Fly into San Francisco and then either rent a car or take a bus to the park. The top of the Upper Falls can be reached by a 3.5-mile (6-km) trail.
When to Go Visit in April and May, when the falls are at their finest, the weather not too cold, and the crowds not too oppressive.