Popular Trails: Lower Yosemite Falls Loop

I’ve been to Yosemite a few times more than I can count, each time exploring different parts of the National Park, sometimes even doing repeat visits to certain spots. And somehow, I missed getting on to the Lower Yosemite Falls trail even though it’s an easy hike. Maybe I was destined to see it when it was in its full glory. 😉 On a serious note, my hike to Lower Yosemite Falls was at the best possible time.

It was the latter part of the spring of 2023 – the year that will go down in history as one that saw record rainfall and more than average snowpack too. So when spring came around, it so happened that Yosemite’s waterfalls looked like never before. At least in the recent past.

The Hike

There are two ways you can hike to Lower Yosemite Falls. You can hike to the waterfall and walk back the same way or you can take the loop, which was what we decided to do.

We got on to the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail and hiked clockwise. And I might even recommend this route. When you go clockwise, you start off with a grand view of a perfectly aligned Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls the perfect way to start the hike, in my opinion. It’s like a preview of what you are about to experience at the foot of Lower Yosemite Falls.

It was a fairly busy day (not as crowded as it might be on a summer day) and why would it not be; the waterfall was looking its best as rushed down a 350-foot granite cliff. Copious amounts of water dropped onto the granite boulders at the bottom of the rockface creating a great amount of spray and adding a foggy, heavenly touch to the landscape. The mighty fall, its voluminous spray, and the roaring drop n’ flow of the water seemed to make all the humans in the picture almost minuscule, and drowned all our voices, too. Such was the power of a full-fledged fall of the Lower Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park!

Why you might want to visit Lower Yosemite Falls

• This waterfall is one of the well-known waterfalls in this national park. It is the lowest part of a three-tier waterfall. (Above it are the Middle Cascades and Upper Yosemite Fall.)
• It falls from a height of 350ft /98 meters
• The trail gets you pretty close to the waterfall
• It is easy to get to.

Things to know before you hit the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail

• The Lower Yosemite Falls Trail is a 1.2-mile hike if you’re doing the loop
• If you want to do the out-and-back, it should be around a half-mile hike
• It’s an easy hike, either way
• There is, however, a slight elevation gain of around 50 ft.
• It’s paved and quite accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. The eastern part of the trail might be better, though.
• The trail is open all year round (weather permitting)
• The best time to visit this waterfall is in spring. In a good year, summer, too.
• If you’re using park transportation, get down at the Lower Yosemite Fall shuttle stop.

A reel on the Lower Yosemite Falls Hike – Watch it here

This was Hike 15/52 hikes. If you’d like to get started on your own 52 hikes challenge, you can sign up here and get started. Let’s get hiking! This is fun!

More:
To get absolutely tipsy from your Trip to Yosemite:
Six Stops to make in Yosemite Valley 
Go Higher up: Washburn and Glacier Points
Yosemite in (Late) Fall
Drive through Tioga Pass – A mountain pass that runs through Yosemite National Park
Stop at El Portal Canyon Vistapoint

🏞 … and if you’d like to stay in a vacation rental near Yosemite, try Casa Mariposa.

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Pictorial Tuesday
My Corner of the World

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