Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead

View of Yosemite Falls from the Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead

Quick Facts

Amenities

11 listed

Benches/Seating, Bicycle - Rack, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Pets Allowed, Recycling, Restroom, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Trailhead, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Water - Bottle-Filling Station, Wheelchair Accessible

This short, easy walk rewards visitors with spectacular views of both Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. This paved loop trail offers different vantage points of Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Creek. Numerous exhibits along the trail discuss the natural and cultural history of the area. Begin the loop from either the western or eastern end, following signs directing you toward the base of the waterfall. The loop may be walked in either direction.

Lower Yosemite Fall is the final 320-foot (98-meter) drop of Yosemite Falls. In spring and early summer when the waterfall peaks in volume, you can expect to get sprayed with water when standing on the footbridge near its base. The falls are often only a trickle or completely dry by late summer, then are sometimes revived again by late fall storms.

Distance: 1 mile (1.6 km) loop
Elevation gain: 50 feet (15 m)
Time estimate: 30 minutes

Caution: stay on the paved trail. Above the wooden footbridge that crosses Yosemite Creek, the rocks and boulders are slippery even when dry. Venturing off-trail in this area frequently leads to serious injuries.

Tips & Seasonal Information

Leashed pets are permitted on this trail. Bicycles are prohibited on the Lower Yosemite Fall loop trail. Several bicycle racks are located at the east and west end of the Lower Yosemite Fall loop. A restroom along with a water bottle filling station is located near the trailhead, on the western end of the loop across the street from Yosemite Valley Lodge.

While you can visit this trail and viewing area year-round, there is often no water in the waterfall by late summer. 

In winter, a cone of ice accumulates at the base of Upper Yosemite Fall, sometimes exceeding 300 feet tall. The ice cone is usually melted by mid-April. In early spring, frazil ice sometimes forms in waterfalls and creeks when waterfall mist becomes very cool.

When waterfall flow is especially high, generally in April and May, the full moon refracting light on the waterfall mist can create a phenomenon called a moonbow. The visibility of the moonbow is highly dependent on water flow, clear skies, and angle of the moon.

Accessibility

There is no designated accessible parking nearby. Visitors may use the shuttle stop to reach the trail or travel along the paved path from the accessible parking at the west end of Yosemite Village (approximately 0.3 mile to the eastern side of the loop trail).

The entire Lower Yosemite Fall loop trail is paved. The eastern part of the loop (0.6 mile one-way from the Yosemite Falls shuttle stop to the viewing area) is accessible to wheelchairs and crosses several braided streams before reaching the Lower Yosemite Fall viewing area, which has transferable seating to granite boulders at wheelchair height.

The western part of the loop (0.5 mile one-way to the viewing area) is wide enough for several people and is mostly accessible; however, a short, steep grade near the viewing area (the last 180 feet include a slope of 13.8%) may make assistance necessary for some visitors.

Along the western portion of the loop, about halfway to the falls, a bronze relief model depicts the Yosemite Falls area. Wayside exhibits along the trail also feature bronze relief panels.

An accessible restroom is located near the trailhead, on the western end of the loop across the street from Yosemite Valley Lodge. The restroom facility has a designated family restroom that is also accessible.