DIRECTIONS: From the Arch Rock entrance station at Yosemite National Park, drive east into the valley for 10.5 miles. Just beyond the Yosemite Chapel, bear left at a fork sign for Yosemite Village and Visitor Center, then turn left and drive west on Northside Drive for three-quarters of a mile to the Yosemite Lodge parking lot. Turn left and park in the lot, then walk to the Upper Yosemite Fall Trailhead, which is across the road and a quarter-mile to the west, between the parking lot for Sunnyside Walk-In Campground and the camp itself. If you are riding the free Yosemite Valley shuttle bus, take stop number 8 and walk to the trailhead.

One of the most spectacular sight in Yosemite Valley is Yosemite Falls. At a combined height of 2,425 feet, Yosemite Fall is the highest waterfall in North America and the fifth highest free-falling waterfall in the world. It is one of the most famous and most visited waterfalls in the world. Most people start the trek to Upper Yosemite Fall with a brief walk to Lower Yosemite Fall.

The hike up to Upper Yosemite Fall can be grueling and is not for everyone with a climb of 2,700 feet over 3.6 miles one-way and more than 100 switchbacks. To avoid crowds, start hiking in the morning as early as possible. Summers are usually hot on this trail and by July the waterfall decreases in flow.

From the start of the trailhead, the hike starts to ascend quickly. Switchbacks take you through oaks and manzanita and at 1.2 miles up you reach Columbia Rock which has incredible vistas looking down on the valley floor and east toward Half Dome. The trail continues to switchback above the tree line into a rocky area that has been the recipient of frequent rock slides. During the 1980s, a rockslide covered almost a mile of the trail. Reaching 3.4 miles means the end of your ascent and the trail begins to level out. A trail junction appears, with the left fork heading towards Eagle Peak and the right continuing on to Yosemite Point. Head toward the overlook which leads downhill and you'll be practically on top of Upper Yosemite Fall.

The only drawback to Yosemite Fall is that it does not flow consistently year-round. Often time visitors will show up in August or September and wonder where the waterfall went to. For the fullest and most spectacular flow of water, the best time to visit is between March and June.

Reference:
Brown, A. M., 1999. Day-hiking California’s National Parks, Foghorn Press: Santa Rosa, California.