Why hike to the top of Yosemite Falls?
It’s the mother of all stairmaster workouts, but with one-of-a-kind payoffs you won’t get in a gym: panoramic views of Yosemite Valley; the only place outside Sentinel Dome where all of Yosemite Falls is visible (though you can’t actually see it all at once unless you’ve got Exorcistesque peripheral vision); the chance to walk through the spray from upper Yosemite Falls; the chance to photograph Yosemite Falls and Half Dome in the same frame; and from Yosemite Point, closeup views of Half Dome that you can only beat by climbing North Dome. Best Time to Visit: In the spring or early summer, when the falls are roaring. Crowd Factor: As with any trail that starts in Yosemite Valley, this one has plenty of people on it. It’s got a friendlier vibe than the fall-out-of-your-car-and-you’re-there attractions, though, because of the strenuousnosity of this hike. Your fellow hikers know they might need your help to carry them back down the trail again. Difficulty: High. It’s a long, steep climb
It’s the mother of all stairmaster workouts, but with one-of-a-kind payoffs you won’t get in a gym: panoramic views of Yosemite Valley; the only place outside Sentinel Dome where all of Yosemite Falls is visible (though you can’t actually see it all at once unless you’ve got Exorcistesque peripheral vision); the chance to walk through the spray from upper Yosemite Falls; the chance to photograph Yosemite Falls and Half Dome in the same frame; and from Yosemite Point, closeup views of Half Dome that you can only beat by climbing North Dome. Best Time to Visit: In the spring or early summer, when the falls are roaring. By August the falls have typically dwindled to a trickle, and by the end of summer they often dry up altogether. Crowd Factor: As with any trail that starts in Yosemite Valley, this one has plenty of people on it. It’s got a friendlier vibe than the fall-out-of-your-car-and-you’re-there attractions, though, because of the strenuousnosity of this hike. Your fellow hikers kn
