Upper Yosemite Falls Trail Map & Directions

Map Notes: The red line is the main trail to Upper Yosemite Falls, the yellow line is the bonus hike to Yosemite Point, and the light blue line is the trail you'll probably take to get from the lower falls trailhead to the upper falls trailhead (we've included it in our calculation of the hike distance). The pink line (waterfalls are always, pink, right?) marks the path of Yosemite Falls itself - all 2,425 feet of it.

See that stretch at the beginning of the trail where the red squiggles are so thick that they almost look like just one really thick red line? These are a relentless series of switchbacks. Anywhere you see squiggles on the trail, you know it's steep, but this is a particularly grinding section.

The straight stretch about halfway up the trail that goes parallel to the falls itself has fabulous views of the upper falls. If you're hiking in May - possibly even in June if it's been a wet winter - you're likely to feel mist from the falls all the way along this section.

For the last section of switchbacks at the top of the trail, the falls are out of sight, and Google's nifty terrain view clearly shows the ridge that's blocking them from you. Due (we presume) to the way the sound bounces off the rocks, it'll sound like the falls are off to the west, opposite of where they actually are.

Please note that Google's placement of Yosemite Village at the lower falls trailhead is wrong; this is actually about where the Yosemite Lodge is, and Yosemite Village lies off to the east. Oddly enough, they get the location right if you click on the "View Larger Map" link, so maybe it's just a glitch they'll get worked out soon.

Parking: You can park several places in Yosemite Valley and catch a free shuttle to the Yosemite Falls trailhead; the biggest lots are at Curry Village and the day-use area at Yosemite Village. Parking in the vicinity of the Yosemite Lodge or Yosemite Village will put you in easy walking distance of the trailhead.