Fallspots

Both in Yosemite National Park, <1 mi apart · <1 mi apart

Lower Yosemite Fall vs Middle Cascades

Two waterfalls in our directory, side by side. Same data we use on the individual pages — height, access, what we know, what we don't.

Lower Yosemite Fall — the 320-foot bottom tier of the three-tier Yosemite Falls system in Yosemite Valley

California

Lower Yosemite Fall

Lower Yosemite Fall is the 320-foot bottom tier of the three-tier Yosemite Falls system in Yosemite Valley. The full Yosemite Falls system (Upper + Middle Cascades + Lower) drops 2,425 feet total — among the tallest waterfalls in North America — but Lower Yosemite Fall alone is 320 ft. The wheelchair-accessible viewing area is the most-photographed spot in Yosemite Valley, an easy 1-mile loop from the Yosemite Lodge.

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Middle Cascades — the 675-foot middle tier of Yosemite Falls, between Upper (1,430 ft) and Lower (320 ft)

California

Middle Cascades

The Middle Cascades is the 675-foot middle tier of Yosemite Falls, hidden from the valley floor by the rim of the lower amphitheater — most visitors never realize it's there. The full Yosemite Falls system stacks Upper (1,430 ft) + Middle Cascades (675 ft) + Lower (320 ft) for a combined 2,425 ft. To see the Middle Cascades clearly you have to climb the Upper Yosemite Fall Trail.

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SpecLower Yosemite FallMiddle Cascades
StateCaliforniaCalifornia
Height320 ft675 ft
Type——
Watercourse——
ParkYosemite National ParkYosemite National Park
County—Mariposa
Elevation1402 m1659 m
Nearest cityYosemite Valley (1 mi)Yosemite Valley (1 mi)
Dogs allowedNoNo

About Lower Yosemite Fall

Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park, dropping a total of 2,425 feet (739 m) from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall. Located in the Sierra Nevada of California, it is a major attraction in the park, especially in late spring when the water flow is at its peak.

About Middle Cascades

Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park, dropping a total of 2,425 feet (739 m) from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall. Located in the Sierra Nevada of California, it is a major attraction in the park, especially in late spring when the water flow is at its peak.

Where they are

Dashed line shows the straight-line distance (<1 mi). Actual drive time depends on the route — neither pin is the parking lot, so use a map app for turn-by-turn.

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Related comparisons

Other side-by-side comparisons featuring Lower Yosemite Fall or Middle Cascades.

See all 300 comparisons →