Fallspots

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

Middle Cascades vs Upper Yosemite Fall

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.

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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Upper Yosemite Fall — the 1,430-foot top tier of the three-tier Yosemite Falls system

California

Upper Yosemite Fall

Upper Yosemite Fall is the 1,430-foot top tier of Yosemite Falls — the most famous waterfall in Yosemite National Park and the dramatic upper plunge visible from across the valley. The full Yosemite Falls system drops 2,425 ft total: Upper (1,430 ft) + Middle Cascades (675 ft) + Lower Yosemite Fall (320 ft). Reaching the brink requires the 7.2-mile (3.4 mi each way) Upper Yosemite Fall Trail, a strenuous switchback climb gaining 2,700 ft of elevation.

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SpecMiddle CascadesUpper Yosemite Fall
StateCaliforniaCalifornia
Height675 ft1,430 ft
Type——
Watercourse——
ParkYosemite National ParkYosemite National Park
CountyMariposaMariposa
Elevation1659 m1983 m
Nearest cityYosemite Valley (1 mi)Yosemite Valley (1 mi)
Dogs allowedNoNo

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.

About Upper 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.

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 Middle Cascades or Upper Yosemite Fall.

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