Lower Yosemite Fall
California · 320-foot drop · Yosemite National Park · Last verified 2026-05-15
Today at Lower Yosemite Fall: clear, 59°F.
Right now
Overnight
59°F
Clear
Friday
95°F
Sunny
Today's daylight
Sunrise 5:44 AM · Sunset 8:22 PM · 14h 37m
Other park alerts
- Yosemite Traffic Updates(Information)
Snapshot built 8m ago. Sources: NWS HNX.
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.
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.
When to go (from the climate data, not our opinion)
Monthly averages from Open-Meteo's reanalysis dataset (2020–2024). Highlighted months are when we think the waterfall is at its best — but the numbers are the numbers regardless.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip (in) | Snow days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48 | 27 | 6.7 | 10 |
| Feb | 48 | 26 | 4.7 | 8.6 |
| Mar | 47 | 28 | 8 | 15.6 |
| Apr | 56 | 33 | 3 | 5.4 |
| May | 67 | 40 | 1.8 | 3.2 |
| Jun | 78 | 51 | 0.9 | 0 |
| Jul | 88 | 60 | 0.1 | 0 |
| Aug | 85 | 58 | 0.6 | 0 |
| Sep | 79 | 53 | 0.8 | 0.2 |
| Oct | 70 | 44 | 1.6 | 1.4 |
| Nov | 55 | 31 | 3 | 6 |
| Dec | 50 | 28 | 8.2 | 11.4 |
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API · ERA5 reanalysis 2020–2024.
Live webcams
Operated by the park or a local utility — check current conditions before driving.
Compare to nearby falls
If this one isn't the right fit, here's how it stacks up against the closest documented falls. Every column is filterable on the site — not buried in 13,000 reviews.
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Trail | Dogs | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Yosemite Fall (this page) | — | 320 ft | — | N | — |
| Middle Cascades | 0 mi | 675 ft | — | N | — |
| Upper Yosemite Fall | 0 mi | 1,430 ft | — | N | — |
| Yosemite Falls | 0 mi | — | — | N | — |
| Lehamite Falls | 1 mi | 1,181 ft | — | N | — |
| Royal Arch Cascade | 1 mi | 1,247 ft | — | N | — |
Side-by-side comparisons
Lower Yosemite Fall compared head-to-head with other documented falls — height, access, fees, dogs, swimmability in one row each.
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~320 ft)
- Great Falls320 ft
- Munson Creek Falls319 ft
- Vernal Fall318 ft
- Wilson Glacier Falls315 ft
- Falling Water Cascades328 ft
Questions visitors ask about Lower Yosemite Fall
Answers built from our structured data. If a question isn't here, the fact is unverified — we'd rather omit than guess.
How tall is Lower Yosemite Fall?
Lower Yosemite Fall is 320 feet (98 m) tall. Source heights disagree by source — see the discrepancy box on the page.
Is Lower Yosemite Fall in a national or state park?
Yes — Lower Yosemite Fall is inside Yosemite National Park. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Lower Yosemite Fall?
No — dogs are not allowed on trails here. Most National Park trails prohibit pets to protect wildlife. Service animals are an exception per ADA.
How far is Lower Yosemite Fall from a major city?
Lower Yosemite Fall is 1 miles from Yosemite Valley (about 2 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in California
Where it is
37.7514, -119.5971
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Falls
Wikidata (Q491677)
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q491677
GeoNames (5410935)
https://www.geonames.org/5410935/
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-05-15
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Marina and Theo verify pages one road trip at a time. If you've been to Lower Yosemite Fall recently, your local knowledge improves the page for everyone. Pick the kind of contribution that fits — every email lands in our inbox and gets read (and credited when we publish).
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