Middle Cascades
California · 675-foot drop · Yosemite National Park · Last verified 2026-05-15
Today at Middle Cascades: 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.
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.
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Cascades (this page) | — | 675 ft | — | N | — |
| Upper Yosemite Fall | 0 mi | 1,430 ft | — | N | — |
| Lower Yosemite Fall | 0 mi | 320 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
Middle Cascades compared head-to-head with other documented falls — height, access, fees, dogs, swimmability in one row each.
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~675 ft)
- Chilnualna Fall696 ft
- Rampart Falls644 ft
- Wildcat Falls623 ft
- Amicalola Falls728 ft
- Bridalveil Fall620 ft
Questions visitors ask about Middle Cascades
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 Middle Cascades?
Middle Cascades is 675 feet (206 m) tall. Source heights disagree by source — see the discrepancy box on the page.
Is Middle Cascades in a national or state park?
Yes — Middle Cascades is inside Yosemite National Park. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Middle Cascades?
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 Middle Cascades from a major city?
Middle Cascades is 1 miles from Yosemite Valley (about 2 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in California
Where it is
37.7543, -119.5973
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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