Upper Yosemite Fall
California · 1,430-foot drop · Yosemite National Park · Last verified 2026-05-15
Today at Upper 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 4m ago. Sources: NWS HNX.
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.
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Yosemite Fall (this page) | — | 1,430 ft | — | N | — |
| Yosemite Falls | 0 mi | — | — | N | — |
| Middle Cascades | 0 mi | 675 ft | — | N | — |
| Lower Yosemite Fall | 0 mi | 320 ft | — | N | — |
| Lehamite Falls | 1 mi | 1,181 ft | — | N | — |
| Royal Arch Cascade | 1 mi | 1,247 ft | — | N | — |
Side-by-side comparisons
Upper Yosemite Fall compared head-to-head with other documented falls — height, access, fees, dogs, swimmability in one row each.
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~1430 ft)
- Bridal Veil Falls-Mine Cascade1,291 ft
- Wapama Falls1,286 ft
- Drury Falls1,267 ft
- Big Heart Falls1,262 ft
- Ribbon Fall1,612 ft
Questions visitors ask about Upper 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 Upper Yosemite Fall?
Upper Yosemite Fall is 1,430 feet (436 m) tall. Source heights disagree by source — see the discrepancy box on the page.
Is Upper Yosemite Fall in a national or state park?
Yes — Upper Yosemite Fall is inside Yosemite National Park. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Upper 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 Upper Yosemite Fall from a major city?
Upper Yosemite Fall is 1 miles from Yosemite Valley (about 2 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in California
Where it is
37.7570, -119.5968
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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