USA Path to Lower Yosemite Fall

About halfway between Northside Drive and the viewpoint for Lower Yosemite Fall, along the west leg of the trail loop, is a bronze raised relief map of the Yosemite Falls area. From this spot, you can see Upper Yosemite Fall falling into the V-notch as shown, but only if the wind is out of the east and just right. On calm days, the water falls out of the frame to the right. BTW, that's an ice dome in the very bottom of the notch.

Yosemite has many dozens of waterfalls, from fairly short to among the tallest in the world. Yosemite Falls is the crown jewel of the park.

Yosemite's waterfalls flow strongest in late winter through the spring, typically mid- to late-February through the end of June, with the peak usually being in May. However, during dry years, the peak flows are generally a bit less and the peak doesn't last as long. Yosemite Falls can be almost bone dry in late summer and early fall.

Yosemite Falls is on the north wall of Yosemite Valley and is visible from many spots on the valley floor, viewpoints on top of the south wall of Yosemite Valley (e.g. Glacier Point, Taft Point, and Sentinal Dome), and even from the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall. Yosemite Valley can be quite crowded between Memorial Day and Labor Day, especially on the weekends. The pandemic caused the park to institute a day-use reservation system and that has helped with the crowds. So, parking is usually available in the parking lots at Yosemite Lodge, which is across the road from the path to Lower Yosemite Fall. In non-pandemic years, it's often best to park in the large lot south of the visitor center or in the large lot at Curry Village and ride the park shuttle bus to the stop closest to Yosemite Falls.