Upper Yosemite Fall Hike
6,526 ft | California
7.2 mi round trip
2,700 ft
6 hr
Strenuous
Upper Yosemite Fall Hike at a Glance
The Upper Yosemite Fall hike is 7.2 mi round trip with 2,700 ft of elevation gain, about 6 hr of hiking.
| Summit elevation | 6,526 ft |
|---|---|
| Distance | 7.2 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 2,700 ft |
| Hiking time | About 6 hr |
| Difficulty | Strenuous |
| Trailhead parking | Sentinel Bridge Parking & Lookout |
| Parking fee | $35 park entrance |
Your time: about 3 h 45 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 4 h 40 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 2,120 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Partial route shown. The 7.2 mi distance and 2,700 ft of gain for this hike are verified (nps.gov), but public trail data currently maps only part of the route — the line below is incomplete. Carry an official map and don't navigate from this track alone.
What You'll See on The Upper Yosemite Fall Hike
Landmarks along the route, by distance from the trailhead.
- Lower Yosemite Fall View · Viewpoint mile 0.0
- Falls View · Viewpoint mile 0.1
- Oh My Gosh Point · Viewpoint mile 0.3
- Lower Yosemite Fall · Waterfall mile 0.4
- Middle Cascades · Waterfall mile 0.6
- Upper Yosemite Fall · Waterfall mile 0.8
- Lost Arrow Spire · Summit mile 0.8
- Yosemite Falls Overlook · Viewpoint mile 0.8
About Upper Yosemite Fall
Upper Yosemite Fall rises to 6,526 feet in California. The mapped route covers 7.2 miles round trip (out-and-back) with about 2,700 feet of elevation gain — a steady climb. It's rated Strenuous overall.
The Route
Most of the climbing comes early — the first half of the route does the bulk of the work before the grade eases. The steepest stretch arrives around mile 0.74, gaining roughly 15,100 feet per mile — expect a slow, deliberate pace through here. From the trailhead at about 4,039 feet, the route tops out near 6,601 feet. Along the way the route passes a viewpoint (Lower Yosemite Fall View) near mile 0.01, a viewpoint (Falls View) near mile 0.07, a rest area (Galen Clark Memorial Bench) near mile 0.07, a viewpoint (Oh My Gosh Point) near mile 0.35 — useful checkpoints for judging your pace.
Getting There
The trailhead is at 37.74272, -119.60319 (tap for driving directions). It's roughly 125 miles south of Reno, Nevada. Parking: Yosemite Falls parking. Fee: $35 park entrance. Cell service is often unreliable once you leave the highway.
When to Go
Late May through October is the main season. Snow and ice linger into spring and return early in fall at this latitude and elevation; in winter this becomes a different, more serious undertaking requiring traction devices and warm layers.
Know Before You Go
The Strenuous rating comes from the National Park Service difficulty formula, which weighs total distance against elevation gain. Most hikers should budget about 6 hours of moving time; add margin for breaks, photos and the descent. Download the GPX track from this page before you go — a saved route works offline in any GPS app, and cell coverage is unreliable in the mountains. Conditions change: verify current access, closures and weather with the official land manager before you go. Trail data is sourced from National Park Service - Yosemite.
Nearby summits with their own guides on this site: Lower Yosemite Fall (0.8 mi away), Panorama Trail (2.3 mi away) and Mirror Lake (2.5 mi away).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to hike Upper Yosemite Fall?
The mapped route is 7.2 miles round trip with about 2,700 feet of elevation gain, and most hikers take roughly 6 hours of moving time. Add time for breaks and conditions — winter or wet weather can double the trip.
How hard is the Upper Yosemite Fall hike?
It's rated Strenuous using the National Park Service difficulty formula (7.2 miles round trip, 2,700 ft of gain — about 400 ft of climbing per mile). The elevation profile on this page shows exactly where the steep sections fall.
Where is the Upper Yosemite Fall trailhead?
The trailhead is at 37.74272, -119.60319 in California. Use the driving-directions link in the Getting There section above.
Are dogs allowed on the Upper Yosemite Fall trail?
Rules vary by land manager — national parks often prohibit dogs on trails, while most national forests allow them on leash. Check with the managing agency for this trail before bringing your dog, and pack out waste.
When is the best time to hike Upper Yosemite Fall?
Late May through October for snow-free hiking. Check a summit point forecast before you go — conditions up high differ from the trailhead.
How tall is Upper Yosemite Fall?
Upper Yosemite Fall stands at 6,526 feet (1,989 meters) in California.
Where do you park to hike Upper Yosemite Fall?
Park at Sentinel Bridge Parking & Lookout. Parking: $35 park entrance. Check the land manager for current fees and closures.
Best Time to Visit
spring
March - May
Muddy trails, snow at higher elevations, stream crossings high
summer
June - August
Best hiking conditions, afternoon thunderstorms possible
fall
September - November
Peak foliage mid-September to mid-October, cooler temperatures
winter
December - February
Severe alpine conditions, high winds, extreme cold
Fall Gear Checklist
- Layers
- Headlamp
- Warm hat/gloves
- Rain gear
Tip: Parking lots fill early during foliage season. Arrive before 7am on weekends.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Rapidly changing weather
- Ice possible on summit
- Wet leaves on trails
Turn-Around Time
1:00 PM (2:00 PM summer)
Plan to reach the summit by this time to allow safe descent before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Summit Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Sources for The Upper Yosemite Fall Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- National Park Service - Yosemite
- Distance
- nps.gov
- Elevation
- Open-Meteo (Copernicus 30 m DEM)
- Route line
- OpenStreetMap / curated waypoints, densified by interpolation
- Points of interest
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Peaks
Explore other mountains near Upper Yosemite Fall. Great for peak-bagging or planning your next adventure.
Lower Yosemite Fall
3,975 ft
Panorama Trail
7,214 ft
Mirror Lake
4,100 ft
Sentinel Dome & Taft Point
8,122 ft
Peak Bagging Tip
Lower Yosemite Fall is only 0.8 miles away. Consider combining these peaks for a bigger day or overnight trip!