Lower Yosemite Fall Trail
Lower Yosemite Fall Trail
Lower Yosemite Fall Trail
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Lower Yosemite Fall Trail and nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
10 within 3 miles
Attractions
67 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
199 reviews
Excellent
138
Very good
51
Average
7
Poor
2
Terrible
1
johnnnita
Napa, CA2,397 contributions
Aug 2020
To be clear, when the falls are flowing, this place gets excellent reviews. However, we were there in early August for our second visit. Both times, the falls were bone dry (at least these Yosemite falls, which are the most popular). So, don't go in the summer if you want to really enjoy these spectacular double falls.
That said, even in summer, it's a nice way to walk without really hiking closer (unless you would like). Many visitors make the hike to either Lower or Upper Yosemite just to get a closer view (wet or dry). In the summer, it's nice and shady.
Just remember to use your imagination!
That said, even in summer, it's a nice way to walk without really hiking closer (unless you would like). Many visitors make the hike to either Lower or Upper Yosemite just to get a closer view (wet or dry). In the summer, it's nice and shady.
Just remember to use your imagination!
Written 12 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cp_0010
Manama, Bahrain1,516 contributions
Jul 2019
The lower Yosemite fall is a more popular attraction among tourist as it is easily accessible by people of all ages. It has good walking road leading to the fall and the distance from the Yosemite village is 1 mile. People do go down to the base of the fall for shower. Our casual walk took us about an hour from the village and to return. There are good shuttle services running that bring you from visitor center and stop at 7 and follow the signs. It is easy and worth doing.
Written 27 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brandy P
East Longmeadow, MA337 contributions
Feb 2020
Excellent short walk. We did it 2 days in a row, views are better if you go clockwise from the shuttle bus drop off area. BTW, from the bridge viewing area, you can go up along the river on the left side to the base of the falls and see the upper falls too.
Written 7 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grover R
Pensacola, FL22,266 contributions
Mar 2022
This is the easiest way to see Yosemite Falls and with a group of 14, one we all felt comfortable with. I have climbed to see the upper falls at Columbia Rock, but that is much more intense. This hike is perfect to an observation area at the base of the falls and a bridge over the beginning of the river. If you are adventurous as some in our group were, you can climb the boulders for a closer look where you can feel the mist.
Again, this trail gets you to the falls and really allows you to see it at options comfortable for you. I fully encourage you to climb the rocks, but if all you want is a paved path to see the largest waterfall in North America, this is great for you as well.
Again, this trail gets you to the falls and really allows you to see it at options comfortable for you. I fully encourage you to climb the rocks, but if all you want is a paved path to see the largest waterfall in North America, this is great for you as well.
Written 26 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria
Los Angeles, CA14 contributions
Jun 2020
I went early in June. The falls of course were not magnificent. But the crowds of people made me wonder why I came to Yosemite in the first place. This trail is just a walk in the park. Any grandma can do it. It is just a 5 minute nature walk from the main road. Don't stand close to the falls because there are many people there and you may slip. Would not recommend.
Written 28 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wendy S
Pittsburgh, PA79 contributions
Apr 2021
We are an elderly couple who took this trail. It was a great view. We so enjoyed it. Take it slow and steady and you can do it. We are quite fit as we exercise regularly. Make sure you are if you want to try this. The views are stunning. Highly recommend this.
Written 5 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheExplorerFamily
Somerset, NJ7,156 contributions
Jun 2022
It was quite an easy hike on paved asphalt to arrive at the rocky base of the Lower Falls. The giant Sequoias all along the hike are fabulous, and provide a lot of shade.
It is also fairly easy to scramble up on to the rocks to get a closer look. For those who cannot, or do not want to, climb on the rocks, there is a little bridge on the right side from where you can get some nice photos. From here, you can get a great photo that looks as if the water is falling on your head.
Worth that effort to see those Falls. I am sure nobody leaves Yosemite without a visit to this site, anyway.
It is also fairly easy to scramble up on to the rocks to get a closer look. For those who cannot, or do not want to, climb on the rocks, there is a little bridge on the right side from where you can get some nice photos. From here, you can get a great photo that looks as if the water is falling on your head.
Worth that effort to see those Falls. I am sure nobody leaves Yosemite without a visit to this site, anyway.
Written 20 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Live Happy 123
24 contributions
Jul 2022
This place is absolutely breathtaking! We finally checked off another bucket list item. The walk to the lower falls was easy and the views were spectacular. Definitely worth the drive to see Yosemite! Hopefully, we can return to visit again and stay longer.
Written 28 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Satyabrata Dam
New Delhi1,760 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
This one is super easy and super accessible therefore in my opinion the most popular hike trail in the valley. There's a big car park and shuttle bus stop 6 takes you to the lower falls trail. The lower falls is an impressive cascade falling relentless and a great place to take memorable pictures. Expect lots of people.
Written 11 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China178,386 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
The Lower Yosemite Fall Trail s a 1 mile loop trail that takes visitors directly below the lower 320 foot (98 metre) section of the Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in the United States.
The trailhead is located along Northside Drive just after passing through the Valley Village. You can walk there within a few minutes from the village or reach the trailhead by way of the free Yosemite Shuttle (stop #6). There are toilet facilities at the trailhead.
This is an easy trail that walks straight up to the falls. If you start from the main trailhead, you'll find several viewpoint stops which include both the Upper and Lower Falls.
We made this walk in April when the Falls were gushing with water from the recent snowmelt, providing large amounts of mist that was as heavy as light rain at the small bridge in front of the Lower Falls. This was really neat to see but difficult to take pictures from up close.
After passing the falls, you walk past the Yosemite Creek which was really flowing as well. Then the trail circles back to Northside Drive. In total, this easy walk took us around 20 minutes to complete. Allow more time if you want to linger around the Lower Falls area.
The trailhead is located along Northside Drive just after passing through the Valley Village. You can walk there within a few minutes from the village or reach the trailhead by way of the free Yosemite Shuttle (stop #6). There are toilet facilities at the trailhead.
This is an easy trail that walks straight up to the falls. If you start from the main trailhead, you'll find several viewpoint stops which include both the Upper and Lower Falls.
We made this walk in April when the Falls were gushing with water from the recent snowmelt, providing large amounts of mist that was as heavy as light rain at the small bridge in front of the Lower Falls. This was really neat to see but difficult to take pictures from up close.
After passing the falls, you walk past the Yosemite Creek which was really flowing as well. Then the trail circles back to Northside Drive. In total, this easy walk took us around 20 minutes to complete. Allow more time if you want to linger around the Lower Falls area.
Written 18 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing