Lower Yosemite Falls

A super-easy trail (with only a 50-foot elevation gain) has the most stunning waterfall view. It's the final 320-foot drop of the tallest waterfall in North America - a cascade that roars on its way down the steep cliff. The best time to visit is in late spring/early summer when you can see the white dogwood flowers in full bloom. The waterfall peters out by late summer and doesn't gain momentum again until the following year. Winter is very icy albeit beautiful in the off-season. There is some parking on Northside Drive, but as one of the most famous falls in the world, it can get pretty busy. A larger parking area is located a short distance west of the Lower Falls trailhead at Yosemite Falls Trailhead. From Yosemite Falls Trailhead parking lot you'll walk one of the trails leading northwest, about 1/2 mile. (Submitted by Rajie Brown)