11 Yosemite Falls Facts You Would Have Never Heard Of

Adekunle Olanrewaju Jason
Oct 05, 2023 By Adekunle Olanrewaju Jason
Originally Published on Dec 24, 2021
Looking for the best Yosemite Falls facts? Let us start with the fact that the Yosemite Falls are 2424 ft. ( 738.8 m) tall.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 5.3 Min

Yosemite Falls is located in the United States.

Yosemite Falls is situated in the Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Nevada is located in California.

The Yosemite area is highly famous for its waterfalls, granite monoliths, deep sharp valleys, and also ancient giant sequoias. The Yosemite area consists of Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, and the famous Yosemite Falls. The best time to visit Yosemite Falls is in the spring season.

There are some amazing facts related to this special geographical feature. Yosemite Falls is known as a special waterfall because it has three drops.

The elevation of the Yosemite Falls is 5403 ft (1646.8 m). Yosemite Falls dries up in the months of August and September and Yosemite Creek is the foundation of Yosemite Falls. Yosemite Falls is considered to be a seasonal stream.

Fun Facts About Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls has some special facts and features.

Yosemite Falls has a national park that is famous for its giant sequoia trees. Yosemite Falls has a Mediterranean type of climate and Yosemite Valleys are believed to have been formed by several different glaciers.

Also, Yosemite Falls is known to be the home to one of the tallest waterfalls in North America. Yosemite Falls is a tiered type of waterfall.

Reaching the upper Yosemite Fall requires you to take a 7.2 mi (11.6 km) round trip. The majority of the upper Yosemite Fall route is in full sunlight, so make sure you wear plenty of sun cream. The lower falls drop right behind Yosemite village.

What are the three separate falls?

Yosemite Falls is considered one of the tallest waterfalls in the world.

Many people find it interesting to know that Yosemite Falls is not just a single fall, but it is actually made up of three different waterfalls. The first fall in Yosemite Falls is called the Upper Yosemite Fall which is around 1430 ft (435.9 m) in height.

The second fall is called the middle cascade which is around 675 ft (205.7 m) in height. The third and the last fall in Yosemite Falls is called the Lower Yosemite Falls which is 320 ft (987.5 m) in height.

Yosemite is famous for some other waterfalls too. These are the Vernal fall, Nevada fall, and Bridalveil fall. Make sure you give yourself enough time to visit all these waterfalls when you visit this area.

Yosemite Falls is home to 7000 plant species.

Geographical Facts About Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls is known to be creating one of the world’s largest cataracts that is also considered to be the highest in the North American region.

The Tuolumne meadows in the valley of Yosemite have been carved out by glaciers, creating smooth domes in the meadows. The area of Yosemite Falls is known to have been created by the deposition and deformation of metamorphic rocks.

Yosemite Falls is situated on a 400 mi (643.7 km) long granite mountain which is situated in the mountain range of eastern California. The western slope of the central Sierra Nevada is wet. This is where Yosemite Falls lies with the river valleys draining out to the central valley.

Historical Facts About Yosemite Falls

The discovery of Yosemite Falls was in 1851. Yosemite was earlier known to be the home to the Ahwahneechee people who the settlers of the area. The discovery of the Yosemite Valley by the Europeans was made by Lafayette H. Bunnell.

The Ahwahneechee Legend is the most popular. Ahwahneechee is the main village of the native people of Yosemite Valley and the village is at the base of the falls.

The Ahwahneechee people believe that the area is inhabited by the spirits of several Poloti witches. The folktale, as believed by the people, states that a woman went to fetch a pail of water from the plunge pool area and she happened to draw snakes out of it.

After that particular night, this woman trespassed into their territory and the spirits made sure the woman and her house is taken by the pool and the powerful wind.

The legend states that the lady was pregnant and the wind took her along with her newborn baby. As such, people believe that the pool area is the strength of the spirits and that it possesses some power beyond them.

Tourism Facts About Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls has been a popular tourist destination for people. There have been more than 135 switchbacks in the trail of Yosemite Falls. It is a great location for hiking.

Yosemite Falls has received recognition as a World Heritage Site in 1984. Most people visit Yosemite Falls to visit the valley, national park, and also to go on hikes. Visitors can get the view of the famous Tunnel View, Half Dome which is a mirror lake, El Capitan, and Glacier Point.

The Lower Yosemite Fall Trail is a hard to walk due to the rocky nature of the terrain. The Lower Yosemite Fall Trail is around 1 mi (1.6 km) long. The trailhead of Yosemite Falls is located in the valley loop trail which is near the camping area.

The Upper Fall is known to be approximately 8 mi (12.9 km) long which is considered to be a round trip. This upper fall is a high-traffic area and is considered to be the back trail of the Yosemite Valley.

Also, many people say that the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail is difficult to climb. This trail is open all year round for tourists.

The Lower Fall trail is a short walk from the Yosemite Lodge. Also, you can spot a lot from this trial from the road that circles the valley floor to the massive waterfall, giving amazing views of sentinel rock.

You will find steep drops adjacent to the trail in the upper trail and late summer is an interesting time to visit the area.

Hiking has been the main attraction of the Yosemite Valley. There have been many strenuous hikes other than the above-mentioned trails. These include the Four Mile Trail, Half Dome Trail, Snow Creek Trail, Mist Trail, Vernal Fall, and Nevada Fall Trails.

Yosemite Falls is a highly biologically diversified area to visit. People who love climbing and hiking activities will enjoy visiting Yosemite Falls. If you would like to visit a place with lots of beautiful waterfalls, pretty hikes, stay in a room with a view, then Yosemite Falls is somewhere you should definitely visit!

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Written by Adekunle Olanrewaju Jason

Bachelor of Science specializing in Mass Communication.

Adekunle Olanrewaju Jason picture

Adekunle Olanrewaju JasonBachelor of Science specializing in Mass Communication.

With over 3+ years of professional experience, Olanrewaju is a certified SEO Specialist and Content Writer. He holds a BSc in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos. Throughout his dynamic career, Olanrewaju has successfully taken on various roles with startups and established organizations. He has served as a Technical Writer, Blogger, SEO Specialist, Social Media Manager, and Digital Marketing Manager. Known for his hardworking nature and insightful approach, Olanrewaju is dedicated to continuous learning and improvement.
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