Hike to Waterwheel Falls

37.872112,-119.370472

Save

View all 4 photos

All 4 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

17.32 miles

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Alex Souza

Scenic hike that follows along the Tuolumne River. Plenty of spectacular swimming holes along the way. Multitude of waterfalls. Distance: 17+ miles round trip from Tuolumne Meadows.

Waterwheel Falls may be the most unique waterfall in Yosemite. During high waterflow an extraordinary phenomenon appears as the raging water hits a series of ledges creating a plume, this coupled with strong gust blowing upward create cyclical "waterwheel" effect hence the name.

On a good day these waterwheels can reach heights of 30ft. Bring the camera, tripod, and neutral density filter for some beautiful long exposure shots of the falls.

If the long 18 mile round trip sounds a bit daunting... Make it an overnight trip and stay at the backpackers campground at the Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp just 3.3 Miles before you get to the Falls.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Download GPX File

Features

Chillin

Photography

Backpacking

Hiking

Easy Parking

River

Scenic

Waterfall

Wildflowers

Wildlife

Swimming Hole

Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Backpack to Boothe Lake

Starting at the Tuolomne Meadows Visitor Center you will head south to jump on the John Muir Trail, move east for 2.8 miles on the JMT until the trail intersects with the Vogelsang High Sierra trailhead, you head south when you reach this trail. Once you hit the Vogelsang trail you are 5.5 miles from Boothe Lake. Tuolomne Meadows sits at 8,600' and Boothe Lake is at about 9,800' but luckily the...

Tulomne Meadows to Donohue Pass via JMT

Donohue Pass lies on the border of Yosemite National Park and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Both the John Muir Trail (JMT) and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) route through this pass at 11,056 ft. A challenging but beautiful hike that starts from Tuolumne Meadows and follows the JMT for 12.5 miles to the top of the pass with an elevation gain of 2,456ft.(most of which is gained in the last mile or...

Backpack to Nelson Lake

Head to any Yosemite wilderness station for a map, bear canister, and permit for Nelson Lake. The trail itself starts in the Tuolumne Campground at Elizabeth Lake trailhead. Follow the trail 2.2 miles up to Elizabeth Lake and remember the lake itself is in a no-camping zone, so you must continue before setting up camp. Continue off trail following Unicorn Creek south to a small pass between Joh...

Cathedral Lakes

Starting at the Cathedral Lakes Trailhead near the Tuolumne Meadows parking lot (if parking is full at the TH), this trail wanders through the classic High Sierra forest with large white granite boulders and pine trees. After approximately 4 miles of quiet solitude in the forest, you will reach Cathedral Lakes: a pair of high alpine lakes surrounded by the quintessential green meadows that Yos...

Scramble Yosemite's Cathedral Peak

Start at Toulumne Meadows (8000 ft), and take the John Muir Trail, on the south side of Tioga Road. After about 1 mile, an unmarked trail will appear on your left – it is a less-traveled path, primarily taken by climbers. This trail will lead you away from Cathedral Lake to the back of Cathedral Peak. Be careful not to miss the turn-off, as it can be very hard to spot.Once you've found this tra...

Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley

Yosemite is an iconic park, and if you are looking for isolation with spectacular views of the backcountry this trip is for you. The trail itself is approximately 33 miles and can be done in 3-4 days, but I recommend a 6 day hike to enjoy the scenery and to have the opportunity to soak in each location you visit. June through September, YARTS has a shuttle that will take you from the Yosemite ...