Yosemite National Park- Hetch Hetchy Section

The Hetch Hetchy section of Yosemite National Park is located in the northwest area of the park. For this adventure, we chose to hike Tueeulala and Wapama Falls.

The ride down to the entrance to Hetch Hetchy is a bumpy road until you get to the National Park boundary and the road conditions get smoother but much narrower. For the hike out to Wampama Falls, you want to park as close to the dam as you can get. We found a spot at the bathrooms and grabbed it and walked the short distance down to the dam. To begin the trail you walk over the dam and through the tunnel. Make sure and take time to look over both sides of the dam.

The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir holds 117 billion gallons of water of drinking water to 2.7 million San Francisco Bay area residents.

The first half a mile or so is very flat with no obstacles. After the first half a mile the trail begins to ascend with a 500 foot increase in elevation over 2 miles. There are periods of sun and shade, depending on the time of day and time of year.

At 1.2 miles you will come to a fork in the road. Make sure and take the path to the right.  There are some signs and it indicates the falls are additional 1.6 miles. At this turn, you are much more full sun for a while, but the path also levels out to give you a reprieve from your ascent. At this point in the hike, I could neither see nor hear the falls, which made me wonder if nature was playing a trick on me.

I logged 2.1 miles to the first waterfall .  Immediately after the first waterfall, there is a fantastic photo opportunity to the right of the entire reservoir. And immediately after that is the water crossing. Using our tracking poles and our water proof shoes we were able to manage it without having to take our shoes off. 

At about 2.6 miles you’re rewarded with a once in a lifetime waterfall experience. There are multiple bridges that spray you and douse you with the water coming off of the falls and running under the bridges. If you choose to sit on the sidelines, you might get only moderately wet, but you will miss out on the full experience and for of this amazing display of God‘s glory.

For my GA friends, this was so reminiscent of Splash Water Falls at 6 Flags over GA! As kids we would ride the ride then rush to the bridge to get soaked by the next riders. THAT was this waterfall! It was multiple bridges of water just spraying us with the power of the water as it rushed down the mountain and under us into the reservoir. What a giggle it was to get totally soaked! If you visit Yosemite, this hike is a blast!