Does Yosemite Falls dry up every year?

By late summer in all but the wettest of years, the granite lined watershed that feeds Yosemite Creek and Yosemite Falls has shed all of the snowpack from the winter and the falls dwindle to nothing but a trickle. It may in fact be completely dry for months until the rains come again.



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Peak runoff typically occurs in May or June, with some waterfalls (including Yosemite Falls) often only a trickle or completely dry by August. Storms in late fall rejuvenate some of the waterfalls and all of them accumulate frost along their edges many nights during the winter.

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Yosemite's largest waterfalls flow from October or November through July, but tend to peak in April and May and into June, with some falls (including the park's signature Yosemite Falls) running dry by late summer.

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As large and as significant as Yosemite Falls is, it's a seasonal waterfall. By late summer in all but the wettest of years, the granite lined watershed that feeds Yosemite Creek and Yosemite Falls has shed all of the snowpack from the winter and the falls dwindle to nothing but a trickle.

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By late summer in all but the wettest of years, the granite lined watershed that feeds Yosemite Creek and Yosemite Falls has shed all of the snowpack from the winter and the falls dwindle to nothing but a trickle. It may in fact be completely dry for months until the rains come again.

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Bridalveil Falls and Lower Yosemite Falls typically freeze in winter, creating gorgeous stalagmites even Queen Elsa would be proud of. Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America.

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Be careful of sharp underwater objects or slippery rocks (aqua shoes are helpful), and of course, never swim above or directly below waterfalls. Mountain water is often very cold, so avoid prolonged exposure causing hypothermia and always use extreme caution when swimming in Yosemite with children.

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May through September is the most popular time in Yosemite Yosemite National Park attracts about 75% of its annual visitors between May and September. These months correspond with the best weather and are also when all the roads, trails, lodging, shuttles and attractions in the park are open.

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The Upper Yosemite Fall drops 1,430 feet (436 metres) and the Lower 320 feet (98 metres), with a series of cascades between; the total drop is 2,425 feet (740 metres), creating one of the world's highest cataracts, the highest in North America.

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Some of the falls, such as Yosemite Falls, usually dry up altogether near late September. While other falls, such as Vernal and Nevada Falls, flow all year, they will be reduced to a trickle.

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There are long lines (1-3 hours) on weekend mornings, and parking in the valley will fill up and be detoured sometime between 8-10am. These issues are much less during the week.

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Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May (and over 75% between November and March). Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May. (Yosemite Valley can be rainy or snowy in any given winter storm.) Check current weather forecasts in the park by location.

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One downside: The year-round waterfalls will still be flowing – waterfalls like Vernal, Nevada, and Bridalveil, but unless it's already rained before you arrive, ephemeral waterfalls like the great Yosemite Falls may be dry or barely a trickle.

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Yosemite enthusiasts usually visit the Park during off season months. Fall which starts towards the end of September is one of the best months for hiking and a great time to visit when summer crowds decline dramatically after the Labor Day holiday when children start heading back to school.

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Maintaining a running waterfall during the winter can disrupt the warm water temperatures at the bottom of the pond. This will create even water temperatures throughout the pond and continue to introduce cold water into the pond as water coming over the spillway is introduce to the cooler air temperatures.

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