Viruses aren't common in Yosemite's waters, but we recommend that you treat water to kill them.
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Yosemite National Park offers a range of swimming opportunities—from rivers and lakes to our family-friendly pools, which are the only swimming places in Yosemite with lifeguards. River and lake swimming is at-your-own-risk. Life jackets are strongly recommended—especially for children.
Location Information: Fern Springs is a small spring near the beginning of the Yosemite valley. The water is naturally filtered underground before the water comes up at the spring. While a few people drink water at this spring, it is not recommended.
Of course, we got down and hands and knees and drank, and the water tasted just like carbonated water. We recommend taking a cup if you plan to drink. After you cross the bridge, the trail branches to make a loop where you can see the buildings and the springs.
In Yosemite's case, most precipitation falls as snow that accumulates above 6,000 feet (1,830 meters) during the winter, creating a natural water reservoir. The snowpack slowly releases meltwater through the spring and early summer, nourishing downstream regions well into the dry season.
Showers are available at the Curry Village pool showerhouse for a fee. Showers are not available elsewhere in the park. Dump stations are available at Upper Pines Campground (all year), near Wawona Campground (summer only), and near Tuolumne Meadows Campground (summer only).
Even if you don't plan on hiking across any streams or rivers, waterproof hiking shoes are a great comfort in Yosemite. As we have mentioned, springtime signals the melting of snow and this causes many trails in Yosemite to have patches of water and ice.
Yosemite Creek, which flows over this waterfall, is fed entirely by snow melt. At its peak in late spring, 2,400 gallons per second can flow over the lip of the upper fall. Yosemite Falls usually runs dry by late summer.
Be aware that mountain water is extremely cold, despite hot air temperatures. Strong swimmers may quickly become too weak from hypothermia to swim. Even professional swiftwater rescuers wearing layers of insulation sometimes struggle to stay warm!