About 10 years the Yosemite Park
Visitor's Center told me that a
tourists' shuttle bus went from
the valley floor on a road to the
top of Yosemite Falls. Does anyone
know if that transportation system
is still functioning?
I'm asking because I would like to
hike the Yosemite Falls trail. If
that way still exists, I would ride
the bus and hike down the trail,
rather than the alternatives of hiking
from the bottom up and than back down,
or getting a group of photographers to
make the hike leaving one car at the
bottom and taking another car to the top.
There is no road access to the top of Yosemite Falls. There is a trailhead at Yosemite Creek on 120 as you head toward Tuolumne Meadows. I haven't done this hike, so I can't say anything about length or difficulty. I do not know if there is any shuttle service to points east of the valley on 120.
You could hike from Yosemite Creek to the the top of the falls and then take the trail from the top, down to the valley floor--it would be a very long (and hot) day. If I was going to do this, I would wait until next spring when the weather is cooler.
Personally, I forego the lower elevations and get into the high country during the summer. It's cooler, it's easier to escape the hordes, and the terrain is gorgeousI take lots of bug juice, though!
Robert,
As Preston said, the only access to the top of the falls is by hiking. There is a trailhead off of 120 at Yosemite Creek. I haven't been on that trail, but you can also walk in off of 120 at a trailhead near Porcupine, which I have been on. I think this rout might be a little shorter. You would also have the option of cutting over to Indian Ridge and descending down to the top of North Dome, before traversing back over to the top of the falls. Both of these trails are generally descending. Don't be deceived by the notion that walking down hill is always easy. The walk to the top of the falls from 120 is at least 5 miles, depending on the route you take and you will need to carry water. If you do it as a point to point hike, rather than returning to 120, from the top of the falls you would continue on down to the Valley floor. Have fun!
There is a hiker's shuttle bus from Yosemite Valley to the Yosemite high country. You would still have to hike to the top of the falls. The link for information is http://www.yosemitepark.com/Activities_GuidedBusTours_TuolumneMeadows.aspx. The hike down Yosemite Falls trail is a rather hard downhill (steep and much of it is on rock), especially on the knees and can be somewhat crowded especially the lower part.
Posted by Rodney Ninow on July 28, 2011 at 9:29 PM
If you can go in the next week or so, I would say why wait? I camped in Tuolumne Meadows last week and it was 30 degrees at night! If you start out from the top early in the AM, you'll be to the top of the falls by 10am before it gets too hot. Then down in the valley by 2 for a nice cold beer at the Mountain Room lounge.
Discussion
6 repliesVisitor's Center told me that a
tourists' shuttle bus went from
the valley floor on a road to the
top of Yosemite Falls. Does anyone
know if that transportation system
is still functioning?
I'm asking because I would like to
hike the Yosemite Falls trail. If
that way still exists, I would ride
the bus and hike down the trail,
rather than the alternatives of hiking
from the bottom up and than back down,
or getting a group of photographers to
make the hike leaving one car at the
bottom and taking another car to the top.
Thank you.
Cordially,
Robert Dayton
There is no road access to the top of Yosemite Falls. There is a trailhead at Yosemite Creek on 120 as you head toward Tuolumne Meadows. I haven't done this hike, so I can't say anything about length or difficulty. I do not know if there is any shuttle service to points east of the valley on 120.
You could hike from Yosemite Creek to the the top of the falls and then take the trail from the top, down to the valley floor--it would be a very long (and hot) day. If I was going to do this, I would wait until next spring when the weather is cooler.
Personally, I forego the lower elevations and get into the high country during the summer. It's cooler, it's easier to escape the hordes, and the terrain is gorgeousI take lots of bug juice, though!
--P
As Preston said, the only access to the top of the falls is by hiking. There is a trailhead off of 120 at Yosemite Creek. I haven't been on that trail, but you can also walk in off of 120 at a trailhead near Porcupine, which I have been on. I think this rout might be a little shorter. You would also have the option of cutting over to Indian Ridge and descending down to the top of North Dome, before traversing back over to the top of the falls. Both of these trails are generally descending. Don't be deceived by the notion that walking down hill is always easy. The walk to the top of the falls from 120 is at least 5 miles, depending on the route you take and you will need to carry water. If you do it as a point to point hike, rather than returning to 120, from the top of the falls you would continue on down to the Valley floor. Have fun!
light of the heat, I'm inclined to wait until next year.
Sandy
Berkeley, CA
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