A 5-mile moderate hike to Wapama Falls in Hetch Hetchy; best April–October; high spring flow can make the footbridge impassable; no dogs.
National Park entrance fee required
NPS notes the trail is best April through October; the footbridge crossing below the falls can be impassable at very high spring flow.
Wapama Falls is a 5-mile moderate hike in Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy region, open and best enjoyed April through October. The trail crosses a footbridge just below the falls, which can become impassable during peak spring runoff when water levels are dangerously high.
Timing matters: visit after spring flood peak but while water flow is still strong. Early-season visitors should check current footbridge status before heading out. Dogs are not permitted on NPS trails.
Late spring and early summer offer the ideal balance of accessible trails and robust water flow.
NPS notes the trail is best April through October; the footbridge crossing below the falls can be impassable at very high spring flow.
2.5-3 hours
Avoid in early-to-peak spring flow when footbridge is impassable. No dogs allowed.
National Park entrance fee required
Via a 5-mile round-trip trail rated moderate by the managing agency.
No — the managing agency's page states dogs are not permitted here (or on the specific trail/area needed to reach the falls).
We track 9 waterfalls in Yosemite/Sierra Nevada.
nps.gov
NPS 'Day Hikes in Hetch Hetchy' page, checked Aug 2026. No dogs allowed on Yosemite wilderness trails. Height figure (commonly cited elsewhere as ~1,080 ft with the lower ~400 ft submerged by the reservoir) is not stated on the NPS page itself, so left null.
Checked August 2026.