Climbing Yosemite Falls: Challenge, Beauty, and Reward - 4th July 2009
/Home › › Yosemite Falls Trail Yosemite National Park’s Yosemite Falls Trail is a historic and popular hiking route that offers hikers the rare opportunity to experience the full power of Yosemite Falls—North America’s tallest waterfall with a total drop of 739 meters—at remarkably close range. The trail begins near Camp 4 and features steep, continuous switchbacks from the outset, making it suitable for intermediate to advanced hikers. However, the effort is well rewarded: at the midway viewpoint known as Columbia Rock, hikers are greeted with breathtaking panoramic views of Yosemite Valley and Half Dome. The hike to Columbia Rock covers approximately 3.2 kilometers round trip with an elevation gain of about 300 meters, taking around two to three hours. Beyond this point, the trail leads to areas where you can feel the spray of the falls, and depending on the season, you may even find yourself enveloped in a fine mist. From spring to early summer, snowmelt increase...