Try these 4 Day Hikes in Hetch Hetchy Valley
In the northwest corner of Yosemite National Park, sits the lovely Hetch Hetchy Valley. An area with waterfalls, a dam, and beautiful views. It’s far less popular than Yosemite Valley, which you can find in the heart of the park along with many other people. If you’re looking for less crowds and nice trails, check out one of these days hikes for a little something different.
Lookout Point Trail
The shortest of the hikes is Lookout Point at 2 miles roundtrip. It starts at the entrance station so look for the trail sign. Be prepared for some elevation gain, but not to worry…it’s not that bad. Follow the trail to a rocky area and then make your way to the top of the rocks – a short distance. From here, you get a view of the entire Hetch Hetchy Valley. If you’re looking for a view of the waterfalls, I wouldn’t recommend this trail. You can see them, but they are very, very tiny. This trail has many wildflowers if you are there at the right time, but can become overgrown so watch your step.
Poopenaut Trail
Poopernaut Trail leads down to the Tuolumne River. When I say down…I mean down. This 2.5 mile roundtrip trail has almost 1300 ft of elevation gain. That means you’ll be going down to the river – probably not too bad of a hike, and then back up to where the trail started – certainly more challenging. You can find this hike about 4 miles past the entrance station. Keep and eye out for the sign.
Wapama Falls
The most popular (and in my opinion best) trail in the park is Wapama Falls. Before heading out on this trail, you’ll first need to find a parking spot. Space can be limited in this valley, but if you arrive by mid-morning you shouldn’t have any problems getting a spot. Once you’ve parked, make your way to O’Shaughnessy Dam. You can’t miss it. From the dam, you can see just about the entire trail as the hike hugs the water for most of the trip. Go through the tunnel and then continue on the trail. On this 5 mile roundtrip hike, you’ll see both Tueeulala and Wapama Falls. Sometimes this trail can be challenging if you go in the spring or early summer and there is a lot of snow melt. While this makes for beautiful waterfalls, it also means there may be too much water making the trail impassable after the first waterfall. Check out THIS VIDEO for more on that. For most of the year, this trail is lovely and a MUST hike.
Rancheria Falls
If you’ve made your way to Tueeulala and Wapama Falls and are still craving more, continue on to Rancheria Falls. This trail is a continuation of Wapama Falls. In total, it’s 13 miles roundtrip and you’ll get to the waterfall at mile 6.5. Some people choose to do this hike as an overnight, especially if they are wanting to explore the wilderness of Tiltill and Rancheria Mountains (which you can access from this trail). HERE is more info on backpacking and permits if you want to go that route.
Consider the Wonders is a travel blog intended for entertainment purposes only. We are not RV, travel, or hiking experts and are not making recommendations. These are our opinions and you should do your own research and make your own decisions.
Consider the Wonders is not affiliated with Yosemite National Park or the National Park Service.
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