Yosemite Point Trail, via Yosemite Falls: Spring Snow and Snow Melt

Hands down, the weather during this late April hike up the Yosemite Falls trail is the best weather for hiking in Yosemite Valley… and I consider myself a connoisseur of day hikes in Yosemite.

Here are my tips:

• Pick a cool morning (Starting temp: 48°F)
• Start hiking early (Starting Time: 8:15 AM)
• Wait until temps peak before hiking back down (75°F on this trip). Trust me – The blowing mist will be less chilly and more delightful.

Another perk: An early start means you can make it up to the falls, attempt the hike to Eagle Peak, change your mind and go to Yosemite Point, then hike back down the trail – all well before sundown.

I clipped some of the most erroneous GPS points from this track. Once on the North Rim of the Valley the GPS works much better, which would be good for folks attempting to find the path through the snow to Eagle Peak or El Capitan

Day Hike Yosemite Falls to Yosemite Point, California

Trailhead: The Upper Yosemite Falls Trail starts out from Camp 4. You can park anywhere in Yosemite Valley and get there via the shuttle. If you arrive early enough in the morning you might find parking at the Yosemite Falls Lot. Map

Distance: My GPS watch had a really hard time getting an accurate read on this trail. In it’s place I have to believe in the National Geographic NPS map. 3.2 miles to the top of the falls, another mile to Yosemite Point. Approximately 8.4 miles round trip. Max elevation at Yosemite Point is 6,926 – meaning at least a 2,815 ft. elevation gain from the valley to the top.

Yosemite Falls upper vista point is always worth a visit

The stairs down to the vista point are a worth the side trip for trail lovers too!

Winter of 2019 produced a nice snow pack – and as a result, the falls are very impressive this year. The upper falls trail is busy (as usual), a little grueling (its a long ways uphill), and more importantly: Enjoyable and ICONIC.

On the slow and steady up from the valley floor, the trail first reaches Columbia Rock, a nice spot with a viewing point of the valley. The first time Curtis and I hiked this trail we had started too late in the day, and this was an good turn around point.

My favorite Upper Yosemite Falls vista, as seen after Colombia Rock on the Yosemite Falls trail.

Just beyond Columbia Rock is one of the few flatter portions of the trail, descending along a creek area, before ascending again to my favorite viewing point for the Upper Falls. This is another great turn around point for hikers with less time.

From this vista the trail steadily climbs up the granite (and decomposed granite) path to the top of the falls. Many switchbacks later the trail dumps onto Yosemite’s northern rim trail. The left trail leads to Eagle Peak and El Capitan. The right trail leads to the top of Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Point.

I did attempt Eagle Peak for a short half mile of snowy hiking. Despite seeing very little snow on the hike up to the falls, the snow is still plentiful in the forested areas. After a sketchy snow bridge crossing, I decided that Eagle Peak was still going to be there next time, and turned around to chose a different adventure.  

The path to Yosemite Point features a real bridge over Yosemite Creek, and then switchbacks up some snow before reaching the overlook. I had not made the trip to Yosemite Point on my last visit to the top of Yosemite Falls. It is a great choice to extend the hike, and offers a classic view point to stop at for a lunch break and photo op with Half Dome.

Plus, this was another one to check off on my Yosemite north rim vista points! So far: Clouds Rest, Mount Watkins, North Dome, Yosemite Point, and El Capitan. Someday I’ll bag you Eagle Peak!

Yosemite Point lunch break

The great thing about solo hiking on a popular Yosemite trailhead is there is always someone to take a photo.

Saturday trail traffic is to be expected, especially by the afternoon – which was about the time I started my hike back down to the valley. This is popular hike in peak season! Dear future hikers, please do try to remember that we are in one of the most beautiful places on earth… even if we are stuck in a human traffic jam.

Trail etiquette has determined that hikers traveling uphill have the right of way, although I don’t expect most casual hikers to know this. Generally, I find it is less stressful for everyone if I simply pause for a moment to allow those anxious hikers riding my bumper on the downhill to pass. AND FOR THE LOVE OF YOSEMITE, please do NOT cut the switchbacks. This trail is already loved too hard and needs all our help to keep it in working order.

YPOINT