From the gentle foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains a few hundred meters above sea level, it’s a short drive to the majestic towering peaks that top 3,300 meters elevation. And along the way are some of the most spectacular waterfalls and outdoor recreation areas in the world.

For a journey to a small yet awesome waterfall, travel on  CA (California) Highway 120 towards Yosemite National Park. About 10 minutes beyond the town of  Groveland (less than 3 hours from San Francisco) at the South Fork Tuolumne River Bridge is the popular swimming hole and day use picnic area of Rainbow Pool. This was a toll stop in the stagecoach days and later a popular resort which burned down in 1958. There are vault toilets and limited parking, but  it’s well worth the stop.

Traveling on towards Yosemite, just before you enter the Park, itself, is a turn off to Carlon Falls (Evergreen Road)

Located on the South Fork of the Tuolumne River, it’s about  a 2.5 K walk the old-growth trees. Enjoy the pungent aroma of the forest as you go – truly enchanting.

If you continue along Evergreen Rd another 22K you’ll reach the O’Shaughnessy Dam at the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir inside Yosemite National Park and see three splendid but little-known waterfalls.

Tueeulala Falls and Wapama Falls flow into the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir which was created to provide water to San Francisco when O'Shaughnessy Dam was built in 1914. There are public parking and toilet facilities at the dam.

The reservoir area is stunning and the waterfalls there are definitely worth exploring. It is an easy and pretty 7.4K round trip hike along the reservoir to get to them. You will reach Tueeulala Falls about 2.7K along the trail where it drops 275 meters off a high cliff in the spring below.

Just a little past Tueeulala Falls, Wapama Falls is more powerful and impressive. It is a 396 meter-long cascade, which rages in the springtime. You can get very wet just crossing the bridge over Falls Creek where Wapama Falls flows over in some places. One can climb up on the rocks to have lunch with a great view of both waterfalls.

There is one more waterfall 6.4K past Wapama Falls called Rancheria Falls. The trail to the falls rises 365 meters elevation in that short distance and is not for the faint-hearted.

Whether you are among the less adventurous or just want to see more waterfalls, you can always go into Yosemite Valley and view the more famous Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, Nevada and Vernal Falls and others that usually flow at their fullest in the spring. The Tuolumne County area is truly rich with waterfalls.

Remember to bring tire chains and check the weather and road conditions at http://www.dot.ca.gov . Sudden storms are not uncommon during the spring and highways can be subject to snow closure.

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Contact: Sandy Gordon, tcvbmarketing@mlode.com, 209-533-4420 or 800-466-1333

YOSEMITE GOLD COUNTRY

Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau

PO Box 4020

Sonora, CA 95370-4020