Waterwheel Falls

From what I can recall, signs near Glen Aulin say it's about 3.3 miles from there to Waterwheel Falls. From LeConte Falls, it's an additional 1/4- to 1/2-mile downhill. So if you tally up the overall distance (which I admit are a bit sketchy at this point) I'm guessing it's around 20 miles round trip with 1900ft elevation loss from Tuolumne Meadows.

Anyhow, as the trail quickly descends into this ensemble of cascades, the massive waterwheel of this waterfall grabbed our attention as we looked down on it with a wide rainbow arcing over the river. While looking at the waterwheel from above is interesting, it’s worth spending the effort to descend further along the steepened trail for additional profile views of the falls

To remove any doubt that there were more worthwhile waterfalls on this day hike, my Mom and I turned around shortly beyond the bridge over Return Creek. Thus, we ended up being well downstream of Waterwheel Falls and our day hike ended up being 22 miles round-trip (though you don't have to add the extra 2 miles as we did). Nonetheless, the backcountry beauty of the high country along with the seemingly endless string of waterfalls ranks this excursion as one the most memorable I've ever undertaken.

The Glen Aulin trailhead is about 7 miles west of Tioga Pass (where the Summer only Eastern Entrance is) along Route 120. You can find along the side of the spur road leaving Route 120 near Lembert Dome (near signpost T32). Or, if you don't mind walking an additional mile, you can park at the official backpacker's permit station further east along Route 120 where there seem to be plenty of parking space. Day trippers may also consider parking in one of the pullouts near Tuolumne Meadows (signpost T29).

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Looking down at the big waterwheel from a different position than above

Looking up the Tuolumne River towards the mist thrown up by the wheeling waterfall as seen from the bridge at Return Creek


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TRIP REPORTS

• June 5, 2004

GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCES

NEARBY WATERFALLS

• Tuolumne Falls
• White Cascade (Glen Aulin Falls)
• California Falls
• LeConte Falls

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