Home
Blog
Search Site
Sitemap

Special Topics
Books
Equipment
Movies & TV
Photography Tips
FAQ
Waterfalls 101
Featured Articles

World's Best Waterfalls
Top 10 Waterfalls
Regional Top 10 Lists
The SoCal Top 10
Tallest Waterfalls
Iguazu Falls
Victoria Falls
Niagara Falls
Plitvice Waterfalls
Angel Falls

Waterfalls
In The USA

Regions
American Southwest
Pacific Northwest
Eastern US
Special States California
Hawaii
New York
Oregon
Special Parks Yosemite
Yellowstone

Waterfalls
Around The World

The Americas
Canada
Caribbean
Latin America

Asia
Asia
China
Japan
Thailand
India

Oceania
Australia
New Zealand
South Pacific

Europe and Africa
Europe
Iceland
Norway
Africa

Waterfall Community
Travel Stories
Contributions
Submit A Waterfall
About Us
Contact Us
Advertise Here
Links
Updates
 

Waterwheel Falls

Waterwheel Falls with a full rainbow in its mist



Waterwheel Falls could very well be the most unusual waterfall in
Yosemite.

It's one of those rare waterfalls where you care how far up water is thrown instead of how far down it drops. And while LeConte Falls may have the quantity of small- and medium-sized waterwheels, this one has a massive one! If I had to guess I'd say its waterwheel easily tops 30ft. Anyhow, there was no doubting that this was indeed the real deal, especially after comparing its waypoint with my Topo map.

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.

Profile view of Waterwheel FallsAnyhow, 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.

Directions: The trailhead for this waterfall is shared with that of Tuolumne Falls, White Cascade, California Falls, and LeConte Falls. But since this waterfall is a significant excursion by itself, we're reproducing the directions given for the Tuolumne Falls page.

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).

[Back to top]

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

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


View World of Waterfalls in a larger map



TRIP REPORTS
For more information about our experiences with this waterfall, check out the following travel stories.

GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCES


NEARBY WATERFALLS




Have You Been To This Waterfall?

Share your experience!

Click here to see visitor comments for this waterfall

Click here to see visitor comments for other waterfalls that we've visited in this region

Click here to go to the Comments Main Page

Enter Your Title

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

My Glen Aulin Backpacking Trip  starstarstarstarstar
My most successful backpacking trip was from Tuolumne Meadows to Glen Aulin with my two sons, my nephew, my oldest son's friend, and two of my best friends ...

Glen Aulin Hike (Waterwheel Falls)  starstarstarstarstar
I've never been on a hike more than a mile or two, but I found your site and was inspired to go out to Yosemite and do the Waterwheel trek via Glen Aulin ...



[Back to top]

[Go to the Tuolumne River and the High Country Waterfalls Page]

[Go to the Yosemite Page]


[Return from Waterwheel Falls to the World of Waterfalls Home Page]






FOLLOW US ON:   Facebook   Twitter

There's lots to say about Yosemite and its waterfalls. Click on one of the following links to jump to the section you're interested in...


If you like this page,
you might also like...

Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Waterfalls

California Map
California Waterfalls

America's Top 10
America's Top 10

Other Yosemite Attractions
Other Yosemite Attractions

Yosemite Travel Stories
Yosemite Travel Stories

A Waterfalling Adventure
Tell YOUR Story!


Featured Visitor Stories
or Comments


My Glen Aulin Backpacking Trip
My most successful backpacking trip was from Tuolumne Meadows to Glen Aulin with my two sons, my nephew, my oldest son's friend, and two of my best...[more]


The Yosemite Trance
I visited Yosemite National Park on 5th September 1965! The scenic beauty and waterfalls were fantastic and I remember laying myself down...[more]


Yosemite and Snow Creek Falls
Two weeks ago I fulfilled a 60 year dream and made it to the top of Half Dome. Awed by the accomplishment as much as by the view, I stared, speechless...[more]


Explore the
World of Waterfalls

World of Waterfalls Map
See Where We've Been!

Top 10 Waterfalls
The World's Top 10

Waterfalls FAQ
Waterfalls FAQ

Waterfalls 101
Waterfalls 101

World of Waterfalls: An Emotive Journey
Take an Emotive Journey!


Waterfalls Blog


Weather