Bridalveil Fall
add photosBridalveil Fall (620 feet) flows all year, with peak flow in May. This is often the first waterfall visitors see when entering Yosemite Valley. In spring, it thunders; during the rest of the year, look for its characteristic light, swaying flow. You can see Bridalveil Fall from near the tunnels on the Wawona Road (Highway 41) or Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) and from a signed parking lot on your way into Yosemite Valley. You can walk to the base via a short (0.5 mile), but steep (up to 24% slope) trail in just a few minutes.
5 Reviews for Bridalveil Fall
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'11, '12
1 family found this helpful
"First stop"
Make this your first stop when coming into Yosemite Valley. Actually your second... if you come from Fresno because the Tunnel View should be everyone's first stop!
Bridalveil Fall is beautiful and is a great little walk for cramped legs. Once you get to your destination in Yosemite Valley (Curry Village, Yosemite Lodge, etc.) and you park your car, it's not easy to get back to Bridalveil Fall. The shuttle busses don't come here, and when you are driving out of the valley, you have to loop back to get to this fall, then drive through the whole valley again before you can drive home. Quite a bit of extra driving!
Expect lots of cars in the parking lot and long lines at the bathroom. We waited for about 20 minutes to use the potty on a weekend.
The hike is short and a bit steep at the end. Not a large viewing area but beautiful just the same. It is stroller friendly but with large crowds, it can be hard to maneuver. If you can manage without a stroller, it may be more enjoyable.
Take time to explore the trails around the falls because they are less crowded and provide other views of the falls.
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1 family found this helpful
"Great hike when you're short on time"
This ½-mile roundtrip hike comes in handy in a pinch because the trailhead is easy to reach by car and the hike itself is one of the shortest around. An added bonus for kids is that during the hot, summer months you’re bound to be rewarded with a little shower when you reach the base of Bridalveil Falls. (That’s because unlike other falls in the Valley, the water here flows pretty much year round.) The trail is paved and stroller-friendly.
1 family found this helpful
"Perfect waterfall for everyone to get close too"
Bridalveil Falls are absolutely stunning but they are even more stunning when you walk up so close you can feel the mist cooling your face. Bridalveil was the first place we took our then 18 month olds when we went to Yosemite. Its an easy walk from the parking are to the falls and it allowed them to get excited about their adventure. Be sure to take a walk around the surrounding area to get some nice views of the stream flowing from the falls.
1 family found this helpful
"Great Falls in both Summer and Spring"
This is my favorite falls in Yosemite because it is wonderful all year round. Bridalveil Creek flows into an amazing falls which is located near the Sound Gate just after the tunnel view. There is a short 1000 foot walk up to the falls in the spring but in the late summer you can hike all the way up to the lower falls, we have done it with a 3 year old and although he needed help he make it. If you plan to hike in the late summer I recommend wearing water shoes to make it easier.
0 families found this helpful
"You can get really close!"
When full, Bridalveil Falls is wonderful. But towards the end of summer, the water can slow down quite significantly. Love the short walk up to the base of the falls because it takes you to along a fast flowing stream. You can get so close to the base of the falls that we got pretty soaked from the spray. It was fun for the kids to experience the power of a waterfall so up close.
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