Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Rancheria Falls (Hetch Hetchy)

Rancheria Falls (Hetch Hetchy): what makes it different

Rancheria Falls is the Hetch Hetchy entry that follows the reservoir's north shore past Wapama Falls to a tiered cascade at the eastern end of the valley. NPS sells 21 lottery and 14 week-ahead places a day, tied with Beehive Meadows for the largest quota in the Hetch Hetchy table, and rates the trip Medium for permit demand.^1,2

Getting to the start

The walk begins at O'Shaughnessy Dam. You cross the dam and go through a tunnel to reach the trail on the reservoir's north side. Recreation.gov says trailhead parking is half a mile south of the dam, next to the backpackers' campground.^9,8

From about April through October, NPS says to pick the permit up at the Big Oak Flat Information Station and not at the Hetch Hetchy entrance. From November through March there is a self-registration window at the entrance kiosk. The road to the trailheads is closed from sunset to sunrise.⁵

The backpackers' campground at Hetch Hetchy is open year-round, and a permit holder may spend one night before and one night after the trip there. A Weekend Sherpa writer suggests adding a night for that reason, so that you do not rush out against the road hours.^4,9

The first leg

Wapama Falls comes first, about 2 to 2.5 miles in. A May 2010 Earthjustice writer crossed the wooden bridge at its foot and compared the spray to a carwash. Rancheria Falls is at 6.5 miles, the Weekend Sherpa guide says.^10,9

NPS counts 12.6 miles round trip and 700 feet of gain. Weekend Sherpa rounds the round trip to 13 miles, and Earthjustice counts about seven miles each way.^2,9,10,8

Terrain and difficulty

Recreation.gov describes a popular trail that follows the contour of the cliffs above the reservoir, with the route continuing toward Rancheria Falls and the canyons of the northwest part of the park. NPS calls the falls a gentle cascade at the eastern end of the reservoir in a quieter part of the park.^8,2

Weekend Sherpa says Hetch Hetchy has one of the longest hiking seasons in Yosemite, that the waterfalls depend on snowmelt, and that they are best in spring. It also recommends a water filter and calls the trip moderately strenuous.⁹

Quota at this entry point

• 2026 daily quota at Rancheria Falls (Hetch Hetchy), overnight wilderness, lottery share: 21 people a day. NPS trailhead page, updated May 11, 2026. Hetch Hetchy table, window April 24 to October 18, 2026.¹
• 2026 daily quota at Rancheria Falls (Hetch Hetchy), overnight wilderness, week-ahead share: 14 people a day. The share released seven days ahead. NPS prints it as its own column and gives no combined total.¹

Rules specific to this entry point

The regulations require camping at least four trail miles from Hetch Hetchy and a mile from any road. Rancheria Falls, at about 6.5 miles by the Weekend Sherpa count, is beyond the four-mile mark. Near the reservoir, washing and waste disposal must be 300 feet from water.^3,9

Weekend Sherpa states that bear canisters are required for food storage and that dogs are not allowed.⁹

Where it leads

NPS says this is the trailhead to use for camping near Rancheria Falls or in Tiltill Valley. Beehive Meadows, a separate entry, is the one for Laurel Lake and Lake Vernon. NPS also lists a 28.2 mile loop through Lake Vernon and back along the north shore.^1,2

Beyond the falls the trail gives access to Tiltill Valley and Rancheria Mountain, per NPS.²

What trip reports say

A May 2010 Earthjustice group made it their first backpack of the year, camped at a site overlooking the tiered falls with a view of Kolana Rock, and cooked on a rock above the whitewater. Snow still covered the higher ground and Rancheria Creek ran high.¹⁰

The same group heard nothing in the brush when they checked with headlamps and saw no bear. Clouds came in overnight and rain started as they came back through the tunnel.¹⁰

Weekend Sherpa notes that wooded flat spots near the falls make good camps, and says permits are easier to get here than in Yosemite Valley because fewer people come.⁹

When to go from here

Hetch Hetchy opens earlier than the high country. The trailhead page gives a reservation window of April 24 to October 18, 2026, and first come, first served at other times. The Wilderness Permits page (December 2025) says reservations run from late April through October and the Reservations page (June 2026) says May through October. For this entry the April 24 date on the trailhead page is the one to use.^1,6,7

Spring brings the biggest falls and the highest creek. The May 2010 group found snow above and a swollen Rancheria Creek.^9,10

Compare with nearby entry points

• Beehive Meadows (Hetch Hetchy): Beehive Meadows has the same 21 lottery and 14 week-ahead quota but climbs out of the valley for Laurel Lake and Lake Vernon. NPS lists Lake Vernon at 19.1 miles round trip and 2,700 feet of gain, against 12.6 miles and 700 feet here.^1,2
• Miguel Meadow (Hetch Hetchy): Miguel Meadow is the third dam trail and takes 9 lottery and 6 week-ahead people. NPS says to use it to camp near Miguel Meadows.¹
• Smith Peak (Hetch Hetchy): Smith Peak takes 9 and 6, is 13.4 miles with 3,500 feet of gain, and NPS rates it Low for demand. It is a climb to a summit, not a walk along the shore.^1,2

Sources

1. Trailhead Information, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
2. Hetch Hetchy Area Trails, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
3. Wilderness Regulations, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
4. Wilderness Permit Frequently Asked Questions, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
5. Wilderness Permit Stations, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
6. Wilderness Permits, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
7. Wilderness Permit Reservations, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
8. Yosemite National Park Wilderness Permits (Rancheria Falls division), Recreation.gov. Read 2026-10-15.
9. Backpack to Rancheria Falls in Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy, Weekend Sherpa. Read 2026-10-15.
10. Trail Report: Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Valley, Earthjustice (May 2010 trip). Read 2026-10-15.

Safety & planning

Alternatives to a Rancheria Falls (Hetch Hetchy) permit