Yosemite Falls Gear Checklist

What shapes your gear on Yosemite Falls

Trailhead

The Yosemite Falls trailhead has a quota of 25 people a day, 15 by reservation and 10 first come. Park at Yosemite Falls parking, which has flush toilets in Camp 4 nearby.

From National Park Service: Wilderness Trailheads, Yosemite National Park and The Happy Packers

The climb

The first three miles are steep switchbacks to the top of the falls. One party took 6 hours up to Eagle Peak, six miles one way, and 4 hours back down, finding the descent hard on knees.

From Fun Life Crisis

Water

Hikers report no water on the climb until Yosemite Creek above the falls, though there is a fountain near Camp 4. One writer calls the creek at the three-mile junction the only fill-up on the trail, so some camps are dry.

From Backcountry Emily and Fun Life Crisis

Where you may camp

The park wants camps at least four trail miles from Yosemite Valley and at least one mile from any road, 100 feet from water and trail, on durable ground. One writer says this permit also rules out the rim edges at Yosemite Point and North Dome.

From National Park Service: Wilderness Regulations, Yosemite National Park and Backcountry Emily

Season

The falls roar in early summer. By late summer and fall they shrink to a trickle unless a storm comes through. Afternoon thunderstorms can happen from July into early September, and snow can linger between Yosemite Point and North Dome in spring.

From The Happy Packers and Backcountry Emily

Fires

Campfires are allowed only in existing fire rings below 9,600 feet and 100 feet from water and trail. They are banned above that elevation.

From National Park Service: Wilderness Regulations, Yosemite National Park

What hikers carry on Yosemite Falls

• A rented or owned bear canister

  The rule is firm and hikers treat it as part of the permit. One hiker rented a canister from the Valley wilderness center for a few dollars a week.

  From National Park Service: Wilderness Regulations, Yosemite National Park and Fun Life Crisis

• Enough water to dry camp, with a filter

  With no source on the climb, hikers fill at Yosemite Creek and carry what they need for the night and dinner. They filter it. One writer lists water as filter along the way, another calls the creek the last fill-up.

  From Backcountry Emily, Fun Life Crisis, The Happy Packers and The Modern Female Hiker

• Sun protection

  The trail is very exposed past the first mile. A group that left at 11 am in summer called the heat on the climb brutal and advised starting around 7 am.

  From Backcountry Emily and The Modern Female Hiker

• Trekking poles

  Backpackers on a one-night trip packed poles for the long switchbacks. The descent of rock steps is hard on legs and knees.

  From The Modern Female Hiker and Fun Life Crisis

• Mosquito protection

  A hiker who camped at the top in late June met swarms of mosquitoes and ants at every flat spot and suggested a hammock with netting next time.

  From Reddit r/Yosemite

• A plan for afternoon storms

  The trail is exposed, and storms are possible from July to early September. One writer advises staying away from metal and the rim edge if lightning is close, so hikers watch the sky and keep time to get off the points.

  From Backcountry Emily

• Microspikes in early season or winter

  Snow lingered between Yosemite Point and North Dome on one spring trip, and another writer calls the steep switchbacks treacherous with ice, suggesting crampons or micro-spikes.

  From Backcountry Emily and The Happy Packers

• A screenshot of your permit

  There is no cell service at the park gates, and a permit reservation can let you in a day early when daily entry reservations are in force.

  From Backcountry Emily

Gear questions for Yosemite Falls