Wapama Falls

Tuolumne County, California

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: 1,286 ft (392 m)
Location: Tuolumne County, California
Access status: Researched walking route
The walk: 5 miles return
Ground & access: Moderate ups and downs; substantial waterfall mist in spring and early summer.

NPS: Wapama and Rancheria Falls Trailhead

Wapama Falls, CA
Photo credit
Photo: User:Inklein, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Reservoir-shore hike from the dam to Wapama Falls. Expect repeated uphill and downhill sections.

Plan your visit

From O’Shaughnessy Dam, pass through the tunnel and follow the reservoir shoreline trail to Wapama Falls. Return the same way.

NPS explicitly lists 5 miles round-trip and 507 feet of elevation gain for Wapama Falls.

Moderate ups and downs; substantial waterfall mist in spring and early summer.

Where to start

Hetch Hetchy main parking at O’Shaughnessy Dam. NPS documents the main parking area in its accessibility guide and warns that parking can fill at midday on weekends. Access via Hetch Hetchy Road from Highway 120 near Big Oak Flat.

Timing & water

Road open sunrise to sunset. November–March snow or ice may cause closures or chain requirements. Waterfalls can diminish or dry by late summer.

Before you go

Current park entry charges not verified; overnight hikes require a wilderness permit.

Visitor information

Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore California

Waterfall location

Tuolumne County, California.

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