THE EARNEST TRAVELER
One of only three major Yosemite waterfalls that flow year-round. The rehabilitated western trail is paved and wheelchair accessible.
The waterfall most people photograph without stopping at. It is worth stopping at — and unlike Yosemite Falls, it will still be running when you get there in August.
The walk
Free · 0.5 mi round trip · 80 ft elevation gain · Easy
The rehabilitated western trail to the base is paved and wheelchair accessible — a genuine improvement over what was there before. It is a short walk on a gentle grade, suitable for almost anyone.
Parking
The trailhead lot fills quickly in summer. There is alternative street parking a short distance east on Southside Drive, which is the move most people do not know about. Walking a few hundred yards beats circling the lot.
Why it matters more than Yosemite Falls in late summer
Yosemite Falls — the tall one everybody comes for — only flows roughly November through July, and is often a trickle or completely dry by August. Bridalveil is one of just three major falls that run year-round, alongside Vernal and Nevada on the Mist Trail.
If you are visiting in August, September or October, those three are your waterfall itinerary. Everything else is a dry cliff.
Timing and conditions
- Peak flow is May or June, when the spray reaches the trail and you will get wet.
- Afternoon light lands better on the fall than morning, which sits in shadow.
- In winter the surfaces get icy and very slick. The paved trail does not mean a safe trail in freezing conditions.
Pair it with
Tunnel View is minutes away and shows you Bridalveil in context, in the same frame as El Capitan and Half Dome. Doing Tunnel View first and Bridalveil second is the right order.
Spray in spring, ice in winter, and a short paved approach.