Waterfalls and Reservoir

Yosemite Valley was almost made into a reservoir in the early 1900s. The Northern part of Yosemite, Hetch Hetchy Valley, lost that fight, and was dammed in 1923 to provide water for San Francisco. John Muir tried to stop the damming of the valley and said it was his biggest disappointment. The Hetchy Hetchy reservoir is about an hour drive North of Yosemite Valley. Two of North America's tallest waterfalls plummet over 1000-foot granite cliffs into the HH reservoir. The area was bright, hot, and glaringly exposed with the granite cliffs.

After walking across the dam and along the reservoir, we picnicked before driving back to Yosemite Valley. Along the way, we stopped to admire more waterfalls and cascades plunging down the cliffs lining the road.

Back in the valley, we stopped by the iconic Bridalveil Falls next to the valley loop road.Read more