Get Hetched!

Backpack to Rancheria Falls in Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Valley

Backpacking to Rancheria Falls in Hetch Hetchy Valley Yosemite

Tucked in the northwestern section of Yosemite, Hetch Hetchy is best known as home to the O’Shaughnessy Dam and the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, an impressive (and yes, controversial) water system that delivers drinking water to San Francisco Bay Area residents.

Backpacker in Yosemite Hetch Hetchy

Waterfall on trail in Hetch Hetchy Yosemite

Hetch Hetchy oasis in Yosemite

Don’t let the idea of a man-made lake deter you. You’ll still encounter top-notch valley views on this recommended itinerary for a 13-mile moderately strenuous backpacking trip highlighting some of the area’s best scenery. A bonus: This part of the park attracts fewer visitors than the much more famous valley, making wilderness permits easier to come by. And at an elevation of 3,900 feet, Hetch Hetchy boasts one of the longest hiking seasons in Yosemite.

Backpacker on trail next to lake in Hetch Hetchy Yosemite

Hetchy Hetchy Damn in Yosemite

Backpacker crossing a bridge with a waterfall in Yosemite Hetch Hetchy

Start at the O’Shaughnessy Dam. Cross the bridge and pass through the tunnel to find the easy-to-follow trail along the reservoir’s northern perimeter. Along your route, you’ll have a clear view of the shimmering blue water, the perfect counterpoint to dramatic domes, tall leafy trees, dainty wildflowers, and—count ’em—three waterfalls.

You’ll pass the long and narrow Tueeulala Falls first. At Wapama Falls, around the 2.5-mile mark, linger on the footbridge for an exhilarating close-up of the powerful white water plummeting down the thousand-foot granite cliff. The mist feels so good!

At 6.5 miles, you’ll reach the lush cascades of Rancheria Falls. The wooded area nearby offers plenty of flattened spaces for backcountry camping. Bask on the rocks and take in the view of the falls.

Or if you’re feeling up to it, leave your stuff behind and explore the trail nearby to Tiltill Valley.

The next day return to the Hetch Hetchy Backpackers Campground, reserved for backpackers exploring the area. The road to enter the park at Hetch Hetchy is only open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., so this extra overnight ensures no need to rush back. You’ll be having such a dam good time, you won’t want to be in any hurry.

An overnight permit is required. Bear canisters are required for food storage and a water filter is recommended. Note: Waterfalls are based on snowmelt and are best in spring with good snowmelt. No dogs.

Story and photos by Yvonne Pasquini, @yvonne_pasquini

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  2. Two women on e-bikes at Cass Vineyard and Winery near Paso Robles

    Eat, Drink, E-bike!

    No offense to charcuterie but sometimes you want a full meal while tasting world-class wine. And Paso Robles knows this better than perhaps any other wine region in California. Case in point: Cass Vineyard and Winery, where you can eat, drink, and e-bike!

    View
  3. Jurupa Jamboree

    If you like a short hike with a side of adventure, try the Jurupa Hills North Trail in Martin Tudor Jurupa Hills Regional Park.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View