Parking
Start at Alder Creek Trailhead on Chilnualna Falls Road in Wawona. Mosquito Creek Trailhead on Wawona Road is a different, shorter route to the falls.
Overview
About Alder Creek Falls Trail
Why go
- An infrequently visited 100-foot cascade at the end of a full-day hike.
Heads up
- Very challenging: 12 miles and 2,500 feet of climbing.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Yosemite map
Full mapElevation4,055–5,840 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
4 active Yosemite alerts
- ClosureDome Fire closes Glacier Point Road and trailsGlacier Point Road is temporarily closed because Dome Fire smoke reduces visibility and to allow firefighting operations; some trails south of the road are also closed.Official details
- CautionMist Trail access limited during October repairsThe Mist Trail between its John Muir Trail junction above the Vernal Fall footbridge and the top of Vernal Fall has limited access through October for repair work.Official details
“You're coming up on historic Wawona, where the Yosemite History Center makes a good short break from the mountain roads. Park near Wawona Store and wander among the covered bridge, old wagons, cabins and blacksmith shop.”
Yosemite Tour Guide
Yosemite, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Yosemite National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Yosemite audio tourRecorded for this area
Historic Wawona0:00 / 0:32
“You're coming up on historic Wawona, where the Yosemite History Center makes a good short break from the mountain roads. Park near Wawona Store and wander among the covered bridge, old wagons, cabins and blacksmith shop.”
Plays on the road 0.4 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Yosemite Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Buzz That Frees the Pollen
- Wawona Campground and Picnic Area
- Chilnualna Falls
- The Empty Skin by the Pond
- 125 audio storiesacross Yosemite’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Peregrine Falcon, Mule Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 141 trails, 99 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“We just drove through Yosemite and it made our trip listening to this app as we drove through. Like having a tour guide in the car with you.”
Trail guide
Hiking Alder Creek Falls Trail
A full-day waterfall hikeAlder Creek Falls Trail is a 12-mile out-and-back from Alder Creek Trailhead on Chilnualna…
Alder Creek Falls Trail is a 12-mile out-and-back from Alder Creek Trailhead on Chilnualna Falls Road to a 100-foot cascade. Allow 7–9 hours and expect about 2,500 feet of climbing. The very challenging uphill route through open pine forest suits hikers who want a full day for an infrequently visited waterfall, not a quick stop.
Follow the Alder Creek routeStart at Alder Creek Trailhead and follow Alder Creek uphill to the falls, then return the same…
Start at Alder Creek Trailhead and follow Alder Creek uphill to the falls, then return the same way. Don’t confuse this with the separate 7.4-mile round trip from Mosquito Creek Trailhead on Wawona Road; that is a shorter approach to the same falls. This route uses the Alder Creek Trailhead.
The waterfallAlder Creek’s 100-foot cascade is the payoff.
Alder Creek’s 100-foot cascade is the payoff. It’s fullest in spring and early summer, when the water runs strongest. The infrequently visited falls make the most sense as the destination for a long day, rather than as a quick detour.
Plan your water and petsThere is no drinking water on Wawona trails, and pets aren’t allowed on this route.
There is no drinking water on Wawona trails, and pets aren’t allowed on this route. The distance and climb make this a demanding day; choose it for that commitment as much as for the falls.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Yosemite
732 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
1,747 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
332 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
11 sightingsPeregrine FalconMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
276 sightingsPikaMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
677 sightingsYellow-bellied MarmotMost seen around 8 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Yosemite. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
