Yosemite National Park, CA
A short paved walk to the base of Bridalveil Fall.
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
“Bridalveil Fall is coming up, a drop of six hundred and twenty feet that you can get close to without a long hike. From the main parking lot, allow about twenty minutes for the paved half-mile round trip.”
Yosemite Tour Guide
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 trailhead
Bridalveil Fall“Bridalveil Fall is coming up, a drop of six hundred and twenty feet that you can get close to without a long hike. From the main parking lot, allow about twenty minutes for the paved half-mile round trip.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Yosemite Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“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
Bridalveil Fall Trail is a paved out-and-back from Bridalveil Fall Parking Area to the base of a 620-foot waterfall. It is 0.5 mile round trip with about 80 feet of climbing; allow about 20 minutes. If you want an up-close waterfall without giving a big chunk of the day to a hike, this is an easy stop.
The paved path climbs gently through trees to the viewing area. The western route to the base is wheelchair accessible. This is a short approach rather than a loop, so you return the way you came. Bridalveil Fall is often the first waterfall you see as you enter Yosemite Valley.
The fall flows year-round and usually peaks in May. In spring and early summer, spray can soak you and sometimes makes the very end hard to reach. At lower flow, the water can break into the light, swaying stream the fall is known for. Winter brings a different problem: the paved path can be icy and very slick.
The rocks and boulders above the viewing platform are slippery even when dry. Stay on the paved trail; scrambling above it has caused serious injuries.
Start at Bridalveil Fall Parking Area, reached from Wawona Road (Highway 41) or Southside Drive. The lot often fills quickly in summer, and entering or leaving can back up. Restrooms are in the lot, but there is no drinking water or shuttle service to the area. Leashed pets are allowed.
Wildlife
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.
Keep exploring
ModerateArtist Point Trail2.2 mi · 1.5 hr · 1.4 mi awayA quieter perch beyond Tunnel View, reached along the old stagecoach road.
ChallengingStanford Point Trail7.6 mi · 6 hr · 1.4 mi awayA steep south-rim climb ends at a granite valley overlook.
ModerateInspiration Point Trail2.6 mi · 2 hr · 1.4 mi awayA steep climb to a quieter Yosemite Valley viewpoint
ChallengingFour Mile and Panorama Loop16.7 mi · 10.5 hr · 2.9 mi awayA full-day Yosemite loop from Four Mile to Glacier Point and back.
ChallengingFour Mile Trail4.8 mi · 3.5 hr · 2.9 mi awayClimb Yosemite’s south wall for a broader view of the Valley.
EasySentinel Meadow and Cook's Meadow Loop2.3 mi · 1.5 hr · 3.1 mi awayTwo meadows, river bridges, and a Half Dome view in one walk.
ChallengingYosemite Point Trail8.8 mi · 8 hr · 3.2 mi awayClimb past Yosemite Falls for Half Dome and Lost Arrow Spire.
EasyTurtleback Dome Trail1.2 mi · 1 hr · 3.2 mi awayA short climb ends on granite above Yosemite Valley.
Sight · 0.2 mi awayBridalveil FallA 620-foot fall up close, with a short paved approach.
Sight · 0.6 mi awayValley ViewGranite cliffs and Bridalveil Fall framed across the Merced River.
Sight · 0.9 mi awayDewey PointEl Capitan anchors a far-reaching view from the granite rim.
Sight · 1 mi awayEl Capitan MeadowA 3,000-foot wall, dotted with tiny climbers.
Sight · 1.4 mi awayTunnel ViewThe valley opens in one huge panorama beyond the tunnel.
Beach · 1.5 mi awayCathedral BeachA shaded picnic with El Capitan reflected in the Merced.
Picnic area · 1.8 mi awayEl Capitan Picnic AreaPicnic tables and February access to Horsetail Fall’s elusive glow.
Sight · 2.5 mi awayTaft PointThe short walk ends at a rim facing El Capitan.Parkwolf’s Yosemite ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
