Hetch hetchy yosemite. -- This is one of Yosemite's many backpacking routes.
Hetch hetchy yosemite. Yosemite Valley has the closest backpackers campground.
Hetch hetchy yosemite From November through March, the Hetch Hetchy Road may be subject to closures or chain requirements due to ice and snow. Aug 9, 2021 · The Hetch Hetchy Valley, in the northwest area of Yosemite was one of John Muir’s favorite spots. Hetch Hetchy was then a complex but harmonious aggregation of terrestrial and aquatic habitats. If you’re doing all of the main Yosemite things, such as stopping at Tunnel View or doing the Yosemite Valley Tram Tour, you’ll need to head north and exit the Park through the Big Oak Flat entrance. The entrance to Hetch Hetchy is actually outside of the main park’s boundary and has its own checkpoint/ gate. The sprawling wilderness is full of streams and lakes enjoyed from the beginning of spring to late fall. May 21, 2025 · Hetch Hetchy is located 38 miles, or about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Yosemite Valley. Less than three years lat Apr 24, 2025 · Hetch Hetchy . If you’re camping in Yosemite Valley it’s a 38-mile drive (approx. It’s the same setup as El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks in the main valley, except you have much more space to yourself here. This beautiful reservoir is situated in the northwest corner of the park, approximately 38 miles from the bustling Yosemite Valley. Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Entrance is a bit of an enigma. It remains the only time in U. Apr 27, 2022 · Look to the left to see Yosemite Valley Railroad caboose #15 and the Hetch Hetchy Railroad #6 engine, which operated in the steep terrain just north of Yosemite Valley during the construction of the Hetch Hetchy Dam. 5 hr to hike. Getting Here. The Hetch Hetchy Road begins just outside the park on Highway 120, near the Big Oak Flat Feb 16, 2025 · Hetch Hetchy is one of the least visited areas of Yosemite National Park, and the northern wilderness beyond the reservoir is even less visited. May 19, 2024 · A guide to hiking the 26. [12] If you wish to visit a more secluded area similar to the Yosemite Valley, visit Hetch Hetchy. Discover this 4. Hike Distance: 5. com Hetch Hetchy is a beautiful valley in Yosemite National Park that was flooded to create a reservoir for San Francisco. Wawona and Glacier Point. Hetch Hetchy is a place full of history. Granite cliffs with spectacular rushing waterfalls define Hetch Hetchy, once considered a rival to Yosemite Valley during the late 1890's. Unlike other areas of Yosemite, the road to Hetch Hetchy is open only during daylight hours, from sunrise to sunset. 5 mile loop around Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, a hidden gem in Yosemite with granite cliffs, waterfalls, and forests. Hetch Hetchy: The hidden gem Hetch Hetchy is often considered the hidden gem of Yosemite National Park. February 25, 1910 – After receiving letters from various environmental organizations across the nation, Secretary Ballinger adds a stipulation to San Francisco’s reservoir rights originally granted to the city May 25, 2025 · Hetch Hetchy is located 38 miles (61 km), or about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Yosemite Valley. Highway 120. It has a separate entrance about 1. Jul 18, 2024 · The majority of members (581 to 161) voted that the Hetch Hetchy Valley should remain unaltered and part of Yosemite National Park. Ascending past Rancheria Falls and Tiltill Valley you will hike the rest of the loop through the Hetch Hetchy Valley, Lake Vernon and potential for a detour to Laurel Lake. Nov 18, 2022 · Finding Hetch Hetchy tells the story of Timmy O’Neill’s first trip to Hetch Hetchy. By 1908, a different Interior Secretary, James R. Prior to the dam construction in 1914, the Hetch Hetchy Valley was often compared in natural beauty to that of Yosemite Valley. Contact information: Yosemite National Park. Photos · Map & Driving Directions · Satellite View · Reviews. Feb 21, 2025 · In the past decade, Yosemite Conservancy donors have funded multiple projects at Tenaya Lake to protect habitat and create a pedestrian route around the shoreline. Aug 22, 2023 · Located at 3,900 feet, Hetch Hetchy boasts one of the longest hiking seasons in the park and is an ideal place for thundering spring waterfalls and wildflower displays. It is definitely worth to visit Hetch Hetchy area especially in 2021 when main Yosemite area requires booking permits in advance. The trail is rated as difficult but perfect for all experience levels. When the O’Shaughnessy Dam was built on the Tuolumne River in the 1920s, the valley was flooded. February 25, 1910 – After receiving letters from various environmental organizations across the nation, Secretary Ballinger adds a stipulation to San Francisco’s reservoir rights originally granted to the city In 1921 the Yosemite National Park Company owned the Glacier Point Hotel, the Sentinel Hotel, Yosemite Lodge, a print shop, a garage, a general office building, Hetch Hetchy Lodge, a store, a photo studio, a meat market, the village post office, an equipment warehouse, and a main warehouse. Yosemite Valley has the closest backpackers campground. Distance: 13 miles (21 km) round trip Elevation at trailhead: 3,728 feet (1,120 meters) Total Elevation Gain: 800 feet (240 meters) Hiking Time: 5 - 8 hours Why hike to Rancheria Falls? The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, while providing water to millions of people in the San Francisco Bay Area, also provides visitors with access to spectacular beauty and the wilderness of Yosemite National Park. Hetch Hetchy is located less than 40 miles from Yosemite Valley, and the road that leads to this magnificent valley (Evergreen Road/Hetch Hetchy Road) begins just outside of the park on Highway 120 near the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station. Nov 13, 2019 · This gentle cascade is located at the eastern end of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. The campground is next to the overnight parking area. President Woodrow Wilson signed the Raker Act on December 19, 1913, allowing San Francisco to clear-cut, dam and flood Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park. Go to the Hetch Hetchy Valley in the northwestern part of the park, and one will find a reservoir built in the first half of the 20th century that flooded the glacial Hetch Hetchy Valley. Roughly eight miles along, Evergreen Road reaches a T crossing at Camp Mather. -- This is one of Yosemite's many backpacking routes. You can only get to the area by car. Travel around 38 miles from Yosemite Valley on Highway 120 to the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station. The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is located within Yosemite National Park in California and is often referred to as a hidden treasure. Explore the most popular trails in my list Hetch Hetchy - Yosemite with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Hetchy Hetchy is much less crowded than Yosemite Valley, making it easier to get a wilderness permit for backcountry camping, but you should still enter the lottery 24 weeks ahead of time, or start looking exactly 7 days in advance. The scenery on the way up is Jun 19, 2023 · The Story Behind Hetch Hetchy Valley & Its Controversial Dam Yosemite is not as pristine and untouched as one might imagine. History that a city was allowed to develop a national park for its own use. It is recommended that you have a map downloaded and prepared to navigate off trail. Turn right at the T and you'll reach the Hetch Hetchy admission tollbooth in a little over a mile. In 1938 the O'Shaughnessy Dam turned the Tuolumne River into an eight-mile long reservoir to meet the water needs of San Francisco. Getting Here Mar 11, 2019 · Hetch Hetchy is a 27-mile backpacking trip located in Yosemite National Park in the Eastern Sierra Mountains. Check out this footbridge past Wapama Falls in northwest Yosemite. Kolana Rock punches 5,772 feet into the sky from the south while Hetch Hetchy Dome hits 6,197 feet on the north. You may take easy hike to Wapama falls ( around 6 miles) or even more challenging hike to Rancheria falls ( around 14 miles). The floor of Yosemite is about 4000 feet above the sea; the Hetch Hetchy floor about 3700 feet. No backpackers campground. Hetch Hetchy was one of Earth’s most beautiful places. While a reservation is not required if entering the park on foot, horseback, or a bicycle, these aren Apr 19, 2025 · It's also got a comical name that's fun to say: Hetch Hetchy. See full list on yosemite. This created the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir which is eight miles long and the largest single body of water in Yosemite. If you are visiting Yosemite from the Bay Area, this is an excellent stop on your way in or out of the valley. while the later months in winter can be enjoyed by snowshoeing and skiing. Hetch Hetchy is more than a recreation destination – it is the home of a massive reservoir and the center of a heated Yosemite National Park Service U. iStock / Getty Images Plus "Part of the reason is the distance. The Hetch Hetchy Valley began as a V-shaped river canyon cut out by the ancestral Tuolumne River. 5 miles (8. Some have said that Hetch Hetchy rivals the beauty of the Yosemite Valley and we definitely agree! To begin the last adventure on your Yosemite itinerary, head to the Hetch Hetchy entrance and travel down into the valley to reach the reservoir. This trail is lesser travelled and the trail can be hard to follow at times. Trails around the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir offer great views of the water and the valley's towering granite cliffs. In this case, that means venturing beyond Yosemite Valley, the big dog, and seeing some less famous, but still awesome, places like Olmsted Point and Hetch Hetchy. Most entrances will require advance reservations on weekends beginning May 24 and during the peak summer season, while Hetch Hetchy will be managed on a case-by-case basis. How long is Hetch Hetchy to Apr 10, 2025 · 1. From this vantage point, towering over Hetch Hetchy, hikers have views of Yosemite’s remote north country. The top 1,400 (yes, 1,400) feet of Wapama Falls remain visible above the reservoir and well worth visiting, and the Big Oak Flat area, which is lumped together with Hetch Hetchy for convenience, boasts its own grove of Giant Sequoias. In 1913, in an extremely controversial move, work on the O’Shaughnessy Dam was started to provide water to the growing population of San Francisco. This post describes the permit process, necessary gea May 10, 2025 · Stock image of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir at Yosemite National Park. Many hiking trails begin from O’Shaughnessy Dam and some of Hetch Hetchy’s most beautiful features are easily seen from the top of the dam. Apr 5, 2024 · Hetch Hetchy Road Daily Hours. Discover a lesser-known gem in Yosemite’s northwest corner! The Hetch Hetchy Valley offers delights throughout the year, with towering falls in spring and snowy cliffs in winter. And since Hetch Hetchy is right in our backyard (the Hetch Hetchy entrance to Yosemite is one mile from the Evergreen), it’s the perfect place for a day trip or afternoon excursion during your visit to the Evergreen. 5 - 4 hours Why Visit Wapama Falls? Apr 26, 2022 · The Hetch Hetchy area makes for a great day trip, but it is a bit of a journey from the heart of Yosemite, so plan accordingly (about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Yosemite Valley). Interviews include Interior Secretary Don Hodel, Senator Lois Wolk, Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Philp, historian Al Runte, and conservationists Tom Graff, Nancy Ryan, Ann Hayden, Ron Good, Mike Marshall Situated in the northwest portion of Yosemite National Park, Hetch Hetchy is is a not often visited treasure of the Central Sierra Nevada. The farthest north of all entrances on the west side of the park, the Hetch Hetchy Entrance leads you to one of the park’s quieter areas which only sees 1% of total park visitation. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 31 min to complete. Yosemite National Park is over 1,100 square miles, roughly the size of the state of Rhode Island, and for all its corner-to-corner glory, most visitors do not venture far beyond the Oct 27, 2024 · Credit cards are the only form of payment accepted for entrance fees. Sep 11, 2024 · As the Hetch Hetchy Valley was part of Yosemite National Park, Hitchcock preferred to protect the park’s natural wonders. Timmy has spent three decades scaling the monoliths in Yosemite Valley (and is currently Executive Director of the Yosemite Climbing Association) but, like so many climbers in the park, had never visited Hetch Hetchy. 4 days ago · Explore the Hetch Hetchy Valley. Restore Hetch Hetchy has been often critical of the National Park Service for neglecting the Hetch Hetchy area, but, as a whole, rangers are dedicated to protecting our precious parks so we can fully enjoy and appreciate them. Learn about permits, trail conditions, campsites, and tips for this challenging and scenic backpacking trip. A climb up and out of the Hetch Hetchy Valley leads you through rolling, wooded hills to a beautiful lake bordered by an exposed granite ridge. Learn how to get there, what to see and do, and why it is a hidden gem. The trailhead is just past the Hetch Hetchy admission booth - there'll be a building on the right, and the trailhead is just the other side of it. 5 miles, continuing on Hetch Hetchy Road. May 14, 2024 · Hidden in Yosemite National Park’s peaceful northwest corner, Hetch Hetchy Valley is a treasure worth visiting in all seasons. Hetch Hetchy is located 38 miles (1 hour 15 minutes) from Yosemite Valley May 2, 2025 · Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite Valley are geological twins, carved by the same ancient ice. These decisions appear May 22, 2023 · Location & Hours. S. Nov 22, 2024 · Surrounded by dramatic granite cliffs, Hetch Hetchy Valley offers exciting things to do and see, including hiking the scenic Wapama Falls Trail, seeing the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and exploring the Yosemite wilderness. Hetch Hetchy Entrance. Beyond, there is access to Tiltill Valley and Rancheria Mountain. 1 hour and 15 minutes) to the entrance to Hetch Hetchy, you’ll want to head Jul 21, 2023 · A 5-mile trail (round-trip) leads from the Hetch Hetchy Valley’s O’Shaughnessy Dam to Wapama Falls in Yosemite National Park. Varied trails include something for everyone. This is hike is perfect if you want variety in terrain: you get oak and chaparral forest, aspen trees, meadows, and of course, a gorgeous granite dome-lined alpine lake. Open all year (but only reachable by car from sunrise to sunset). Yosemite Hikes » Hetch Hetchy & Big Oak Flat » Rancheria Falls Rancheria Falls. Hetch Hetchy Road Yosemite can be reached by entering the park by way of the Big Oak Flat entrance, then turning onto Evergreen Road one mile west of the entrance station and, after 7. The road to Hetch Hetchy is closed from October to June. Jul 3, 2016 · Getting to Hetch Hetchy. Like we said, Hetch Hetchy is in the northwestern section of Yosemite National Park. The walls of both are of gray granite, rise abruptly from the floor, are sculptured in the same style and in both every rock is a glacier monument. May 23, 2025 · Harrison Ford tells the unfortunate story of Hetch Hetchy’s flooding and the campaign to return the valley to Yosemite and the American people. And as the Merced River flows through Yosemite, so does the Tuolumne through Hetch Hetchy. Department of the Interior Yosemite National Park Hetch Hetchy Valley Hidden in Yosemite National Park’s peaceful northwest corner, Hetch Hetchy Valley is a treasure worth visiting in all seasons. Muir described Hetch Hetchy’s dominant trees in his 1873 publication for the Boston Weekly Transcript, “The surface of Hetch Hetchy is diversified with groves and meadows in the same manner as Yosemite, and the trees are identical in species. 7-mile out-and-back trail near Yosemite Valley, California. If you enter the park via YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System), or if you only visit Hetch Hetchy, you do not need a peak-hours reservation to enter the park. Hetch Hetchy to Yosemite Valley is considered a hard route with an elevation gain of 4,862 ft, taking an average of 13–14. The reservoir is can be reached by way of California Highway 120, taking Evergreen Road one mile west of the Big Oak Flat entrance station, then the Hetch Hetchy Road, following it 16 miles to the end at the parking lot above O'Shaughnessy Dam. Merced River Trail The old railroad beds along the Merced River make excellent modern-day hiking trails. About one million years ago, the extensive Sherwin glaciation widened, deepened and straightened river valleys along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, including Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite Valley, and Kings Canyon farther to the south. Nov 8, 2024 · Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Entrance Explore Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite Valley’s quieter corner. Parking is at a The majority of members (581 to 161) voted that the Hetch Hetchy Valley should remain unaltered and part of Yosemite National Park. Hetch Hetchy has everything you'd want from a trip to Yosemite: hiking, camping, fishing, lakes, rivers, cascading waterfalls, and stunning views — plus, an expanse of ruggedly gorgeous granite domes and the massive reservoir after which the area gets its name. In 1922 the Yosemite Lodge complex included the main Mar 30, 2025 · The National Park Service has announced its reservations policy for 2025. Garfield, sided with the utilitarian conservationists and issued a permit for the Hetch Hetchy project. Hetch Hetchy is located 38 miles (61 km), or about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Yosemite Valley. Come see 19th and 20th century construction, the effects of water on an ecosystem, and this beautiful and lesser known Valley that John Muir called his favorite. There is no boating or swimming allowed, and there are no Hetch Hetchy was once a resplendent glacier carved valley, with towering cliffs and waterfalls cascading onto a serene valley floor. It's good news all around. Read more about camprounds in Yosemite and see estimated opening and closing dates for this year. A quieter part of Yosemite, the trail to Rancheria Falls provides an excellent starting point for trips into the northern half of Yosemite. Call 209/372-0200 (1,1) for current road conditions. 8 km) round trip Elevation at trailhead: 3,728 feet (1,120 meters) Total Elevation Gain: 200 feet (60 meters) Hiking Time: 2. Hetch Hetchy doesn't require permit, you need just regular National park pass. Map, Driving Directions, and Parking · Satellite View · Reviews · Panoramas. Morale may be at an all time low in Yosemite. The route skirts the edge of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Hetch Hetchy is accessible only by car. Although the road is open all year, it may close at times due to snowy conditions. The gate — which leads to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir — is along an out & back road in a somewhat remote corner of Northern Yosemite. Pioneer conservationist John Muir called it a “remarkably exact counterpart” to the now world-famous Yosemite Valley – 15 miles to its south. 5 hours from the popular Yosemite Hikes » Hetch Hetchy & Big Oak Flat » Wapama Falls Wapama Falls. Hetch Hetchy is tucked away in the Northwestern Corner of Yosemite National Park. There is no public transportation to this area of the park. 10. Hetch Hetchy is located 1 hour, 15 minutes from Yosemite Valley. The Hetch Hetchy Road begins just outside of the park on Highway 120, near the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station. Feb 16, 2025 · Moreover, there’s a human cost. In spring, two of North America’s tallest waterfalls plummet spectacularly over thousand-foot granite cliffs. Oct 9, 2024 · Hetch Hetchy is a nice peaceful location hidden in the northwest corner of Yosemite National Park. (Shutterstock) Leave the crowds behind at this entrance. May 14, 2024 · Hetch Hetchy is located 38 miles (61 km), or about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Yosemite Valley. The trail requires a permit and is best used from May to October. Oct 10, 2024 · From November through March, the Hetch Hetchy Road may be subject to closures or chain requirements due to ice and snow. mrqjlomgslibmdwyakndxxsjpktwiaaxpyfjzbfcuwltxgxtkfbcaff