The Annual Hike to Chilnualna Falls

March 26, 2013
Chilnualna Falls
Total distance:  8.2 miles

Each year since 2010, Andrew and I have hiked the Chilnualna Falls trail located at the southern end of Yosemite National Park near the town of Wawona. 

We’ve hiked it in spring, summer and fall.  In July it was hot and buggy.  That year Andrew brought his fishing gear and fished in the creek.  It was the only time we saw wildflowers.

We’ve gone up and back in November when it got dark early making for an eerie walk through the forest; and in April when there was still snow on the ground.  This March was the earliest we’ve hiked it and there was no snow even up at 6,500 feet.

It was a cool, cloudy day as we began the climb to the cascading falls.  You cannot view this  waterfall in its entirety, just a section at a time.  The first quarter-mile of trail was very narrow and rocky.  Granite boulders carved into giant steps led us to the base of Lower Falls.  There is an alternate trail available, the easier pack trail, but we would miss seeing Lower Falls if we took that route.

From Lower Falls, a switchback led us to another narrow mountainside covered with slippery oak leaves and pine needles.  Once these two sketchy areas were traversed, the rest of the walk through the Yosemite Wilderness was pleasant.

The trail ushered us up higher as we walked through a thicket of giant old manzanita, some in bloom.

Stellar’s Jays greeted us with their harsh-sounding squawks as the path wove in and out of the forest and led us through patches of mountain misery (aka bear clover).

Chilnualna Creek was always within earshot.  We crossed over three shallow streams including one with a trickling waterfall right on the trail.

An occasional drizzle fell from the gray sky as we made our way around a series of twenty long switchbacks.  Along the way we were treated with views of Wawona Valley, Wawona Dome, and glimpses of the upper cascades.

We made our way up more steps carved into the side of a cliff until we reached the brink of the largest section of falls.

Before we began the hike, I asked my adventurous son to appease me and not get too close to the waterfall at Upper Falls as he had in past years.  From here the water drops 240 feet.

We ate lunch and then continued the march up more granite steps as the trail once again paralleled the raging creek.

Near the end we jaunted around two more switchbacks to a posted trail junction.  The last cascading section of falls could be seen in the distance.

Although we travel this path yearly seeing the same views, each trek brings different experiences.  I am blessed to share this time with my son before he moves on in life, or I get too old to do the hike up 2,300 feet.