Backyard Destinations

Sometimes, rewarding views come with challenging hikes.

That’s not the case for Bridalveil Fall at Yosemite National Park.

Bridalveil Fall is a captivating 620-foot waterfall that involves an easy 0.5-mile hike on a paved path. It takes just a few minutes to complete and you’ll hardly break a sweat before arriving right in front of the waterfall.

Bridalveil Fall is located in Yosemite Valley, so it can get crowded. I did this hike in the fall sometime in the late morning and when I arrived at the trailhead, there were a good number of cars already in the parking lot. I didn’t have any trouble finding a spot, but I was still slightly surprised that there were that many cars there already. If you’re visiting Yosemite during a busy season, I’d recommend going earlier in the morning to beat crowds.

Along the trail, I ran into a lot of people along the way, both those heading to the waterfall and those coming back from it. What’s nice about this trail, though, is that because it’s easy and paved, the trail is ideal for a wide range of ages and fitness levels.

It’s also nice to make stops during the hike to just indulge in the beautiful, natural environment.

When you finally arrive at the waterfall, take a couple of minutes to take it all in. Getting a photo with the waterfall in the background may be challenging because people do hang around at the end. I had some trouble doing that even though it wasn’t a particularly busy season when I went.

I saw Bridalveil Fall while California was still suffering from a drought, so it wasn’t a raging waterfall. Still, I thought it was a worthwhile trek to see. If you go when California has had more rain, it’ll definitely be even more worth your while 🙂

For more information on the Bridalveil Fall Trail, click here.