United States · Tuolumne County
Waterwheel Falls
Waterwheel Falls is a waterfall in the Sierra Nevada of California, located in Yosemite National Park. It is the largest of the many waterfalls of the Tuolumne River.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Waterwheel Falls drops over a series of steps on the Tuolumne River, inside Yosemite National Park. It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Tuolumne County, United States. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Waterwheel Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Tuolumne County are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotographyWildlife & safari
When to go
Snowmelt-driven: April to June is the big-water window, and some falls almost disappear by late summer.
Getting there
- Base town Tuolumne County, United States
- Country United States
- Region Tuolumne County, United States, North America
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Waterwheel Falls
United States
Height—Width—
Most similar
La Paz Waterfall
Costa Rica
Height37 mWidth—
Also a cascade waterfall and in Costa Rica
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
We don't have a reliable crest width for Waterwheel Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
37.9267, -119.459
Quick answers
Where is Waterwheel Falls?
Waterwheel Falls is in United States (Tuolumne County), inside Yosemite National Park. The nearest base is Tuolumne County, United States. Its coordinates are 37.9267, -119.4590.
When is the best time to visit Waterwheel Falls?
Peak flow is April to June. Snowmelt-driven: April to June is the big-water window, and some falls almost disappear by late summer.
What can you do at Waterwheel Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking, photography and wildlife & safari. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Waterwheel Falls?
The usual base is Tuolumne County, United States. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Waterwheel Falls
Snow Creek Falls
Snow Creek Falls is a long series of cascades located in Yosemite National Park toward the eastern extent of…
Full guide Yosemite Falls
Tallest waterfall in Yosemite, and among the tallest in North America
UNESCO Nevada Fall
Upper anchor of Yosemite's famous Mist Trail
UNESCO Vernal Fall
One of Yosemite's most-hiked destinations