Hetch Hetchy
Hetch Hetchy Valley
The “second Yosemite Valley,” drowned beneath a reservoir. With fewer visitors, you can see two large waterfalls along the dam and lakeshore trails.
Hetch Hetchy lies in the northwest corner of the park, about an hour's drive from the Big Oak Flat entrance. The O'Shaughnessy Dam, completed in 1923, turned the valley into a reservoir supplying water to San Francisco. John Muir strongly opposed the project. From the dam, go through the tunnel and follow the lakeshore trail about 4 km to Wapama Falls, which carries a large volume of water in spring. Along the way you can also see Tueeulala Falls. Swimming and boating are prohibited on the reservoir, and the road is open only during the day.
Opening hours
Road open daytime (hours vary by season)
Nearby sights
- Tunnel View
- Valley View (Gates of the Valley)
- El Capitan
- Yosemite Falls
- Bridalveil Fall
- Horsetail Fall (Firefall)
- Yosemite Village & Ansel Adams Gallery
- The Ahwahnee