Hetch Hetchy Reservoir
Groveland, California
| Address: | Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, California, USA |
| GPS: |
37°56'57.2"N 119°47'6.2"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
Lakes Rivers Waterfalls Streams Trails Rocks Wildflowers Pet Friendly Fishing National Park
Backpack and Hike
Located thirty minutes outside Yosemite Valley, Hetch Hetchy has the longest hiking season in the park. It's home to the O'Shaughnessy Dam and Wapama Falls.
Since the O'Shaughnessy Dam was built in 1978, the Hetch Hetchy reservoir holds 117 billion gallons of water provides drinking water for the Bay Area residents.
Wapama Falls is one of the lesser known waterfalls in Yosemite, but the hike offers amazing views of the reservoir and takes you straight across the dam and through a tunnel to a footbridge at the base of the falls, almost ensuring that you'll get sprayed.
There are several day hikes available in Hetch Hetchy, including Lookout Point, Wapama Falls, Rancheria Falls, Smith Peak, and Poopenaut Valley.
At 7,751 ft, Smith Peak is the tallest point in the Hetch Hetchy area. There are two trailheads that both begin at the entrance. One trail is 13 miles roundtrip, and the other is 16 miles roundtrip, but they are both fairly strenuous.
Many people who visit Hetch Hetchy enjoy the peace and serenity offered there, because there is no boating or swimming allowed in the reservoir. Fishing is permitted, but fishers are not allowed to catch anything larger than 12 inches, no more than two trout per day, and only artificial lures are permitted in the O'Shaughnessy Dam area.
Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don’t feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Groveland, California
- Head northeast on CA-120 E/Main St toward Back StContinue to follow CA-120 E(13.9 mi)
- Turn left onto Cherry Lake Rd/Forest Rte 1N07 (75 ft)
- Turn right to stay on Cherry Lake Rd/Forest Rte 1N07Continue to follow Forest Rte 1N07(5.3 mi)
- Slight right onto Forest Rte 1S02 (3.4 mi)
- Continue onto Mather Rd (381 ft)
- Continue straight (1.3 mi)
- Continue onto Forest Rte 1S02/Mather Rd (2.6 mi)
- Continue onto Hetch Hetchy Rd (1.6 mi)
- Continue onto Evergreen Rd (0.2 mi)
- Continue onto Hetch Hetchy Rd (2.6 mi)
- Continue onto Evergreen Rd (4.8 mi)
Parking is available just before the dam.
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