Hiking Yosemite: Chilnualna Falls, Rain and All

I remember Chilnualna Falls in Yosemite for two things: a beautiful lunch spot surrounded by flowing water, and getting absolutely soaked on the way back.

Both belong on the list of things I loved about the hike.

It was spring, and the creeks along the trail and the falls above Wawona were full and flowing. Everything looked green and alive, and the cooler weather made the steady uphill climb a little more comfortable.

We had a beautiful day of hiking ahead of us.

Staying dry just wasn’t going to be part of it.

A Steady Climb Through Spring

The Chilnualna Falls trail starts in Wawona, giving you a substantial Yosemite hike without making the trip into Yosemite Valley.

It also gets to work pretty quickly.

The route to the upper falls is about eight miles round trip, with plenty of climbing on the way up. This isn’t one of those trails where you spend the first half wondering when the uphill is going to start.

You’re already doing it.

But on our hike, the spring conditions gave us plenty to enjoy along the way. The creeks were full and flowing, the foliage was green, and we weren’t dealing with the kind of heat that can make every uphill step feel like a negotiation.

That doesn’t mean the climb disappeared. We still had to put in the effort.

It just happened to be a beautiful place to do it.

I think that makes a difference. When there’s something to appreciate along the trail, the hike becomes more than counting down the miles until you get to the top. You’re still looking forward to the destination, but you’re enjoying the way there, too.

And Chilnualna had a pretty good destination waiting.

A Little Sanctuary Above the Falls

Chilnualna Falls isn’t one waterfall you can take in with a single look. It’s a series of cascades working their way through the granite above Wawona.

Up at the upper falls, that makes for a place worth spending some time.

What I remember most is how much was happening around us. Waterfalls, flowing creek water and smaller streams feeding into it all. There were places to settle in, have lunch and simply enjoy where we’d ended up.

It felt like a little sanctuary.

After a steady climb, finding a place like that is a pretty good reward. You can put down your pack, give your legs a break and let your attention wander around somewhere you worked to reach.

So that’s what we did.

We ate lunch and enjoyed the water, the greenery and the chance to sit for a while. There was no need to immediately turn the accomplishment of getting there into the business of getting back.

At least, not until we looked at the sky.

Lunch Came With a Weather Update

The clouds started rolling in while we were eating.

That’s a familiar Yosemite experience: you reach a beautiful place, settle in to enjoy it, and the sky reminds you that it has plans of its own.

We could see rain was coming, so we started our descent.

It seemed like a reasonable time to head down.

Apparently, the rain agreed.

Before we knew it, we were getting absolutely soaked.

There wasn’t much ambiguity about whether it was raining or whether we might manage to stay mostly dry. The weather had made that decision for us.

The Hike Wasn’t Ruined

Here’s the part that makes me smile when I think back on that day.

The rain added to the joy of it.

We’d spent the climb enjoying a landscape full of water. Now we were walking back through all that green foliage in a heavy rain, experiencing the same trail under completely different conditions.

And it was fun.

I wouldn’t have ordered a soaking when we started that morning. But once it became part of the day, it didn’t erase anything we’d enjoyed.

The climb was still beautiful. That lunch spot was still worth reaching. The falls were still everything we’d hoped to see.

Now we had a very wet descent to remember, too.

There’s a difference between the hike you picture beforehand and the one you talk about afterward. You might imagine the destination, the view and a nice place to eat lunch. Those are usually the things that convince you to go.

But sometimes an unexpected part of the day becomes just as memorable.

For us, Chilnualna Falls came with both: a beautiful place to spend lunch and a soaking on the way back.

I remember the whole thing fondly.

Know Before You Go

The National Park Service lists the hike to upper Chilnualna Falls as 8.2 miles round trip with about 2,400 feet of elevation gain, allowing five to seven hours. The trailhead is in Wawona.

For a shorter outing, the first cascade is about a quarter-mile from the trailhead, reached by a short but steep walk.

This story recalls a spring hike, when the creeks and falls were running full. Water levels and trail conditions vary throughout the year.

Bring water, food, layers and rain protection, and check the forecast and current park conditions before heading out. Give flowing water and waterfall edges plenty of room, and take care on wet granite.

Enjoying an unexpected rain shower doesn’t mean ignoring changing weather. On our hike, seeing those clouds was our cue to start down.

Trail Truth

When I think about Chilnualna Falls, I remember the steady climb and all that spring water. I remember reaching a little sanctuary above the falls and taking time to enjoy lunch.

And I remember getting soaked.

It all belongs to the same good day.

Sometimes a hike gives you exactly what you came for—and something you never would have put on the itinerary.

And remember, the trail doesn’t end here.

So until next time, get outside, take the scenic route, and make a few memories. After all, that’s what the best adventures are really about. We’ll see you in the next edition of Hiking Yosemite.