Waterwheel Falls

About this place

Waterwheel Falls is an official itinerary area, permit zone, or source-backed named overnight reference represented by a reachable point on the pinned agency trail network in Yosemite National Park.

The marker is a route-access reference, not a tent pad. Move off the trail only where travel is permitted, remain inside the authorized zone, and choose a legal durable site under every current setback and closure.

Water planning

Water at this camp

Natural water at or near this camp area

Availability

Tuolumne River is mapped at or near the camp-area marker. This is map evidence, not a real-time flow report.

Drinking safety

Natural water is not verified potable. Filter and disinfect it or boil it according to the linked land-manager guidance before drinking.

Seasonality

Tuolumne River is classified as perennial in USGS hydrography, but current flow still must be confirmed.

Tuolumne RiverRiver or stream · at the camp areaMapped perennial source — verify current flow · Treat before drinking
Official source

Fire planning

Campfire & stove rules

Campfires prohibited

Campfires

This camp is approximately 7,021 ft, inside the park's current below-8,000-ft restriction zone. Never build a new ring; any allowed fire must be at least 100 feet from water and trail and fully extinguished.

Backpacking stoves

Portable backpacking stoves allowed. Pressurized-gas, liquid-fuel, propane, alcohol, and tablet/cube stoves are allowed. Twig and Sierra stoves follow the campfire rules and are prohibited wherever campfires are prohibited.

Permit

Yosemite does not require a separate California Campfire Permit for the portable stoves listed by the park.

Current restrictions

Yosemite currently prohibits wood, charcoal, and twig fires below 8,000 feet. Parkwide restrictions may supersede every camp-specific result; check the live page before departure.

Seasonal access

Closures & seasonal access

Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road usually close for snow from about November into late May or June

Place closure

No recurring date-based closure of Waterwheel Falls is published. The source-connected approach conditions below and temporary emergency orders still control access.

Seasonal access

Source-connected approaches: Happy Isles Trailhead, Glacier Point Trailhead, Cathedral Lakes Trailhead, and 8 more. Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road usually close for snow from about November into late May or June. Valley, Wawona, and Hetch Hetchy access use different road and gate rules.

Before driving

Road opening and closing dates are condition-driven. Check park conditions and the selected trailhead parking page immediately before travel.

Approach, parking, or service windows

Overnight parking restrictionOctober 15 → Road reopening in spring
Overnight parking is prohibited on Tioga Road and associated lots, and on Glacier Point Road beyond Badger Pass, beginning October 15 until the applicable road reopens in spring.
Official source

Mapped approaches

Choose a trailhead for Waterwheel Falls camp area

Each option has a sourced trail route to this camp area. Choose one to open its itinerary builder with this destination in context.

Glen Aulin Trailhead7.8 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Lyell Canyon / Rafferty Creek Trailhead8.5 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Cathedral Lakes Trailhead8.7 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Murphy Creek Trailhead9.4 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Young Lakes Trailhead9.9 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
May Lake Trailhead11.3 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Sunrise Lakes Trailhead16.4 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
White Wolf Trailhead19.3 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Lukens Lake Trailhead21.1 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Ten Lakes Trailhead22.5 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Aspen Valley Trailhead24.4 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Poopenaut Valley Trailhead26.6 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Smith Peak Trailhead26.8 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Mirror Lake / Snow Creek Trailhead26.9 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Happy Isles Trailhead27.4 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Base Line Camp Road Trailhead27.4 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Porcupine Creek Trailhead27.5 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Yosemite Falls Trailhead29.3 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Cottonwood Creek Trailhead29.7 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Glacier Point Trailhead31.6 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Hetch Hetchy Trailhead32.9 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Mono Meadow Trailhead32.9 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Yosemite Creek Trailhead35.8 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Old Big Oak Flat Road Trailhead40.8 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
South Fork Tuolumne River Trailhead42.1 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Mono / Parker Pass Trailhead42.4 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Chilnualna Falls Trailhead49.8 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Bridalveil Creek Trailhead50.4 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Ostrander Trailhead51.8 mi awayView trailhead Build from here
Alder Creek Trailhead53.8 mi awayView trailhead Build from here

Map

Loading map

Latitude: 37.924661° N
Longitude: 119.452855° W

Sources