Lila Thiele

This is not a joke - or maybe it is - I've read on this board and elsewhere that there are certain times of the year where some of the stunning Yosemite falls are just a trickle. Is this true? When does this happen? I've planned a trip there for the first week of October.

Paul Rabe

No joke, simply fact of nature. Yosemite Falls dries out after mid-summer and does not start flowing again till the California rainy season starts. This has been a dry California summer, and it is quite likely that you won't see a drop of water going over Yosemite Falls.

Don't worry, Yosemite Valley without YF (there'll still be Ribbon Falls, Nevada Falls, and Vernal Falls) is still one of the most gorgeous spots on this planet.

J Correa

We went last November and Yosemite is beautiful. The leaves were changing colors, the valley wasn't very crowded so we were by ourselves on the trails and roads a lot, the weather was in the 70s during the day and chilly at night.

foggy

You should still visit, even if YF is dry; As mentioned, the other falls often have plenty of water. If you are a hiker, nevada falls is a nice destination hike. The canyon walls are beautiful even without all the waterfalls. We have had little rain and not much is forecasted before beginning of October.

Shannon

We go every year at labor day, and by then Yosemite Falls is usually a trickle. Bridel Veil falls, though, is always flowing, although some years less than most. Vernal & Nevada falls always blasts water, but you have to hike to get there, or take the 1/2 day or full day mule pack rides to get there. Alternatively, you could drive up to Glacier point and just look down at the falls from that great vantage point. It is always beautiful, as the other posters say.

utahtea

If you're really, really lucky the Sierra's could get some rain by early Oct.

We were in Yosemite last September right after a little rain. Yosemite Falls had a little water but dried up almost to the bone before we left. Bridel Vail wasn't much better. I had never seen so little water at these two waterfalls. Vernal Falls had water but as mentioned you have to hike there.

With our without the falls Yosemite is still beautiful.

Utahtea

Brad

Lila, if your upcoming trip is your first to Yosemite, then you are in for a treat. Worrying about YF is sweating the small stuff, a mere detail. With or without a flowing YF you will be blown away by it. It is to beauty as the Grand Canyon is to scale.