How long does it take to hike Hetch Hetchy?
1.5-3 hours
| Rating: | Moderately strenuous day hike |
|---|---|
| Time Required: | 1.5-3 hours |
| Length: | 4.5 miles round-trip |
| Elevation Change: | 400-ft gradual ascent and descent |
| Seasons: | Spring through autumn. (Hetch Hetchy Road is open all year, but conditions may be unpredictible in winter; be prepared for snow.) |
Is it worth going to Hetch Hetchy?
Hidden in Yosemite National Park’s peaceful northwest corner, Hetch Hetchy Valley is a treasure worth visiting in all seasons. Located at 3,900 feet, Hetch Hetchy boasts one of the longest hiking seasons in the park and is an ideal place for thundering spring waterfalls and wildflower displays.
Can you camp at Hetch Hetchy?
Hetch Hetchy Backpacker Campground in Yosemite National Park Hetch Hetchy area provides primitive tent camping accessible by hike-in campers only. Consider and managed as a “back-country” campground wilderness permits are required to camp here. Close to the dam and access to back-country trails.
Can you visit Hetch Hetchy?
Hetch Hetchy is the only part of Yosemite National Park where day-use visitors can enter later this spring and summer without a day-use reservation. Day-use visitors to all other parts of the park starting May 21 will need an online reservation to get into Yosemite.
Is Lake Eleanor Open?
Lake Eleanor Open Space is a 2.2 mile loop trail located near Westlake Village, California that offers scenic views and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and running and is accessible year-round.
Can you swim in Hetch Hetchy?
Water Quality: Swimming and boating are prohibited in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in order to maintain a clean source of drinking water. Fishing: Fishing is allowed year-round in most lakes and the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and part of the year in most rivers and streams.
Can you drive to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir?
To reach Hetch Hetchy, you have to exit Yosemite National Park and re-enter it. Take CA Highway 120 from the park toward Groveland. From the main road, it’s about a 20- to 25-minute drive to the parking area. The half-hour drive to Hetch Hetchy from CA Highway 120 begins outside the park boundaries.
Where can I camp in Hetch Hetchy?
Nearby Campgrounds
- Rancheria Falls Wilderness Campground. 2 Reviews.
- Lake Alpine Silver Valley Campground. 1 Reviews.
- Cherry Valley. 1 Reviews.
- Stanislaus National Forest Cherry Valley Campground. 1 Reviews.
- Diamond O. 5 Reviews.
- White Wolf – Yosemite National Park. 1 Reviews.
- White Wolf Campground. 1 Reviews.
- Dimond O. 4 Reviews.
Where can I camp at Hetch Hetchy?
The Dimond O Campground is located on a mixed conifer forested site adjacent to the Middle Fork of the Tuolumne River. It is the closest campground to the Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park and Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.
Is Hetch Hetchy Backpackers Campground open?
Hetch Hetchy Open all year (but only accessible by car approximately during daylight hours).
Where is the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir?
Yosemite National Park
Located in the northwest portion of Yosemite National Park, Hetch Hetchy refers to a valley in the Sierra Nevada and a reservoir that supplies water to the San Francisco Bay Area. The valley is drained by the Tuolumne River.
Is Emigrant Wilderness Open for backpacking?
Area Status: Open The Emigrant Wilderness is a glaciated landscape of great scenic beauty.
Where to go for a day hike in Hetch Hetchy?
Day Hikes in Hetch Hetchy. Begin four miles east of the Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station (look for small turnout on the right) This trail provides quick access to the Tuolumne River, descending 1,229 feet (735 m) to the river below O’Shaughnessy Dam.
Where is Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite?
In the northwest corner of Yosemite National Park is a valley that John Muir described as “a wonderfully exact counterpart of the great Yosemite.” Since Muir’s time, Hetch Hetchy Valley has changed. It was dammed in 1923 and a large blue reservoir now covers the valley.
How long is the trail from Hetch Hetchy to Smith Peak?
This trail continues past Wapama Falls to popular Rancheria Falls. Smith Peak (moderate to strenuous) 13.5 miles (21.6 km) round-trip; 6 to 8 hours. Begin at Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station. This trail takes you through forest and meadow to Smith Peak, where you get great views of the Hetch Hetchy area.
How did the Hetch Hetchy Valley have changed?
Since Muir’s time, Hetch Hetchy Valley has changed. It was dammed in 1923 and a large blue reservoir now covers the valley. Muir opposed the dam, and fellow conservationists lost a long battle to preserve the valley. An effort persists to return the valley to its natural state by removing the dam.