Is swimming allowed at The Cascades?

No, swimming is not allowed at The Cascades.

Nearby gauge (Merced River A Pohono Bridge) · 26 ft³/s · About average

The Cascades

Q: Are dogs allowed at The Cascades?

Yes, dogs are allowed at The Cascades. Leashed pets are allowed in Yosemite's developed areas and on fully paved roads and sidewalks, but not on trails, in meadows, or in waterways.

California • Yosemite National Park

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Also For 3 other waterfalls also named The Cascades, see below

Photo Credits (5)

Udo S CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 · Flickr

CaptSpaulding CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 · Flickr

Rob DeGraff CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 · Flickr

davidseibold CC BY-NC 2.0 · Flickr

Landscape and Travel CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

Difficulty

Drive Up

About The Cascades

The Cascades is a series of falls on Cascade Creek, joined by Tamarack Creek, that drops a bit over 600 feet from near Big Oak Flat Road to just above Highway 140 (El Portal Road), about 2 miles west of Yosemite Valley. The lower falls are seen from a roadside viewing area at their base along Highway 140, and the upper tiers are visible from a pullout on Highway 41 across from Turtleback Dome. Flow is strongest in spring and drops sharply by late summer.

The Setting

The Cascades sits at 4,144 feet within Yosemite National Park, in the mountains of California.

Nearby Falls Worth Visiting

Ribbon Fall (1612 ft) lies 3.6 miles to the east. Also nearby: Bridalveil Fall (620 ft, 3.7 mi) and Silver Strand Falls (574 ft, 2.8 mi).

Ribbon Fall Bridalveil Fall Silver Strand Falls

Trail & Hike Details

The Approach

No hiking required. The Cascades is accessible by vehicle with a roadside viewing area.

Trail Description

There is no hike; the lower falls are viewed from the roadside viewing area and parking along Highway 140, near the Cascades picnic area. There is no sanctioned route up to the upper tiers.

What to Expect

Dogs are welcome.

Accessibility

This waterfall is viewable from a vehicle-accessible area. No hiking is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at The Cascades?

✅ Dogs are allowed
Leashed pets are allowed in Yosemite's developed areas and on fully paved roads and sidewalks, but not on trails, in meadows, or in waterways.

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🤑 Fee: $35.00

🏊 Is There Swimming at The Cascades?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Spring and early summer are the best times to visit, as the waterfall is typically at its fullest due to snowmelt.

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited. Check with Yosemite National Park for current conditions.

Safety Information

Do not climb on the wet granite or try to scramble up the creek; the rock is slick and the creek is swift in spring.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 2 hours ago Barely Flowing

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Merced River A Pohono Bridge, 2.7 miles away, not on The Cascades's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

26 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

About average for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

18 26 115 238

Based on 110 years of record

1.20 ft

Water depth at gauge

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

Flow is about average for this time of year.

About This Gauge

MERCED R A POHONO BRIDGE NR YOSEMITE CA

USGS 11266500

2.7 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 321 sq mi

Altitude: 3,865 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge MERCED R A POHONO BRIDGE NR YOSEMITE CA (4 km away).

High confidence

Barely Flowing right now

26 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Barely Flowing

26 cfs

5/10

Tomorrow

Barely Flowing

26 cfs

5/10

Fri

Low

30 cfs

3/10

Sat

Low

31 cfs

4/10

Sun

Low

31 cfs

4/10

Mon

Low

33 cfs

4/10

Tue

Barely Flowing

33 cfs

5/10

Best window: Today — barely flowing flow, sunny (trip score 5/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from early April to early July, peaking in May.

How we calculate this

This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Foresta hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is The Cascades Frozen?

Updated about 10 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

The Cascades is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 64°F to 48°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 26 ft³/s

Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.

Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail.

Weather Forecast

The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR

Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.

Along the line through the falls, the bare ground drops about 656 feet, most of it in one sheer step, the signature of a plunge waterfall. The ground at the falls is roughly 4,112 feet above sea level.

The whole reach is steep: about 199 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the falls and another 463 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face southeast and catch soft morning light.

Aerial photo of the same ground around The Cascades near Foresta, California, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around The Cascades near Foresta, California, showing about 656 feet of drop, a single sheer drop, facing southeast

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 4,112 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 656 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: Southeast; Catches soft morning light.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading southeast).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Getting There

The viewing area is on Highway 140 (El Portal Road) inside Yosemite National Park, about 3 miles east of the Arch Rock entrance and roughly 1.7 miles west of the junction with Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120). For the upper falls, use the pullout on Highway 41 across from Turtleback Dome.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Parking

Park in the roadside lot at the Cascades viewing area on Highway 140.

Elevation

4,144 feet above sea level

Coordinates

37.726871° N, -119.712949° W

Visitor Tips & Gear

Combine the stop with nearby Wildcat Falls, also along Highway 140. Spring brings the most water.

Where to Stay

Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby

Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses

RV Rentals Outdoorsy

Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Nearby Campground

Bridalveil Creek Campground

6.8 miles away · 110 sites

Reservable

Overview Bridalveil Creek Campground is closed for the 2025 season.Staying at Bridalveil Creek Campground requires reservations. There are no first come, first served sites available.Bridalveil Creek is located in breathtaking Yosemite National Park in Central California's rugged Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. The site is situated on Glacier Point Road at an elevation of 7,200 feet, 26 miles from Yosemite Valley. Within Yosemite, visitors can gaze upon waterfalls, sheer granite cliffs, deep valley

Book on Recreation.gov