Wapama Falls, descending from the canyon wall on the north side of Hetch Hetchy, is a sight to behold. During spring runoff, it is impressive even from the top of O’Shaughnessy Dam – 3 miles away. To really appreciate the majesty and thunder of Wapama, however, you need to hike around the reservoir to the footbridges which cross Falls Creek.
At Wapama, the water’s descent is not entirely vertical as it is at nearby Tueeulala and at most of the falls in Yosemite Valley. It twists and turns as its torrents plummet over the precipice. Wapama Falls, sometimes likened to a woman’s braided hair being continually unfurled in a windstorm, is one of a kind and best experienced up close.
Like most falls, Wapama is at its most spectacular during the peak of spring runoff. Unfortunately, the footbridges can be unsafe – 4 people have been swept off the bridges to their deaths in the last 10 years. It is hard to say exactly what flow level is safe, but the most recent deaths occurred in 2017 and 2019 when the flows were well over 1000 cubic feet per second, more than twice the levels during recent weeks in this very dry year.
Restore Hetch Hetchy has asked the National Park Service to ensure that Wapama Falls can be safely viewed in two ways. First, the footbridges should be reconstructed so they are safe – even at high water. Second the NPS should employ a quiet, non-polluting, electric tour boat that would let visitors see Wapama from the reservoir. (Visitors could also be allowed to disembark from a tour boat to explore Hetch Hetchy’s side canyons.)
These recommendations are included in our new report – Keeping Promises: Providing Public Access to Hetch Hetchy Valley, Yosemite National Park. When Congress passed the Raker Act in 1913, it clearly intended to provide park visitors with a level of access to the Hetch Hetchy canyon that is not available today. Improved access will provide additional opportunities at a time when our national parks are more popular than ever.
Restore Hetch Hetchy also believes providing improved access to Hetch Hetchy’s majesty will generate public support for relocating the reservoir so the Valley can be restored while fully protecting San Francisco’s water supply.
If you’ve not been to Wapama during the spring, the video below gives a sense of what crossing the footbridges can be like.