

Hike Chilnualna Falls Trail
- 8.4 miles - Hard Effort
- 3-5 Hours (Total)
- 2,500 Total Feet of Climbing
- Max Elevation of 6,450 feet
- No Dogs Allowed
The hike to Chilnualna Falls is one of Yosemite's undiscovered gems. And, of course, when I say "undiscovered," I mean in loosely, but in practical terms, this waterfall hike only has a fraction of the crowds that other Yosemite waterfall hikes have. The Chilnualna Falls Trail is in the southern Wawona section of the park, and offers a multi-cascading waterfall, swimming holes, views of Wawona Dome, and beautiful trails. If you've done the big name hikes already or are just looking for something a little more peaceful, the Chilnualna Falls Trail is the move.
- Video and Turn by Turn Directions to Chilnualna Falls
- How On Earth Do You Say Chilnualna Falls?
- Chilnualna Falls Trail Maps
- Where to Park for the Chilnualna Falls Trail
When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.
Chilnualna is pronounced chil-noo-al-na, but some folks say chill-na-wall-na. It's a Piute word for "leaping waters."
How to Get to Chilnualna Falls
The main trail to Chilnualna Falls starts at:
Chilnualna Falls Trailhead, Yosemite National Park, 8154 N Chilnualna Falls Rd, Wawona, CA 95389
Unlike most trailheads in Yosemite, the Chilnualna Falls Trail starts at the eastern end of residential Wawona. There are houses, businesses, and the streets are small. Please drive slowly, respect the locals, and only park in the designated trailhead areas.


The trailhead parking can get busy because there are people who hike to only the lower falls (a 10-minute walk) and folks who use this to do backcountry trips in Yosemite. Even if the lot is busy, your hike to Chilnualna Falls probably won't be.
Gear for the Hike
The trail can get muddy and there are granite sections, so good hiking footwear is a must. And since it's a climb, trekking poles will be helpful. I'd recommend proper hiking gear if you have it, and fitness gear if you don't. There is water along the route but you need to treat it, otherwise 2L should be okay unless it's really hot outside.
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Garmin inReach Mini 2 ( Amazon | REI )
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Alpine Carbon Cork Poles ( REI | Amazon )
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Chilnualna Falls Trail Maps
The Chilnualna Falls Trail has been around since the Wawona Hotel was built in 1876, so it's pretty well-established and easy to follow. I'm sure that plenty of people do the hike without any maps, but having a map and GPX loaded on your GPS will help.
If you go off-trail at the falls, know that people fall, get hurt, and can easily die. The parks service has an article on someone who had to be evacuated from Chilnualna Falls. Take it seriously.
Explore Map on CalTopoView a Printable PDF Hike MapDownload the Hike GPX File
Best Smartphone Apps to Navigate: AllTrails | GaiaGPS | OnX
Elevation Profile

3d Map

Chilnualna Falls Hike Directions
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This beginning stretch of the hike has some use trails over to backcountry camp areas on Chilnualna Creek.












Want to have a great day hiking around Wawona? Hike the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias at sunrise, have brunch at the Wawona Hotel, and then work it off on this hike to Chilnualna Falls.
Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.