Waterfalls, Lakes and Rivers in Yosemite
Frazil Ice and Snow Cone Formations in Yosemite
Stand on the Yosemite Creek bridge below Yosemite Falls in March and April and you may see frazil ice in the creek and a snow cone under the upper falls.
Frazil Ice on Yosemite Creek
It's like a big slushy machine. Stand on the Yosemite Creek bridge below Yosemite Falls in March and April. If the timing is just right, you may see something that is not ice, not snow, but something in between, flowing down the creek. It's frazil ice, small crystals of frozen mist that form on the falls and wash down the stream making a slurry.
As the slush builds up in areas, it stops and blocks the stream, causing the stream to detour to the nearest, lowest ground. The blockages often look like common snow but don't step on it or you'll go right down into the icy water.
Yosemite Falls Snow Cone
Every winter at the base of upper Yosemite Falls, a mound of snow and ice forms reaching hundreds of feet tall. It resembles an upside-down snow cone.
Yosemite Valley Waterfalls
In no other place in the Sierra Nevada mountains can you see so many impressive waterfalls gathered together in one spot.
Rivers In Yosemite Park
In late spring and early summer, when melting snow from Sierra Nevada peaks thunders down into the valleys below, it's easy to imagine how millennia of erosion has shaped the landscape of the park today.
Firefall in Yosemite Valley Mid to Late-February
The tradition of Yosemite's firefall started in the late 19th century. Today park visitors see a natural firefall every mid to late-February.
Winter Sightseeing in Yosemite
Winter and early spring are the only times to see a pair of fascinating natural phenomena in the Valley. Watch of video of winter moments.
Heroics and Tragedies at Yosemite's Vernal Falls
A hero was made when Alec Smith leapt over the protective barrier at the top of Vernal Falls to save the life of a young boy. Most rescues don't turn out successful.
Yosemite's Less Visited Waterfalls
If you're looking for solitude, there are many more hidden waterfalls throughout the park, which are nearly as beautiful as their valley sisters.
Safety in Yosemite's Waterfalls, Rivers and Streams
Yosemite has many wild waterfalls, rivers and streams, causing visitors who are unprepared and don't heed the posted warning signs to get into trouble.
Lakes in Yosemite National Park
Among the most beautiful natural attractions in Yosemite are its pristine lakes. Favorite include Mirror Lake, Tenaya Lake, and Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.