--- title: "Hetch Hetchy — Explore Arnold | Arnold Haven" description: "Yosemite's quiet half: a granite reservoir, two big spring waterfalls, gate hours to plan around, and almost no crowds." lang: en json-ld: | { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "TouristAttraction", "@id": "https://arnoldhaven.com/explore/hetch-hetchy#attraction", "name": "Hetch Hetchy", "alternateName": "Hetch Hetchy", "description": "Yosemite's quiet half: a granite-walled reservoir with two enormous spring waterfalls, a gate that closes at night, and almost none of the valley's crowds.", "url": "https://arnoldhaven.com/explore/hetch-hetchy", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Arnold", "addressRegion": "California", "addressCountry": "US" } }, { "@type": "ItemList", "name": "Cabins for a Sierra week with a Hetch Hetchy day", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "CHALET BRUIN", "url": "https://arnoldhaven.com/cabins/chalet-bruin" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "KODA LOFT", "url": "https://arnoldhaven.com/cabins/koda-loft" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://arnoldhaven.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Explore", "item": "https://arnoldhaven.com/explore" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hetch Hetchy", "item": "https://arnoldhaven.com/explore/hetch-hetchy" } ] } ] } --- [Skip to content](#main-content) [![](/__l5e/assets-v1/84bf9984-9cf8-406b-aaf5-dbde0a9f8c6a/arnold-haven-mark-white.png)Arnold Haven Arnold · California ](/) [Cabins](/cabins)[Explore](/explore)[Guides](/guides)[Membership](/circle)[Support](/chalet-bruin-future)[Merch](/merch)[Book a stay](/cabins) ![Hetch Hetchy](/assets/hetch-hetchy-reservoir-uMlNPNl0.jpg) Explore Arnold # Hetch Hetchy Yosemite's quiet half: a granite-walled reservoir with two enormous spring waterfalls, a gate that closes at night, and almost none of the valley's crowds. [Check availability](/cabins)[See the cabins](/cabins) First things first ## First things first Hetch Hetchy is a glacial valley in the northwest corner of Yosemite that was dammed in the early twentieth century to supply San Francisco with water. What is left is a long, deep reservoir between granite walls, with Tueeulala and Wapama Falls pouring in from the north side each spring. It is the least visited major destination in the park, and it is a genuinely long way from Arnold — around three hours each way, out and around through Sonora, Groveland and Mather. This is a whole day, or better still a piece of a two-day trip. ![A long deep-blue reservoir between sheer granite walls under a clear Sierra sky](/assets/hetch-hetchy-reservoir-uMlNPNl0.jpg) Geography ## Where Hetch Hetchy sits ![Illustrated antique-style map of California inside the United States with a gold marker on Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in northwest Yosemite](/assets/hetch-hetchy-DSM4UshL.jpg) Illustrated locator map — for orientation, not navigation. A dammed glacial valley with granite walls, and two large waterfalls that pour in during spring melt. Its own gated entrance keeps visitor numbers low; swimming and boating are prohibited because it supplies San Francisco's drinking water. About three hours each way from both cabins — the longest Yosemite drive from Arnold, and a full day. Region Yosemite National Park, northwest corner County Tuolumne County Elevation About 3,800 ft at the dam Nearest town Mather and Groveland, west of the entrance Getting there Highway 120 to Evergreen Road, then Hetch Hetchy Road — a gated entrance with seasonal hours 02 ## The waterfalls and the walk The classic outing crosses the top of O'Shaughnessy Dam, goes through a rock tunnel, then contours along the north shore to Wapama Falls — about five miles round trip on a rocky, exposed trail with modest climbing. Tueeulala appears first, a thin ribbon that usually dries by early summer; Wapama runs much longer and hits the footbridges with real force in peak melt. In big snow years the bridges below Wapama can be closed or genuinely dangerous with water washing over them. That is a real hazard, not a formality — check the National Park Service conditions page before planning on reaching the falls. ![A tall spring waterfall dropping down a granite wall to the edge of a reservoir](/assets/hetch-hetchy-waterfall-XFrvaSXa.jpg) ![A curved concrete dam across a granite gorge with a walkway along its top](/assets/hetch-hetchy-dam-BpEBJNgg.jpg) 03 ## The gate, and why timing matters Hetch Hetchy has its own entrance road with gate hours — it is not open around the clock like the rest of the park, and the gate closes in the evening whether you are back or not. Hours shift by season, so look them up the week you go rather than trusting a number you read once. Because access is controlled, the road is quieter than any other Yosemite corridor and the reservoir feels remote. There is no lodging, no restaurant and no shop at the reservoir; there is a backpackers' campground for permit holders only. Bring everything with you, including lunch. ![A long deep-blue reservoir between sheer granite walls under a clear Sierra sky](/assets/hetch-hetchy-reservoir-uMlNPNl0.jpg) 04 ## Best season Late April through early June is the reason to come: the falls are at full volume and the low elevation, around 3,800 feet, means the trail is snow-free while the high country is still buried. Summer is hot, exposed and waterfall-free. Autumn is pleasant and empty. Winter access depends on the road and the weather. There is no swimming or boating — it is a drinking water reservoir and contact with the water is prohibited. Come for the walk, the scale of the granite and the quiet. 05 ## Where to stay for a Hetch Hetchy trip Honestly, this one is at the outer edge of a day trip from Arnold. Both cabins work well if you want a comfortable base for a broader Sierra week with one long Hetch Hetchy day in it; if the reservoir is the sole purpose of your trip, a night nearer Groveland makes more sense and we would rather say so. - [CHALET BRUIN — 12 guests, 5 bedrooms→ ](/cabins/chalet-bruin) - [KODA LOFT — 4 guests, 2 bedrooms→ ](/cabins/koda-loft) Nearby ## Keep exploring [ ![Carlon Falls](/assets/carlon-falls-pool-D69A1Q-y.jpg) ### Carlon Falls A gentler waterfall walk on the way in, just outside the Big Oak Flat gate. Discover ↗ ](/explore/carlon-falls) [ ![Cherry Lake](/assets/cherry-lake-water-Co1PwT-0.jpg) ### Cherry Lake The remote reservoir north of Hetch Hetchy, reached by a long, rough forest road. Discover ↗ ](/explore/cherry-lake) [ ![Yosemite: where to stay](/assets/yosemite-stay-morning-drive-BN9KTPfn.jpg) ### Yosemite: where to stay Which base makes sense for which Yosemite plan — including when Arnold does not. Discover ↗ ](/explore/yosemite-where-to-stay) Stay nearby ## Cabins for a Sierra week with a Hetch Hetchy day Hetch Hetchy is about three hours each way, so it works best as one big day inside a wider Highway 4 Sierra week. Looking for Arnold, CA vacation rentals? Arnold Haven has two dog-friendly cabins — a five-bedroom A-frame chalet that sleeps 12 and a two-bedroom loft that sleeps 4. Minimum stay is 2 nights, check-in is at 3pm and check-out at 11am. Check-in Self check-in, 3pm Cancellation Full refund 5+ days ahead; holidays 30 days - [CHALET BRUIN — 12 guests, 5 bedrooms→ ](/cabins/chalet-bruin) - [KODA LOFT — 4 guests, 2 bedrooms→ ](/cabins/koda-loft) Check live availability, see your full price, and book securely — ID check and payment are handled by Stripe. Check dates & book Good to know ## Frequently asked questions How far is Hetch Hetchy from Arnold? + About three hours each way. It is the longest Yosemite drive of any gate from Arnold, so treat it as a full day. When are the Hetch Hetchy waterfalls best? + Late April into early June in a normal year. Tueeulala usually dries out by early summer; Wapama lasts longer. Is the Hetch Hetchy road open at night? + No. The entrance has seasonal gate hours and closes in the evening. Check the current hours on the National Park Service Yosemite site before you go. Can you swim or boat at Hetch Hetchy? + No. It is a drinking water reservoir for San Francisco, and swimming and boating are prohibited. ![](/__l5e/assets-v1/84bf9984-9cf8-406b-aaf5-dbde0a9f8c6a/arnold-haven-mark-white.png) Arnold Haven Cabin stays in Arnold, California — minutes from Calaveras Big Trees State Park, White Pines Lake and Bear Valley. 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