July 6, 1998

The O'Shaunessey Dam and Hetch Hetchy Reservoir were completed in 1922 for the purpose of supplying water to the San Francisco Bay Area. Even though it has this purpose and use, the area is included in Yosemite National Park. Prior the that time, this "valley" was very similar in appearance to the more well-known Yosemite Valley. An Indian village was once located here. It retains it's incredible beauty -- you can clearly see two large waterfalls from the parking lot side of the dam

Across the top of the dam and emerging from a tunnel built through a granite mountain, a 2.7-mile hiking trail begins along the reservoir's shoreline, leading to the bass of Wapama Falls.

With every turn, new views to distant valleys open up.   Though I didn't take any photos of the trail, I will describe it as being fairly level, paved with blacktop in some non-eroded areas, like a garden path through an intense array of lush wildflowers. Here too, cascades of snowmelt tumble over the tall cliffs.

Here we are at the base of Wapama Falls - an extremely tall waterfall. Again, the mist was very refreshing after that very quick hike in the blazing sunshine. Here we found not only shade but a cool breeze with gorgeous views in every direction. Water from the falls went cascading over a steep rockfield that was about 75 feet across. To give you a little perspective, those are full grown pine trees up there just off to the right of center.

From our sitting spot near Wapama Falls, we could barely see this water fall descending toward Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. As it was getting late, we turned back and explored no further, but vowed to return again soon, and with a better camera! Oh yeah: all of these Yosemite photos were taken with a Kodak recyclable flash camera loaded with Max film. Not too shabby.

Live it again! Go back to Yosemite and Glacier Point

Return to Traveling Home Page or Roxi's Home Page