Three Chute Falls sits inside Yosemite National Park, so the walk in comes with the park around it: marked trails, signed junctions and, usually, other things worth a stop on the same day.
It is also one of the few falls we can link to a live USGS stream gauge, so you can check how much water is coming down before you leave home.
The draw here is the moment the sound reaches you before the water does. People plan whole days around falls like Three Chute Falls: a walk through the woods, cold spray at the base, and a quiet spot to sit for a while.
Geology and background
What makes Three Chute Falls special
Three Chute Falls is one of Tenaya Creek’s drops in Yosemite National Park, California. The record gives the creek and the park, and no height: no figure is listed, and none has passed a source check, so this page prints none. The name is the most descriptive thing on the page, and the fall itself is easy to miss among its louder neighbours.
Those neighbours are the draw. Silver Apron is 2.3 miles away and Vernal Fall 2.3 miles away, with Pywiack Cascade 3.0 miles away, so Three Chute Falls sits in the middle of the valley’s waterfall country. It works as one stop on a walk that takes in several falls, not as a destination on its own.
A stream gauge is linked on this page, which is the most useful thing on it for planning. Tenaya Creek runs on snowmelt, so check the live flow before you go and let the gauge tell you whether the creek is running.
Use the coordinates, not the name, to navigate. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Prices and passes
Entry fee: $35.
Best time and crowds
A stream gauge is linked on this page: check the live flow before you go. Tenaya Creek runs on snowmelt, so expect the most water in spring and early summer, and the least late in the year.
Yosemite Valley is at its busiest in late spring and summer. An early start is the best way to beat the parking lots and have the creek to yourself.
Safety
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury. Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle. In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes: leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
A bag to pack out trash
Practical tips
Check the live gauge before you go: snowmelt flow is what makes this fall.
Pair it with Vernal Fall, 2.3 miles away.
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Check the Yosemite National Park page on the day for closures and entry requirements.
A waterfall is a stream caught in the middle of reshaping its valley. The plunge pool at the base is scoured out by falling water and the stones it carries, and the lip retreats a little with every flood.
Water flow and seasons
The stream that feeds Three Chute Falls is tracked by USGS gauge 11264500. A reading well above the seasonal median means a fuller fall, and usually a wetter, muddier trail.
Flow tends to peak in spring with snowmelt and seasonal rain, and again for a day or two after a big storm. By late summer smaller falls can drop to a thin ribbon.
We do not have a trail length for Three Chute Falls yet. Some falls are a few steps from a parking area, others take a real hike, so check the park or a trail app before you set out.
Swimming is not listed. Treat the plunge pool as off-limits unless signs say otherwise: the water at the base is colder and stronger than it looks.
Facilities and amenities
Facilities depend on Yosemite National Park: larger parks usually have a signed trailhead, restrooms and a parking area, while smaller reserves may have none of these.
Plan as if there is no drinking water and no phone signal at the falls themselves. Use the restroom and fill your bottles before you start walking.
Fees, permits, and opening hours
An entry fee of $35.00 is listed. Fees change, and some parks charge per vehicle rather than per person, so confirm before you go.
Most falls are reachable from dawn to dusk. Gates, seasonal road closures and timed-entry permits are the usual surprises, so check the managing agency on the day.
How to get to Three Chute Falls
Three Chute Falls is in Yosemite National Park, California. For the last stretch, navigate by coordinates (37.7594, -119.5299) rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream.
The final approach is usually the hardest part: narrow roads, small trailhead lots that fill early, and a walk that can be ten minutes or several hours. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Our California waterfalls page maps every fall in the state, which helps when you are planning a route.
For the fullest flow, visit Three Chute Falls in spring or within a couple of days of heavy rain. For easier footing and warmer air, early summer is the compromise.
Light matters for photos: the base of a fall is often in shade by midday, and an overcast day evens out the bright water against dark rock.
Crowds and timing
Weekday mornings are the quietest. On summer weekends, popular falls can fill their parking by mid-morning, and the viewpoint becomes a queue.
Holiday weekends and the first warm days of spring are the busiest of all. If the lot is full, do not park on the road shoulder: it is the most common reason for tickets and towing at trailheads.
How long to spend there
Without a listed trail length, plan for half a day: enough time to find the trailhead, walk in, spend an hour at the water and walk out without rushing.
If there are other falls nearby, they are often on the same road or trail system. Two or three in a day is very doable.
Where to stay near Three Chute Falls
We do not recommend specific places to stay. The links below search for hotels and campgrounds around Three Chute Falls on Google Maps, so you can compare drive times from the trailhead.
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury.
Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle.
Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs. Only swim where it is allowed.
In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes. Leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
Leave no trace: pack out trash, stay off fragile moss and plants, and keep drones grounded where they are banned.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
Cash for parking
A bag to pack out trash
Practical visitor tips
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet: spray reaches further than you expect.
Keep your phone in a zip bag near the base.
Pack out everything, including food scraps.
Tell someone where you are going if the trail is long or remote.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Three Chute Falls, California located?
Three Chute Falls is in Yosemite National Park, California. Its GPS coordinates are 37.7594, -119.5299.
What kind of waterfall is Three Chute Falls, California?
Its form (plunge, cascade, horsetail and so on) is not listed yet.
How tall is Three Chute Falls?
Its height has not passed a source check yet, so we do not show a number or include it in tallest lists.
How much does it cost, and when is it open?
A fee of $35.00 is listed. Most falls are open dawn to dusk, but check the managing agency for gates and seasonal closures.
Is Three Chute Falls good for families?
It depends on the trail, which we have not confirmed. Check the length and terrain first, and keep children well back from wet rock and the edge.
How do I know if it is flowing?
Check USGS gauge 11264500 for today’s streamflow, and the last three days of rain in the weather panel.
The bottom line
Three Chute Falls is worth a detour, especially after rain. Check the flow before you go, start early to beat the crowds, and stay well back from the edge.
Waterfalls nearby
One fall rarely fills a day. These are within about 40 miles.
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