Hidden Yosemite Gem Worth The Detour

Yosemite National Park is one of our most iconic national parks, not to mention one of the most popular, with 4 million visitors in 2024 alone. But here’s something interesting: more than 70% of those visitors all head to the same part of the park, leaving another top-tier destination pleasantly unpopulated. In fact, it only receives about 1% of Yosemite visitors!

Meet Hetch Hetchy, a reservoir and valley located in the glacial Hetch Hetchy Valley that is increasingly being hailed as a "hidden gem" nestled in Yosemite's northwest corner. In the spring, two of North America's tallest waterfalls can been seen plummeting over thousand-foot granite cliffs, creating a spectacular show for those visitors who find their way to this wonderfully secluded spot.

A Controversial History

Before 1923, Hetch Hetchy was a valley that was often compared to the nearby Yosemite Valley. In fact, naturalist John Muir, who is commonly thought of as the "father of the national parks," proclaimed it Yosemite's “remarkably exact counterpart." Due to the "U" shape that glaciers had carved through it, the valley was one of Yosemite's most hospitable locations. In 1908, however, the city of San Francisco sought permission to dam the valley and turn it into a reservoir to supply the city, located 167 miles to its west, with drinking water. For five years, congress debated whether to allow the project, which pitted preservationists like Muir against conservationists who argued that water should be used for the greatest good to the largest possible number of people. In 1913, congress sided with the conservationists, and the reservoir was completed ten years later.

One hundred years later, Hetch Hetchy still supplies drinking water to 2.7 million San Francisco residents. It also generates hydroelectric power, fueling San Francisco’s infrastructure and services. On the other hand, groups such as Restore Hetch Hetchy call the dam there "the greatest blemish in any of our national parks," and are advocating for it to be removed so that the valley can return from beneath the waters. If that were to eventually happen, one imagines it will become an even more popular part of the park to visit. For now, it remains a frequently overlooked but incredibly scenic gem.

What To Know:

Unlike other parts of Yosemite, the road to Hetch Hetchy is open only during daylight hours. Delays at the entrace station are possible if the parking lot fills. According to the National Parks Service, the most likely time of this happening is mid-day on weekends.

November through March, the Hetch Hetchy Road can be subject to closures or chain requirements due to ice and snow. Call (209) 372-0200 to learn about current road conditions.

How To Get There:

Hetch Hetchy is located 38 miles, or about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Yosemite Valley. The Hetch Hetchy Road begins just outside of the park on Highway 120, near the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station.

Hetch Hetchy is accessible only by car. There is no public transportation to this area of the park. Vehicles and/or trailers over 25 feet long and 8 feet wide are not allowed.