Rancheria Falls

Starting from the O'Shaughnessy Dam trailhead at Hetch Hetchy, this trail strings together three waterfalls like pearls on a granite necklace. You'll cross the dam itself, pass through a tunnel blasted into the rock, then follow a rolling path carved into the steep north wall of the reservoir. The first few miles tease you with Tueeulala Falls and the thundering Wapama Falls — both spectacular, both tempting you to call it a day. But push past Wapama and the crowds thin dramatically as the trail climbs and dips through oak woodland and sun-baked granite slabs. The nearly two thousand feet of elevation change isn't one brutal ascent — it's a series of punchy ups and downs that wear on you cumulatively. Rancheria Falls itself is a wide, cascading reward that pours into a perfect swimming hole. This trail is built for hikers who want to earn their solitude and don't mind putting in a full day to get it.