2015 Map of Falls Ridge

About this map

Yosemite National Park occupies the heart of this 2015 study, dominated by the dramatic descent of the Tuolumne River through the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River. The landscape is defined by its verticality, where the river drops through a series of major cascades including Waterwheel Falls, Le Conte Falls, and California Falls. To the southeast, the high-altitude hub of Tuolumne Meadows marks a significant transition in terrain near Pothole Dome and the intersection with Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Rd. Long-distance transit through this high Sierra Nevada environment is centered on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which winds past Glen Aulin and through the deep corridor of Cold Canyon. From the heights of Tuolumne Peak to the depths of Matterhorn Canyon, the map illustrates the complex drainage systems of Cathedral Cr and Return Cr that feed the Tuolumne watershed.