Yosemite Park planners lay out proposed restoration treatments to improve facilities and the visitor experience as Bridalveil Fall

For many visitors, the first destination they encounter in Yosemite is Bridalveil Fall as they enter Yosemite Valley. Over recent years, besides the frequent traffic jams that plague the Valley on busy days, conditions at the Bridalveil Fall area often result in additional unpleasant visitor experiences.

The site’s vault toilet facilities can literally stink. Long lines can form as those who may have driven for hours wait impatiently to access the inadequate restrooms. The adjacent parking area is not effectively designed, and during wet periods it can end up with one end of the lot flooded. As a result, visitors may have to wade across chilly snowmelt to reach the trail that leads to the Fall (photo below).

During the summer, crowds of people jostle for space on the viewing platform near the base of Bridalveil Fall. And along the Bridalveil Straightaway (below at right), pedestrians dart dangerously back and forth through traffic, while buses often need to back out into lanes in order to exit from the roadside parking spots. Despite its scenic beauty, the existing situation at Bridalveil Fall often fails to meet Park expectations.

CSERC agrees with the Park’s proposal to create a loop trail, expand the main viewing platform, and open up two new viewing sites some distance from the Fall. The vault toilets will be replaced with an attractive restroom facility with flush toilets that will be served by a sewer line extended along the paved road from the north side of the Valley.

The Park planning staff has done an good job of listening to comments and proposing a project with a suite of actions to improve safety and benefit resources. This iconic, heavily visited site deserves the best possible management.