Mt. Chilnualna Falls, Yosemite 2025
AllTrails link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/chilnualna-falls-trail
Carpool spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vnajMcme11n-l-hMlkmKCNhJ3mPCta_uzscZuIhAqts/edit?usp=drivesdk
Itinerary:
4:10 Hanit will pick up people from SF near Montgomery Bart Station. Alex will pick up people near Naman's house.
5:00 we all meet Berkeley people at Dublin Ranch Golf Club (right along the way) to rearrange passengers and gear between the three cars. We hit the road for a 3.5 hr drive with no intentions of refueling/charging.
8:30 we arrive at the trailhead. Here, we will do a quick check-in, fill our water containers, and begin the hike.
12:30 we relax at the peak.
2:30 we return to our cars and head out of Yosemite.
3:30 by this point we should have stopped at a charging station to charge the Tesla and refuel as needed.
5:00-5:30 we have dinner somewhere along the return drive. Suggestions are welcome and appreciated.
After dinner, we return to Dublin to drop off Berkeley people, and go to Coliseum Bart Station to drop everyone else off. SF people will return to SF by Bart+bus.
You can expect to be back in SF by 8 or 9.
For those who are curious, Hanit will return the rental car at the Oakland Airport, which is near the Coliseum station. Alex will drive the Prius back to Hanit's house.
The Chilnualna Falls Trail is in South Yosemite National Park in Wawona County. It's an 8.2-mile out-and-back hike with a significant 2,400 ft (730 m) elevation gain. Streams should still be running abundantly (less than it is in Spring time, though). The elevation at the start of the trail is 4,200 ft above sea level, which is much higher than our previous hikes, so we'll get some spectacular views of Yosemite on this clear sunny day. Expect the hike to take ~5 hours round trip, with a one-hour cushion built into the schedule.
Wear good footwear meant for hiking. Tennis basketball, running shoes etc., are less than ideal, but it's your call.
It's forecasted high of 91 F (32 C) with low humidity, slight breeze, and a very high UV index! With such hot weather please dress light, consider wearing a hat, and expect to sweat a lot! Pack spare socks since we will cross a few streams. Also consider taking a dip in the pond if there's enough water. Thankfully, this trail is well shaded, with many stretches of respite from the sun throughout the hike.
Positive note from Hanit: I've generally had good luck with poison plants and insects on this trail.
Food and water provisions:
Come with a good water container that's comfortable to hike with. We will have plenty extra water and dry trail food for people to refill, so your container needn't be big.
Warning: PLEASE EAT A REAL BREAKFAST! A good dinner the night before is also advisable.