Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne |
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The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, looking west. Muir Gorge cuts diagonally across the middleground.
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 Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne
Location in California
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| Floor elevation | 3,957 ft (1,206 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Sierra Nevada, California, United States |
The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne is a really cool canyon in Yosemite National Park, California. It's part of the Tuolumne River valley. This amazing canyon starts at a place called Glen Aulin. It stretches all the way to Hetch Hetchy Valley.
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Exploring the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne
The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne begins at Glen Aulin. This is where Cold Canyon and Conness Creek join the Tuolumne River. Here, the valley walls get steeper and spread out. The river winds around, creating deep pools of water.
Canyon Shape and Plants
After a waterfall at Glen Aulin, the canyon gets even deeper. It looks a bit like a "V" shape. The walls are not as bare as those in Yosemite Valley.
The plants here are a mix of different types. You can see chaparral and manzanita bushes. There are also oak trees, like those found in lower areas. Plus, you'll find conifer trees, similar to those higher up. This makes the canyon look very green and lush. Even though it looks green, this area is actually quite dry.
Amazing Waterfalls
Many awesome waterfalls are found in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. Unlike Yosemite Valley's famous falls, these are on the main river itself. Other streams also flow into the Tuolumne River. Their canyons create deep cuts in the sides of the Grand Canyon. The Tuolumne River bed is like a giant staircase. It has many waterfalls along its path.
One of the biggest waterfalls is Waterwheel Falls. It's about 800 feet (240 m) tall. It gets its name from a cool circular spray of water. This "waterwheel" appears when the river is high and the wind is strong.
A few kilometers below Glen Aulin, the canyon walls get very close. They form a narrow section called the Muir Gorge. This part is less than 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) long.
Just past the Muir Gorge, the Grand Canyon widens again. This wide, flat area is called "Pate Valley." About 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from here, the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir begins. This reservoir was created by the O’Shaughnessy Dam.
Fun Activities in the Canyon
There's a trail that follows the Tuolumne River. It goes from its start all the way past Pate Valley. The trail is well-built, but it can be rocky and steep. This makes it a challenging hike.
The walk from Tioga Road to the Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi). White Wolf campground is southeast of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. You can hike from there to the canyon rim and back in a day. But the climb back up from the bottom is long and steep. The area between the reservoir and White Wolf is wild and has no marked trails.
