Pywiack Cascade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pywiack Cascade |
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| Location | Yosemite National Park, California |
| Coordinates | 37°47′14″N 119°29′20″W / 37.78722°N 119.48889°W |
| Type | Horsetail |
| Total height | 600 ft (180 m) |
| Number of drops | 1 |
| Watercourse | Tenaya Creek |
| Average flow rate |
120 cu ft/s (3.4 m3/s) |
The Pywiack Cascade is a beautiful waterfall located in Yosemite National Park in California. It flows down Tenaya Creek, which is a stream that starts from Tenaya Lake. This waterfall is special because it slides over smooth, steep granite rocks.
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About Pywiack Cascade
The Pywiack Cascade is a type of waterfall called a 'horsetail'. This means its water stays in contact with the rock as it flows down. It drops about 600 feet (180 m). That's like a 60-story building! The water flows over a very steep, solid granite surface.
Right below the main waterfall, there is a smaller drop. After that, the creek flows over a pile of broken rocks called talus. Then, it plunges over another large waterfall. Not much farther downstream, you'll find Three Chute Falls. Its waters eventually reach Mirror Lake and then the Merced River in Yosemite Valley.
When to See the Waterfall
The amount of water in Pywiack Cascade changes a lot during the year. It is a highly seasonal waterfall. It usually flows very strongly in the spring and early summer. This is when snow from the mountains melts. By late summer or mid-autumn, it often shrinks to just a small trickle.
How to View Pywiack Cascade
You can see this amazing waterfall from places like Glacier Point. You can also hike about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Olmsted Point to get a view. However, the area around the waterfall in Tenaya Canyon is very rugged and dangerous. It is not safe to try and reach the waterfall on foot.
Other Waterfalls Nearby
To the right of Pywiack Cascade, there is another waterfall. This one is called an ephemeral waterfall. This means it only appears for a short time, usually after heavy rain or snowmelt. This temporary waterfall has very little water. But it is much taller than Pywiack Cascade. It tumbles down a steep granite cliff.
What Does "Pywiack" Mean?
The name "Pywiack" comes from the native language of the area. It means "glistening rocks." The native people used this name for both the creek and Tenaya Lake. They chose this name because there are many shiny, smooth rocks in the upper Tenaya basin. These rocks were polished by glaciers long ago. The name "Pywiack" has also been given to a nearby rock formation called Pywiack Dome.
