Most visitors to Yosemite National Park flock to the iconic Yosemite Valley, with its sweeping views of El Capitan and Yosemite Falls. But for those looking to escape the crowds and discover a lesser-known landscape of waterfalls, granite cliffs and alpine lakes, there’s another destination worth the detour: Hetch Hetchy.
“Hetch Hetchy is in the northwest part of Yosemite. Only about 1 percent of people who visit Yosemite go to Hetch Hetchy—that’s only 40,000 to 50,000 people a year,” James Ian, the founder of Parks Collecting, told Newsweek.
Parks Collecting is a website offering detailed guides and itineraries for U.S. national parks. Ian has published nine national park itinerary planners and has been featured several times in the annual National Parks Special Edition from USA Today.
Having spent the past 35 years exploring 83 countries and visiting nearly every U.S. national park, Ian has developed a sharp eye for hidden treasures. He said Hetch Hetchy’s limited access and fewer amenities are part of what preserves its quiet charm.
“Part of the reason is the distance. It has a separate entrance about 1.5 hours from the popular Yosemite Valley,” Ian said. “Another reason is the limited facilities. There are only about 40 parking spaces and restricted activities. There’s no camping, lodging, boating, and fishing. It’s also only open sunrise to sunset.”
Despite these limitations, Ian described Hetch Hetchy as “definitely a hidden gem,” calling it a “mini Yosemite Valley” without the throngs of tourists.
“With towering granite cliffs, stunning waterfalls, and a scenic reservoir, it’s often called a ‘mini Yosemite Valley,’ but without the crowds you find in Yosemite Valley,” he said. “The Wapama Falls trail is a standout—a relatively easy five-mile round-trip hike that gives close-up views of waterfalls and granite walls.”
The region’s history is also a key part of its story.
“The valley was dammed in the early 1900s to create the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which was definitely controversial, but it has created a lovely lake,” Ian said.
Several striking natural features remain a draw for hikers and nature watchers. “Tueeulala Falls, Rancheria Falls and Laurel Lake are also stunning,” Ian said. “There are beautiful wildflowers in spring and early summer, and it’s great for spotting birds, deer, and even the occasional black bear.”
For those planning a trip this year, Ian noted, “Hetchy Hetchy is also the one area in Yosemite that you don’t need a reservation for at all in 2025.”
With Hetch Hetchy being one of his top picks, Ian also pointed out other under-the-radar spots in Yosemite.
“Another area in Yosemite that is much less visited than the main Yosemite Valley is the Tioga Road,” he said. “It’s a stunning scenic drive that’s closed in winter but is also the starting point for several great trails.”
“North Dome has an incredible face-on view of Half Dome without the crowds and there’s a short detour off this trail to Indian Rock Arch, which is Yosemite’s only natural granite arch, with views of Half Dome through the opening,” Ian said.
He recommends hiking to Ten Lakes Basin and Cathedral Lakes for lovers of alpine scenery.
“Ten Lakes Basin is a remote series of beautiful alpine lakes surrounded by granite ridges,” Ian said. “Cathedral Lakes are two gorgeous alpine lakes surrounded by granite peaks, with reflections that rival any in the park.”
Ian also flagged another overlooked hidden gem—Nelder Grove, near Oakhurst—where you can see giant sequoias “without the Mariposa Grove crowds.”
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