Pywiack Cascade

Pywiack Cascade is the largest waterfall along Tenaya Creek. Found at the head of the Tenaya Canyon proper, Tenaya Creek swishes and slides between two buttresses of granite rising on either side of the valley, then slides about 660 feet down a steep incline into a small pool. Because the basin of Tenaya Creek is mostly solid bedrock, it exhibits a seasonal behavior despite possessing a good sized drainage basin. During the spring and early summer months the falls boom down the canyon, with at least one major roostertail exploding into the air during its descent. By August however the creek is usually reduced to a trickle and outside of heavy snow years will dry out completely by the end of September. There is no easy easy way to see Pywiack Cascade up close. The most accessible views are achieved from Glacier Point, some 6 miles distant. It is possible to achieve a much closer vantage by hiking cross-country from Olmsted Point, but the precipitous, unguarded nature of Tenaya Canyon is not terrain recommended for casual visitors.