US / waterfall 3 Yosemite Hikers Presumed Dead After Waterfall Plunge Teams to continue search for bodies By Tim Karan, Newser Staff Posted Jul 20, 2011 2:25 PM CDT Copied Three hikers are presumed dead after going over Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park. (Shutterstock) Three hikers who fell over a waterfall in Yosemite National Park yesterday are now presumed dead. The trio—all in their 20s—climbed over a guardrail at the top of Vernal Falls, lost their footing in the swift water, and were swept over the 317-foot waterfall, say witnesses. Park officials called off rescue efforts this morning but will continue searching for the bodies in the Merced River, reports the Los Angeles Times. Click to read about another dangerous waterfall. (More waterfall stories.) Report an error