To get to the top it really takes a few hours... few hours of ratehr intensive hiking. Just before reaching the top you think to yourself "If I'd known it would take so much time and effort, I would go somewhere else" :) But few minutes later, when you're at the top and turn around to see what's behind you... you simply loose your breath and think "Oh my God. It definitely was worth the effort!!".
When you find yourself on the top you get one of the most astonishing views I have ever seen. A great view over the entire Yosemite Valley. You take a deserved rest next to other hikers and think "why not jump into the waterfall?" That is very tempting since this way you could get back to the bottom of the valley rather fast instead of following the same track for another couple of hours.
But this is a great place, and you can meet lots of nice and helpful people on the way. And you really need to get to the top. Remember, just try a bit harder, just one more step... ;)

Hiked this with a bunch of friends in the spring time as the falls were still at their peak. It was a fantastic hike and the views were great. The paths were a bit crowded, but worth the viewpoint overlooking the valley when we got to the top. You can follow the falls from along the river all the way to overlooking this force cascade over the cliffs. It can get a bit windy at the top so make sure you bring a windbreaker even if it feels a bit warm near the bottom.