Both in Yosemite National Park, 3 mi apart · 3 mi apart
Illilouette Fall vs Lower Yosemite Fall
Two waterfalls in our directory, side by side. Same data we use on the individual pages — height, access, what we know, what we don't.
California
Illilouette FallIllilouette Fall is a 370-foot single plunge on Illilouette Creek, a tributary of the Merced River, in Yosemite National Park. The fall sits in a small canyon cutting into the south wall of Yosemite Valley directly across from Vernal Fall — but it's hidden from valley view, accessible only via a 4-mile round-trip from Glacier Point on the Panorama Trail. Descent loses 1,400 ft; the return climb is the hard part. Glacier Point Road closes November through May.
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California
Lower Yosemite FallLower Yosemite Fall is the 320-foot bottom tier of the three-tier Yosemite Falls system in Yosemite Valley. The full Yosemite Falls system (Upper + Middle Cascades + Lower) drops 2,425 feet total — among the tallest waterfalls in North America — but Lower Yosemite Fall alone is 320 ft. The wheelchair-accessible viewing area is the most-photographed spot in Yosemite Valley, an easy 1-mile loop from the Yosemite Lodge.
See the full page →| Spec | Illilouette Fall | Lower Yosemite Fall |
|---|---|---|
| State | California | California |
| Height | 370 ft | 320 ft |
| Type | plunge | — |
| Watercourse | Illilouette Creek | — |
| Park | Yosemite National Park | Yosemite National Park |
| County | Mariposa | — |
| Elevation | 1783 m | 1402 m |
| Nearest city | Yosemite Village (3 mi) | Yosemite Valley (1 mi) |
| Dogs allowed | No | No |
About Illilouette Fall
Illilouette Fall is a 381-foot (116 m) waterfall on the Illilouette Creek tributary of the Merced River in Yosemite National Park. It is located in a small canyon that cuts into the south wall of Yosemite Valley directly across from Vernal Fall. The origin and meaning of the waterfall's name has been lost to time.
About Lower Yosemite Fall
Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park, dropping a total of 2,425 feet (739 m) from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall. Located in the Sierra Nevada of California, it is a major attraction in the park, especially in late spring when the water flow is at its peak.
Where they are
Dashed line shows the straight-line distance (3 mi). Actual drive time depends on the route — neither pin is the parking lot, so use a map app for turn-by-turn.
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