East Snow Mountain Falls
California · 2,200-foot drop · Tahoe National Forest · Last verified 2026-05-14
Today at East Snow Mountain Falls: mostly clear, 62°F.
Right now
Overnight
62°F
Mostly Clear
Wednesday
70°F
Sunny
Today's daylight
Sunrise 5:52 AM · Sunset 8:23 PM · 14h 30m
Snapshot built 9m ago. Sources: NWS STO.
No verified photo yet
East Snow Mountain Falls is a long, multi-tier cascade of dozens of smaller drops in the northern Sierra Nevada. The fall runs only during peak snowmelt and is dry by late July most years. There is no maintained trail and no viewing platform. Best seen at distance from the Donner Pass corridor in early June with a long lens.
East Snow Mountain Falls sits in Placer County, California. It drops along Snow Mountain Creek. The falls are inside Tahoe National Forest. The base sits at roughly 6,888 feet of elevation. Drive time is about 52 minutes from Truckee. Source records come from OpenStreetMap and wikidata:Q5329404 and wikipedia:East_Snow_Mountain_Falls.
Entry is free. Dogs on leash are welcome on the access trail. Parking: No designated trailhead. USFS Road 06 access via Donner Pass.. Swimming is not recommended — extremely cold snowmelt; remote; no formal access Best viewing window: 5 through 7.
East Snow Mountain Falls is a seasonal waterfall in the Sierra Nevada in Placer County, California. At 2,200 feet (670 m), it is the second tallest measured waterfall in California after Yosemite Falls. The falls are a long cascade consisting of dozens of smaller drops.
A short history
Documented in USGS topographic surveys in the mid-20th century; rarely visited outside of small backcountry hiking communities.
The trail
There is no maintained trail. Reaching the falls requires backcountry travel and route-finding.
Compare to nearby falls
If this one isn't the right fit, here's how it stacks up against the closest documented falls. Every column is filterable on the site — not buried in 13,000 reviews.
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Trail | Dogs | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Snow Mountain Falls (this page) | — | 2,200 ft | no trail | Y | Free |
| Weber Falls | 17 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Hackmans Falls | 24 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Loves Falls | 25 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Bassi Falls | 25 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Upper Eagle Falls | 27 mi | — | — | Y | Free |
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~2200 ft)
- Horsetail Fall2,133 ft
- Snow Creek Falls2,133 ft
- Sentinel Fall1,936 ft
- Louis Creek Falls1,720 ft
- Ribbon Fall1,612 ft
Same best season in California
- Illilouette Fall370 ft
- Potem Falls70 ft
- Mist Falls45 ft
- Carlon Falls35 ft
Questions visitors ask about East Snow Mountain Falls
Answers built from our structured data. If a question isn't here, the fact is unverified — we'd rather omit than guess.
How tall is East Snow Mountain Falls?
East Snow Mountain Falls is 2,200 feet (670 m) tall. Source heights disagree by source — see the discrepancy box on the page.
Is East Snow Mountain Falls in a national or state park?
Yes — East Snow Mountain Falls is inside Tahoe National Forest. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to East Snow Mountain Falls?
Yes — dogs are allowed (Tahoe National Forest permits leashed dogs in most areas). Always leash and pack out waste.
Can you swim at East Snow Mountain Falls?
No — swimming is not safe or not allowed at East Snow Mountain Falls. extremely cold snowmelt; remote; no formal access
When is the best time to visit East Snow Mountain Falls?
Peak flow is typically May, June, July. Season-wise: spring, early_summer. Snowmelt and recent rain affect day-to-day volume.
Is there a fee to visit East Snow Mountain Falls?
No entrance fee. Tahoe National Forest is free to access. Some trailheads may charge a parking fee separately.
How far is East Snow Mountain Falls from a major city?
East Snow Mountain Falls is 24 miles from Truckee (about 52 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in California
Where it is
39.2414, -120.4475
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Official land manager
https://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Snow_Mountain_Falls
Wikidata (Q5329404)
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5329404
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-05-14
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