Illilouette Fall
California · 370-foot drop · Yosemite National Park · Last verified 2026-06-26
Today at Illilouette Fall: clear, 56°F.
Right now
Overnight
56°F
Clear
Friday
82°F
Sunny
Today's daylight
Sunrise 5:44 AM · Sunset 8:21 PM · 14h 37m
Other park alerts
- Yosemite Traffic Updates(Information)
Snapshot built 9m ago. Sources: NWS HNX.
Illilouette 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.
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.
A short history
The origin and meaning of the name 'Illilouette' has been lost to time — speculation ranges from Miwok dialects to a corruption of a French explorer's name. The name appears in early NPS records but with no clear etymology.
The trail
4 miles each way, rated moderate with 1400 feet of elevation gain. Glacier Point parking area at the end of Glacier Point Road. Reservation required in peak summer. $35 Yosemite entrance fee.
When to go (from the climate data, not our opinion)
Monthly averages from Open-Meteo's reanalysis dataset (2020–2024). Highlighted months are when we think the waterfall is at its best — but the numbers are the numbers regardless.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip (in) | Snow days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44 | 21 | 6.5 | 9.4 |
| Feb | 44 | 21 | 4.6 | 7.8 |
| Mar | 42 | 22 | 8.1 | 15.6 |
| Apr | 52 | 27 | 3.1 | 5.2 |
| May | 62 | 34 | 1.8 | 3.2 |
| JunBest | 73 | 45 | 0.7 | 0 |
| JulBest | 83 | 53 | 0 | 0 |
| AugBest | 80 | 52 | 0.4 | 0 |
| SepBest | 75 | 47 | 1 | 0.2 |
| OctBest | 65 | 38 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| Nov | 51 | 25 | 2.8 | 5 |
| Dec | 46 | 22 | 7.7 | 10.6 |
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API · ERA5 reanalysis 2020–2024.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illilouette Fall (this page) | — | 370 ft | moderate · 4 mi | N | $35 |
| Vernal Fall | 1 mi | — | — | N | — |
| Vernal Fall | 1 mi | 318 ft | — | N | — |
| Silver Apron | 1 mi | — | — | N | — |
| Staircase Falls | 2 mi | 1,017 ft | — | N | — |
| Nevada Fall | 2 mi | 594 ft | — | N | — |
Side-by-side comparisons
Illilouette Fall compared head-to-head with other documented falls — height, access, fees, dogs, swimmability in one row each.
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~370 ft)
- Middle Wallace Falls367 ft
- Upper Stevens Creek Falls375 ft
- Marten Buttes Falls364 ft
- Winn Falls364 ft
- Giant Falls363 ft
Same best season in California
- Potem Falls70 ft
- Seven Teacups200 ft
- Carlon Falls35 ft
Questions visitors ask about Illilouette Fall
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 Illilouette Fall?
Illilouette Fall is 370 feet (116 m) tall. Source heights disagree by source — see the discrepancy box on the page.
Is Illilouette Fall in a national or state park?
Yes — Illilouette Fall is inside Yosemite National Park. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Illilouette Fall?
No — dogs are not allowed on trails here. Most National Park trails prohibit pets to protect wildlife. Service animals are an exception per ADA.
Can you swim at Illilouette Fall?
No — swimming is not safe or not allowed at Illilouette Fall. Above the falls there are granite-bench pools that locals have used for cooling off in summer — but the lip is unguarded and the drop kills. Stay back. The base of the falls is in a remote gorge with no safe access.
When is the best time to visit Illilouette Fall?
Peak flow is typically June, July, August, September, October. Season-wise: summer, fall. Snowmelt and recent rain affect day-to-day volume.
Is there a fee to visit Illilouette Fall?
Yes — entry costs around $35. Most Yosemite National Park entrances accept the America the Beautiful annual pass.
How far is Illilouette Fall from a major city?
Illilouette Fall is 3 miles from Yosemite Village (about 10 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in California
Where it is
37.7139, -119.5614
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Official land manager
https://www.yosemite.com/things-to-do/iconic-locations/illilouette-fall/
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illilouette_Fall
Wikidata (Q37588)
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37588
GeoNames (5358993)
https://www.geonames.org/5358993/
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-06-26
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