Illilouette Fall
California · 1,250-foot drop · Yosemite National Park · Last verified 2026-05-15
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Sunrise 5:47 AM · Sunset 8:02 PM · 14h 15m
Snapshot built 7m ago. Sources: NWS HNX.
Illilouette Fall is a waterfall in Mariposa County, California. It drops roughly 1,250 feet. Access details and conditions have not yet been verified in person by Fallspots — the data on this page comes from OpenStreetMap and USGS GNIS.
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.
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) | — | 1,250 ft | — | N | — |
| 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 | — |
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~1250 ft)
- Royal Arch Cascade1,247 ft
- Big Heart Falls1,262 ft
- Drury Falls1,267 ft
- Silver Cord Cascade1,214 ft
- Wapama Falls1,286 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 1,250 feet (381 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.
How far is Illilouette Fall from a major city?
Illilouette Fall is 2 miles from Yosemite Valley (about 3 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.
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: 2026-05-15
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