Ribbon Fall
California · 1,612-foot drop · Yosemite National Park · Last verified 2026-05-15
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Snapshot built 3d ago. Sources: NWS HNX.
Ribbon Fall is a waterfall in Mariposa County, California. It drops roughly 1,612 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.
Ribbon Fall, located in Yosemite National Park in California, flows off a cliff on the west side of El Capitan and is the longest single-drop waterfall in North America. The fall is fed by melting winter snow and the peak amount of water flow is during the months of May to June; while therefore dry for much of the year, the fall is a spectacular 1,612 feet in the spring. In exceptional years, an ice cone develops at its base during the winter months similar to that which usually forms beneath Upper Yosemite Fall. This deposit can reach a depth of 200 feet, versus 322 feet for the greatest depth of the ice cone beneath the Upper Fall and Lower Fall.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ribbon Fall (this page) | — | 1,612 ft | — | N | — |
| Horsetail Fall | 1 mi | 2,133 ft | — | N | — |
| Bridalveil Fall | 1 mi | 620 ft | — | N | — |
| Silver Strand Falls | 2 mi | 574 ft | — | N | — |
| Sentinel Fall | 3 mi | 1,936 ft | — | N | — |
| Lower Yosemite Fall | 3 mi | 2,425 ft | — | N | — |
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~1612 ft)
- Louis Creek Falls1,720 ft
- Bridal Veil Falls-Mine Cascade1,291 ft
- Sentinel Fall1,936 ft
- Wapama Falls1,286 ft
- Drury Falls1,267 ft
Questions visitors ask about Ribbon 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 Ribbon Fall?
Ribbon Fall is 1,612 feet (491.4 m) tall. Height is sourced from OSM.
Is Ribbon Fall in a national or state park?
Yes — Ribbon Fall is inside Yosemite National Park. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Ribbon 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 Ribbon Fall from a major city?
Ribbon Fall is 4 miles from Yosemite Valley (about 6 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in California
Where it is
37.7360, -119.6478
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribbon_Fall
Wikidata (Q2982001)
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2982001
GeoNames (5387316)
https://www.geonames.org/5387316/
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-05-15
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