Royal Arch Cascade
California · 1,247-foot drop · Yosemite National Park · Last verified 2026-05-15
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Snapshot built 3d ago. Sources: NWS HNX.
Royal Arch Cascade is a waterfall in Mariposa County, California. It drops roughly 1,247 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.
Royal Arch Cascade is a waterfall located on the north wall of Yosemite Valley and the Yosemite National Park, United States, within walking distance from the Ahwahnee Hotel. The falls are 1,250 feet (380 m) high and are usually dry by June. The waterfall gets its name from its location immediately adjacent to the Royal Arches, which are a series of concentric semicircular setbacks in the cliff face directly opposite Glacier Point. The waterfall lacks a plunge pool and its flow is relatively gentle, making the base of the falls a popular photo spot.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Arch Cascade (this page) | — | 1,247 ft | — | N | — |
| Lehamite Falls | 1 mi | 1,181 ft | — | N | — |
| Staircase Falls | 1 mi | 1,017 ft | — | N | — |
| Lower Yosemite Fall | 1 mi | 2,425 ft | — | N | — |
| Yosemite Falls | 1 mi | — | — | N | — |
| Middle Cascades | 1 mi | 2,425 ft | — | N | — |
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~1247 ft)
- Illilouette Fall1,250 ft
- Big Heart Falls1,262 ft
- Drury Falls1,267 ft
- Silver Cord Cascade1,214 ft
- Wapama Falls1,286 ft
Questions visitors ask about Royal Arch Cascade
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 Royal Arch Cascade?
Royal Arch Cascade is 1,247 feet (380 m) tall. Height is sourced from OSM.
Is Royal Arch Cascade in a national or state park?
Yes — Royal Arch Cascade is inside Yosemite National Park. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Royal Arch Cascade?
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 Royal Arch Cascade from a major city?
Royal Arch Cascade is 1 miles from Yosemite Valley (about 1 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in California
Where it is
37.7496, -119.5710
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Arch_Cascade
Wikidata (Q37586)
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37586
GeoNames (5389143)
https://www.geonames.org/5389143/
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-05-15
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