Sentinel Fall
California · 1,936-foot drop · Yosemite National Park · Last verified 2026-05-15
Today at Sentinel Fall: clear, null°F.
Right now
Overnight
°F
Clear
Saturday
75°F
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Today's daylight
Sunrise 5:36 AM · Sunset 8:20 PM · 14h 45m
Snapshot built 5m ago. Sources: NWS HNX.
Sentinel Fall is a waterfall in Mariposa County, California. It drops roughly 1,936 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.
Sentinel Falls is a long series of cascades descending into Yosemite Valley, in the U.S. state of California, alongside Sentinel Rock. It is a tiered waterfall consisting of 6 major drops totaling 1,920 feet (590 m), the longest single drop being 500 feet (150 m). It ranks on many lists as the twelfth-highest waterfall in the world, although in truth it is roughly the sixtieth-tallest, as most weaker waterfalls do not make it into such lists. Despite its immense height it has a relatively low drainage and is usually dry by July.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentinel Fall (this page) | — | 1,936 ft | — | N | — |
| Staircase Falls | 1 mi | 1,017 ft | — | N | — |
| Horsetail Fall | 2 mi | 2,133 ft | — | N | — |
| Lower Yosemite Fall | 2 mi | 2,425 ft | — | N | — |
| Middle Cascades | 2 mi | 2,425 ft | — | N | — |
| Illilouette Fall | 2 mi | 1,250 ft | — | N | — |
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~1936 ft)
- Horsetail Fall2,133 ft
- Snow Creek Falls2,133 ft
- Louis Creek Falls1,720 ft
- East Snow Mountain Falls2,200 ft
- Ribbon Fall1,612 ft
Questions visitors ask about Sentinel 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 Sentinel Fall?
Sentinel Fall is 1,936 feet (590 m) tall. Height is sourced from OSM.
Is Sentinel Fall in a national or state park?
Yes — Sentinel Fall is inside Yosemite National Park. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Sentinel 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 Sentinel Fall from a major city?
Sentinel Fall is 2 miles from Yosemite Valley (about 2 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in California
Where it is
37.7249, -119.5965
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinel_Fall
Wikidata (Q7451320)
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7451320
GeoNames (5394398)
https://www.geonames.org/5394398/
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-05-15
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