Vernal Fall
California · 318-foot drop · Yosemite National Park · Last verified 2026-05-15
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Snapshot built 3d ago. Sources: NWS HNX.
Vernal Fall is a waterfall in Mariposa County, California. It drops roughly 318 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.
Vernal Fall is a 317-foot (96.6 m) waterfall on the Merced River just downstream of Nevada Fall in Yosemite National Park, California. Like its upstream neighbor, Vernal Fall is clearly visible at a distance, from Glacier Point, as well as close up, along the Mist Trail. The waterfall flows all year long, although by the end of summer it is substantially reduced in volume and can split into multiple strands, rather than a single curtain of water.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernal Fall (this page) | — | 318 ft | — | N | — |
| Vernal Fall | 0 mi | — | — | N | — |
| Silver Apron | 0 mi | — | — | N | — |
| Nevada Fall | 1 mi | 594 ft | — | N | — |
| Illilouette Fall | 1 mi | 1,250 ft | — | N | — |
| Staircase Falls | 2 mi | 1,017 ft | — | N | — |
Related waterfalls
On the same watercourse (Merced River)
- Nevada Fall594 ft
Similar height (~318 ft)
- Munson Creek Falls319 ft
- Great Falls320 ft
- Wilson Glacier Falls315 ft
- Falling Water Cascades328 ft
- Lower Yellowstone Falls308 ft
Questions visitors ask about Vernal 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 Vernal Fall?
Vernal Fall is 318 feet (97 m) tall. Source heights disagree by source — see the discrepancy box on the page.
Is Vernal Fall in a national or state park?
Yes — Vernal Fall is inside Yosemite National Park. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Vernal 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 Vernal Fall from a major city?
Vernal Fall is 2 miles from Yosemite Valley (about 3 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in California
Where it is
37.7276, -119.5437
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernal_Fall
Wikidata (Q2620166)
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2620166
GeoNames (5405998)
https://www.geonames.org/5405998/
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-05-15
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