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Nevada Fall

Nevada Fall is a prominent 594-foot (181-meter) waterfall on the Merced River in Yosemite National Park, California, situated at the western end of Little Yosemite Valley below the granite dome Liberty Cap.^[1]^[2] The falls, known for their distinctive curved shape and dramatic mist rising from the water's impact on the rocks, flow year-round but reach peak volume in late May or early June due to snowmelt.^[3]^[1] Named "Nevada" by Lafayette Bunnell in 1851—drawing from the Spanish word for "snowy" to evoke the frothy white appearance of the cascading water—the falls were originally known to the Ahwahnechee people as Yo-wy-we, meaning the "twist" or "squirm" of the falling water.^[4]^[5] Access to Nevada Fall is primarily via the popular Mist Trail, a strenuous 5.4-mile (8.7 km) round-trip hike from Yosemite Valley's Happy Isles trailhead that gains about 2,000 feet (610 meters) in elevation and passes the nearby Vernal Fall en route.^[6]^[7] As one of Yosemite's signature waterfalls, Nevada Fall attracts numerous visitors for its scenic beauty and is also visible from afar at Glacier Point, contributing to the park's reputation for dramatic natural features.^[8]^[1]

Location and Description

Geographical Setting

Nevada Fall is situated within Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County, east-central California, United States, encompassing a vast protected expanse of 759,620 acres (307,400 hectares) that preserves diverse Sierra Nevada ecosystems.^[9] The waterfall's precise coordinates are 37°43′29″N 119°32′00″W, placing it in the upper reaches of Yosemite Valley amid rugged granitic terrain shaped by ancient glacial activity.^[5] As a prominent hydrological feature, it integrates into the park's topography, contributing to the scenic corridor that draws visitors to explore the region's natural grandeur.^[1] The fall occurs on the Merced River, approximately 5 miles (8 km) upstream from the valley floor, downstream from the nearby Vernal Fall and marking the downstream boundary of Little Yosemite Valley.^[6] In this configuration, the Merced River flows through the narrower, glacially scoured Little Yosemite Valley before cascading over Nevada Fall, effectively serving as the river's dramatic exit point from this sub-valley into the broader Yosemite Valley below.^[10] This positioning highlights Nevada Fall's role in channeling the river's path through a series of steep drops and meadows, enhancing the area's accessibility via established trails like the Mist Trail and John Muir Trail.^[1] Adjacent to Nevada Fall lies the imposing Liberty Cap, a prominent granitic dome rising over 7,000 feet (2,100 m) at the northwestern edge of Little Yosemite Valley, providing a striking backdrop and framing views from the fall's vicinity.^[6] This proximity underscores the fall's embedding within a cluster of iconic granitic formations, where Liberty Cap's sheer cliffs and the surrounding valley floor create an integrated landscape of cliffs, rivers, and domes characteristic of Yosemite's upper watershed.^[11]

Physical Characteristics

Nevada Fall is classified as a horsetail waterfall, where the descending water maintains continuous contact with the underlying rock face after an initial free-falling plunge.^[5] It measures a total height of 594 feet (181 meters), with the longest single drop spanning approximately 480 feet (146 meters).^[1]^[5] The waterfall's distinctive bent or curved shape arises from the water's interaction with a protruding granite slab, causing it to free-fall for the upper portion before veiling and spreading across the slick-rock slope below.^[5] This dynamic flow generates a thick mist at the base, frequently creating vivid rainbow effects in the spray under direct sunlight.^[12] The water collects in a pool at the base, known as Emerald Pool, which serves as the headwaters for the subsequent descent and integrates into the Merced River's downstream course toward Yosemite Valley.^[13] As one of Yosemite National Park's premier waterfalls, Nevada Fall stands out for its dramatic cascade over a sheer granite cliff, making it a favored subject for photographers capturing its powerful and visually striking form.^[1]

Hydrology

Water Flow Dynamics

Nevada Fall derives its water primarily from the Merced River, which originates in the high Sierra Nevada and is predominantly fed by snowmelt from the surrounding mountain range.^[14] Upstream tributaries, including Illilouette Creek, contribute significantly to the river's volume before it reaches the fall, channeling meltwater from glacial cirques and alpine basins into a unified flow.^[14] This snowmelt-driven hydrology ensures a consistent supply, maintaining the fall's perennial character throughout the year, though the volume fluctuates with seasonal melt patterns.^[1] During peak season, the fall exhibits an average flow rate of approximately 1,000 cubic feet per second (28 m³/s), reflecting the robust discharge of the Merced River as it cascades over the lip.^[15] This vigorous flow interacts dynamically with the underlying granite surface, where the water initially plunges freely for about one-third of its descent before encountering a protruding apron of slick rock. The liquid then partially adheres to the smooth granite, spreading into a thin veil or sheet that creates the characteristic "horsetail" effect, enhancing the visual drama as it accelerates downward.^[5] As a key feature in the Merced River system, Nevada Fall integrates into a larger watershed that drains approximately 1,289 square miles (3,340 km²) of the Sierra Nevada, facilitating the transport of snowmelt and precipitation toward Yosemite Valley and beyond. This contribution underscores the fall's role in the regional hydrologic cycle, where it serves as a dramatic expression of the river's perennial energy before merging with downstream flows.^[16]

Seasonal and Annual Variations

Nevada Fall's flow undergoes pronounced seasonal variations driven by the Sierra Nevada's snowmelt cycle, with peak discharges occurring from April to June as accumulated winter snow rapidly melts in the warming spring temperatures. During this period, the Merced River's contribution can exceed 2,000 cubic feet per second (57 m³/s), with historical peaks up to nearly 3,000 cfs (85 m³/s), transforming the waterfall into a thundering spectacle that generates extensive mist and audible roar echoing through Yosemite Valley.^[17]^[15] This high-flow phase aligns with the river's snowmelt-dominated hydrograph, where the majority of annual runoff—typically 70-80% of the water year's total—occurs in these months, enhancing the fall's visual and acoustic impact.^[16] In contrast, the late summer and fall months from August to October mark the low-flow season, when snowmelt diminishes and the waterfall's discharge drops to 100–200 cubic feet per second (2.8–5.7 m³/s), often reducing the cascade to a delicate, veil-like sheet that clings to the rock face. These minimal flows are sustained by the Merced River's perennial base flow, preventing the fall from drying up entirely, though the diminished volume alters its appearance from a robust plume to a subtle trickle.^[18] Annual precipitation in Yosemite Valley, averaging around 36 inches (914 mm), plays a key role in replenishing the watershed, but variations in yearly totals influence the intensity of subsequent snowpack and runoff.^[19] Interannual fluctuations further modulate these patterns, as evidenced by drought years like 2015 during California's severe multi-year dry spell, when reduced snowpack led to significantly lower peak flows—peaking at only about 1,030 cubic feet per second (29 m³/s) in May, well below typical levels—and prolonged low-water conditions that muted the fall's display. For example, in 2023, high snowpack resulted in peak flows over 9,500 cfs (269 m³/s) in May at Happy Isles, nearly ten times the 2015 drought peak and underscoring interannual extremes amplified by climate variability.^[18]^[20] Climate change exacerbates these variations, with USGS monitoring indicating that peak flows in Sierra Nevada rivers, including the Merced, have shifted earlier by 1–2 weeks since the 1950s due to warmer temperatures accelerating snowmelt onset.^[21] This temporal shift compresses the high-flow window, potentially reducing overall seasonal volumes and altering the waterfall's reliability as a year-round feature.

Geology and Formation

Geological Context of Yosemite

The geological foundation of Yosemite National Park lies in the Sierra Nevada Batholith, a vast composite of intrusive igneous rocks formed primarily between 105 and 85 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. This batholith developed through the subduction of the Farallon oceanic plate beneath the North American continental plate, which generated partial melting of the mantle and lower crust, producing magma that intruded and crystallized as plutons at depths of 3 to 8 kilometers. The resulting rocks are predominantly granitic in composition, including granite, granodiorite, and tonalite, which form the bedrock exposed across much of the park.^[22]^[23] Approximately 10 million years ago, in the Miocene epoch, the Sierra Nevada range experienced renewed tectonic uplift and westward tilting, driven by extensional forces in the Basin and Range Province to the east and isostatic rebound following prolonged erosion. This process elevated the batholith's plutonic rocks to the surface, exposing the durable granitic formations that characterize Yosemite's landscape and creating a topographic gradient that steepens eastward. The uplift rate during the late Pliocene and Pleistocene was about 0.2 millimeters per year, progressively unroofing the ancient intrusions and setting the stage for subsequent erosional sculpting.^[23]^[24]^[22] During the Pleistocene epoch, from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, Yosemite was profoundly shaped by multiple glaciations, including major advances such as the Sherwin (around 800,000 years ago), Tahoe (140,000 to 80,000 years ago), and Tioga (26,000 to 18,000 years ago). These ice ages involved alpine glaciers that eroded the landscape, carving broad U-shaped valleys like Yosemite Valley and leaving hanging valleys where tributary glaciers were unable to keep pace with deeper main valley incision. Glacial action polished granitic surfaces and deposited moraines, enhancing the park's dramatic topography.^[24]^[25]^[22] Yosemite National Park's geology is dominated by granitic rocks, comprising 75 to 95 percent of its exposed surface, with the remainder consisting of older metamorphic and volcanic units. These granites exhibit exfoliation, a process where overlying rock removal after uplift causes pressure release, leading to the formation of sheet-like joints and massive, rounded domes such as Liberty Cap. This unloading mechanism produces the park's iconic exfoliation domes through progressive spalling of curved slabs from the rock faces.^[22]^[24]

Specific Formation Processes

Nevada Fall originated as a hanging valley feature, sculpted primarily through differential glacial erosion during the Pleistocene epoch. The main Merced Glacier, being thicker and more voluminous, excavated the broader Yosemite Valley floor to greater depths than the thinner tributary glaciers feeding into it, such as those along the upper Merced River. This disparity left the tributary valley suspended above the main valley floor, creating a steep precipice over which water now cascades as Nevada Fall.^[24]^[23] The waterfall's exposure occurred following the retreat of the last major glaciation, known as the Tioga stage, which peaked around 26,000 to 18,000 years ago and fully receded approximately 10,000 years ago at the close of the Pleistocene. As ice masses melted and withdrew eastward, the granitic cliffs and hanging valley lip were revealed, allowing the Merced River to begin incising the exposed rock. Ongoing fluvial erosion by the river has since contributed to the feature's gradual retreat, further defining the fall's profile through abrasion and undercutting.^[24]^[23] The near-vertical cliff face over which Nevada Fall plunges consists of El Capitan Granite, a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock formed about 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous period as part of the Sierra Nevada Batholith. This granite's prominent jointing—systematic fractures resulting from tectonic stresses and cooling—facilitated selective glacial quarrying and post-glacial weathering, producing the sheer drop and rectangular form characteristic of the waterfall's brink.^[24]^[23] Contemporary processes, including episodic rockfalls, continue to subtly reshape the lip and surrounding slopes of Nevada Fall. For instance, a notable event in April 2024 deposited hundreds of boulders onto the nearby John Muir Trail just above the fall, illustrating how seismic activity, freeze-thaw cycles, and rainfall trigger detachment along existing joints in the granite. These incidents, while minor in scale compared to glacial forces, incrementally modify the feature's morphology over time.^[26]

History

Discovery and Naming

Nevada Fall was first encountered by non-indigenous explorers in March 1851, when members of the Mariposa Battalion, a volunteer militia formed to suppress Native American resistance in California's Central Valley, pursued Ahwahneechee people into Yosemite Valley during the Mariposa Indian War. Led by Major James D. Savage, the battalion descended into the valley via what is now known as the Yosemite Valley floor, where they came upon the waterfall as part of their search for Native encampments along the Merced River. This expedition marked the initial European-American sighting of the fall, occurring amid the forced expulsion of the Ahwahneechee from their ancestral lands.^[27]^[28] The waterfall received its English name from Dr. Lafayette H. Bunnell, the battalion's medical officer and self-appointed chronicler, who proposed "Nevada Fall" shortly after the discovery in March 1851. Bunnell drew inspiration from the fall's misty, foam-covered descent, which evoked the snowy avalanches of the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains; the term "nevada" derives from the Spanish word for "snowy," reflecting the region's high-elevation, winter-white landscape. This naming occurred during an extended encampment in the valley, where Bunnell sought to catalog features with descriptive terms accessible to future settlers and tourists.^[29]^[30] To the indigenous Miwok-speaking Ahwahneechee people, the fall was known as "Yo-wy-we," a term Bunnell recorded as alluding to the water's sinuous, twisting path over the granite cliff, likened to a worm or twisting branch along the Merced River's course. This name captured the dynamic, serpentine flow observed from the valley floor, contrasting with the more static imagery of the English designation. Bunnell noted the indigenous term during interactions with captured Ahwahneechee individuals, though exact translations varied due to linguistic barriers.^[29]^[28] The earliest written documentation of Nevada Fall appeared in Bunnell's 1880 book, Discovery of the Yosemite and the Indian War of 1851, Which Led to That Event, which provided a detailed firsthand account of the 1851 expedition and the fall's characteristics. The publication referenced early visual representations by artist Thomas Ayres, who had visited Yosemite in 1855 and made the first sketches of the valley's waterfalls, including Nevada Fall, published in Hutchings’ California Magazine. These sketches offered the first artistic depictions integrated into historical records of the site.^[28]

Exploration and Development

Following the establishment of the Yosemite Grant in 1864, which set aside Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove for public use and preservation, Nevada Fall became a featured attraction in promotional efforts to draw tourists during the late 1860s and 1870s tourism boom.^[31]^[32] Early visitors accessed the fall via rudimentary paths, but the grant's commissioners encouraged development to enhance accessibility and highlight the region's waterfalls as natural wonders.^[33] In 1869, entrepreneur Albert Snow obtained approval from the Yosemite Grant commissioners to construct a toll trail and hotel at the base of Nevada Fall, leading to the completion of a horse trail in 1870 that connected the top of Vernal Fall to Nevada Fall and facilitated greater visitor access.^[34] This initial route served as a precursor to more refined paths, with further trail improvements in the 1870s under trail builder John Conway, who in 1871 constructed a horse trail from La Casa Nevada to the top of Nevada Fall and Little Yosemite Valley along the north side of the Merced River gorge.^[35] By the 1890s, these enhancements culminated in the full development of the Mist Trail, providing a steep but direct ascent to the fall and solidifying its role as a key tourist corridor within the Yosemite Grant boundaries.^[36] Photographer Carleton Watkins captured Nevada Fall in striking albumen prints during his 1861 expedition to Yosemite, including views that emphasized its 594-foot drop and helped promote the valley's scenic allure to a national audience through exhibitions and publications.^[37] Decades later, Ansel Adams documented the fall in the 1930s and 1940s, producing iconic black-and-white images like his circa 1930 gelatin silver print that showcased its dramatic cascade and rainbows, further elevating its status in American landscape photography and conservation efforts.^[38] Nevada Fall gained enduring prominence through its incorporation into the John Muir Trail, a long-distance path completed in 1938 after construction began in 1915, which traverses the Sierra Nevada and passes directly by the fall en route from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney.^[35] The trail's naming honors John Muir, the conservationist who lobbied Congress in the late 1880s for federal protection of Yosemite—resulting in the park's establishment in 1890—and frequently extolled Nevada Fall's beauty in his writings as a symbol of the wilderness worth preserving.^[39]

Access and Recreation

Hiking Trails and Routes

The primary route to Nevada Fall is the Mist Trail, which begins at the Happy Isles trailhead in Yosemite Valley and covers approximately 2.7 miles (4.3 km) one way, with a total elevation gain of 2,000 feet (610 m).^[6] This strenuous path passes by Vernal Fall en route, offering close-up views of both waterfalls along the Merced River.^[6] The trail features include several bridges crossing the Merced River, switchbacks traversing Little Yosemite Valley, and over 600 granite steps ascending steeply to the top of Vernal Fall.^[6] An alternative to the upper section of the Mist Trail is the John Muir Trail, which provides a longer but less steep approach to Nevada Fall, totaling approximately 8 miles (12.9 km) round trip from Happy Isles.^[6] This route joins the Mist Trail after Vernal Fall and continues beyond Nevada Fall as an extension toward Donohue Pass in the Sierra Nevada high country.^[6] Hikers often combine segments of both trails for a loop, enhancing scenic variety while accessing the fall.^[6] For those seeking a distant perspective without the full hike, Nevada Fall is visible from Glacier Point, reachable by a seasonal road typically open from late spring through fall.^[40] This overlook provides panoramic views of the Yosemite high country, including Nevada and Vernal Falls, but does not allow for a close approach to the waterfall.^[40] The trails to Nevada Fall were originally constructed between the 1880s and 1930s to facilitate access to Yosemite's interior.^[6]

Visitation Statistics and Management

Yosemite National Park has seen an average of approximately 4 million visitors annually since the 2010s, with numbers fluctuating due to external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a dip to 2.36 million in 2020 before recovering to over 4 million by 2024.^[9] The Mist Trail, providing access to Nevada Fall, represents a significant portion of the park's overall foot traffic to popular waterfall destinations. Peak visitation occurs from May to September, when crowds in Yosemite Valley often lead to traffic congestion and require the use of free shuttle systems for efficient access to trailheads, including those for the Mist Trail.^[41] Additionally, overnight use of the John Muir Trail, which connects to the Nevada Fall area, necessitates wilderness permits issued by the National Park Service to manage backpacker impacts and ensure resource protection.^[42] The National Park Service has managed Yosemite, including Nevada Fall, since its establishment in 1916 under the Organic Act, overseeing trail maintenance with an annual operating budget of about $31 million park-wide, of which significant portions support erosion control measures like drainage improvements and vegetation stabilization along high-use paths.^[43]^[9] Sustainable management practices include widespread bear-proofing of food storage and dumpsters to prevent wildlife habituation, comprehensive waste removal programs aiming for zero landfill through recycling of over 30 material types, and restoration initiatives following wildfires, such as those in the early 2020s, which have involved hazard tree removal and habitat rehabilitation to restore access and ecological integrity near affected trails.^[44]^[45]^[46] These efforts help mitigate environmental degradation from heavy use while preserving the trail's features, as detailed in the park's hiking routes documentation.^[6]

Ecology

Flora Along the Merced River

The riparian zone along the Merced River near Nevada Fall is characterized by a dense assemblage of moisture-loving trees and shrubs that stabilize banks and provide habitat in this dynamic, flood-prone environment. Dominant species include various willows (Salix spp.), which form thickets along the water's edge, white alder (Alnus rhombifolia), known for its rapid colonization of disturbed areas, and red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), which adds vibrant red stems and white flowers to the understory.^[47]^[48] These plants thrive in the nutrient-rich, alluvial soils saturated by seasonal snowmelt and river overflow, contributing to the corridor's ecological resilience.^[49] On the adjacent cliff faces and talus slopes surrounding Nevada Fall, vegetation shifts to drought-tolerant species adapted to exposed granite and rocky substrates at elevations around 5,900 feet. Black oak (Quercus kelloggii) scatters across sunnier slopes, its acorns supporting local wildlife, while ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) anchor more stable talus areas with their deep roots and fire-resistant bark.^[48] This mixed conifer-hardwood community reflects the upper montane transition zone, where periodic wildfires shape stand composition and promote regeneration.^[48] Seasonal wildflowers enhance the area's biodiversity, particularly in the mist-influenced zones near the fall's base, where cooler, humid microclimates extend blooming periods. Shooting stars (Primula jeffreyi) display their nodding pink flowers from May through July, clustering in damp meadows and along trail edges, while seep monkeyflower (Erythranthe guttata, formerly Mimulus guttatus) produces bright yellow blooms in similar wet pockets during the same timeframe.^[50]^[51] These ephemerals capitalize on spring moisture before drier conditions set in, adding bursts of color to the granite landscape. The constant spray from Nevada Fall fosters specialized flora on wet granite surfaces, where non-vascular and shade-tolerant plants dominate sheer faces inaccessible to larger vegetation. Mosses, such as those in the Bryophyta division, form velvety carpets by absorbing airborne moisture, while ferns like the western maidenhair (Adiantum capillus-veneris) cling to crevices with delicate fronds, their adaptations to high humidity and low light enabling persistence in this perpetually damp niche.^[52]^[53] These species exemplify the unique riparian-cliff ecotone, where waterfall mist creates a refugium for hygrophilous plants amid otherwise arid surroundings.^[48]

Fauna and Wildlife Interactions

The area surrounding Nevada Fall in Yosemite National Park supports a diverse array of wildlife, particularly mammals that utilize the riparian habitats of Little Yosemite Valley along the Merced River. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are commonly observed grazing on grasses, herbs, and tender twigs in the meadows and open areas of Little Yosemite Valley, where they browse during summer months when foot traffic is high on nearby trails.^[54] Black bears (Ursus americanus) frequently forage for berries, nuts, and insects near the trails leading to Nevada Fall, drawn to the abundant vegetation and occasional human food sources in the vicinity.^[54] Bird species thrive in the dynamic environment created by the waterfall's mist and the river's flow. American dippers (Cinclus mexicanus), North America's only aquatic songbird, are often seen foraging by diving into the turbulent waters of the Merced River below Nevada Fall, where they hunt for aquatic insects and larvae; they construct dome-shaped nests from moss and grass on rocks or ledges near or behind the spray of rushing waterfalls, providing protection from predators.^[55]^[56] Steller's jays (Cyanocitta stelleri), with their striking blue plumage and raucous calls, are prevalent along the Merced River corridors near Nevada Fall, scavenging seeds and insects while occasionally interacting with hikers by approaching for food scraps.^[57] Amphibians and insects contribute to the ecosystem's biodiversity in the moist microhabitats around Nevada Fall. Yosemite toads (Anaxyrus canorus), a species endemic to the Sierra Nevada and federally listed as threatened since 2014, inhabit wet meadows and pools in Little Yosemite Valley, where the waterfall's mist enhances humidity and attracts them during breeding seasons in spring and early summer.^[58]^[59] The acmon blue butterfly (Icaricia acmon), a small lycaenid, flutters through the sunny meadows adjacent to the fall, feeding on nectar from native wildflowers and laying eggs on legumes in these open, grassy areas.^[60] Ecological interactions among these species underscore the vitality of the Nevada Fall habitat, with riparian vegetation briefly providing cover and foraging opportunities that support this wildlife assemblage. American dippers play a key role in the food web by preying on aquatic insects, whose populations are enriched by the increased oxygenation of river water from the waterfall's turbulence.^[55] Human-wildlife interactions, such as occasional bear sightings along the Mist Trail to Nevada Fall, highlight the need for visitors to maintain a 100-foot distance and store food properly to minimize conflicts.^[61]

Hazards and Safety

Environmental and Trail Risks

One of the primary environmental risks at Nevada Fall arises from the slippery granite surfaces along the Mist Trail, particularly the steep stairway exceeding 600 steps leading to the top of Vernal Fall, which continues toward Nevada Fall. The persistent mist from the falls, combined with algae growth on the wet granite, creates hazardous conditions, even on dry days when the rock's smooth texture alone can cause slips. These surfaces are especially treacherous during periods of high water flow in spring and early summer, when increased mist exacerbates the slickness.^[6]^[62] Rockfall hazards pose another significant threat due to the unstable cliffs surrounding the narrow canyon of Little Yosemite Valley, where Nevada Fall is located. Freeze-thaw cycles, particularly during winter and early spring, weaken rock joints and trigger detachments, contributing to the approximately 80 rockfalls recorded annually in Yosemite Valley. A notable example occurred in 2024 near Nevada Fall, where a major rockfall buried sections of the adjacent John Muir Trail under boulders and debris, highlighting the ongoing instability of the granitic cliffs.^[26]^[63]^[64] Hypothermia remains a concern for hikers exposed to the cold spray from Nevada Fall, where Merced River water temperatures hover around 50°F (10°C) year-round, rapidly chilling wet clothing and skin. This risk intensifies with sudden weather shifts, such as afternoon thunderstorms common from late July through September, which can bring gusty winds and further cooling. Additionally, the potential for flash flooding in the confined canyon during rare heavy rain events adds to the hazards, though upstream watershed characteristics generally mitigate rapid surges.^[65]^[66]^[67]

Notable Incidents and Safety Measures

Nevada Fall has seen at least seven fatalities since 1990 (five between 1990 and 1999, plus additional incidents in 2013 and 2018), primarily involving swimmers ignoring warnings or hikers bypassing protective barriers to access the water or edges.^[68]^[69]^[70] These deaths highlight the dangers of the strong hydraulic forces and slippery granite surfaces near the fall.^[71] One of the most tragic incidents at Nevada Fall occurred on June 1, 2013, when 19-year-old Aleh Kalman from Sacramento, California, was swept over the 594-foot waterfall while swimming in the pool above it, approximately 150 feet from the edge, due to powerful undertows and currents.^[69] His body was never recovered despite extensive search efforts.^[72] In September 2018, another fatal accident claimed the life of 18-year-old Tomer Frankfurter, an Israeli tourist, who slipped and fell nearly 600 feet from the top of Nevada Fall while attempting to take a selfie on a precarious ledge beyond the safety railings.^[70] Witnesses reported shouting warnings as he dangled from the rock, but he lost his grip.^[73] Yosemite National Park records approximately 12 to 15 fatalities annually across its 747,956 acres, with water-related incidents, including those at waterfalls like Nevada Fall, comprising a significant portion.^[74] To mitigate such risks, the National Park Service (NPS) has implemented various safety protocols at Nevada Fall since the early 2000s, including the installation of sturdy railings along exposed trail sections and prominent warning signs prohibiting swimming and emphasizing the hazards of wet rocks and currents.^[6] In recent years, the NPS has continued improvements, including the Mist Trail Corridor Project (initiated 2024) for additional railings and trail widening to enhance safety.^[75] Following the 2024 rockfall, repairs to the adjacent John Muir Trail involve blasting and temporary closures through early December 2025.^[76] Mandatory shuttle use in Yosemite Valley helps reduce vehicle congestion and encourages safer access to the Mist Trail leading to the fall. Additionally, the NPS conducts annual trail closures for maintenance and hazard assessment, typically during winter months when ice and snow exacerbate slippery conditions.^[77] Public education efforts include ranger-led talks on waterfall dangers and the official NPS App, which provides real-time safety alerts and guidelines for visitors.^[78]^[79] These measures, supported by the Preventive Search and Rescue program, aim to prevent incidents through proactive awareness and infrastructure.^[80]

References

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Waterfalls - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Nov 26, 2024 · Nevada Fall. 594 feet / 180 m. Flows: all year, with peak flow in late May or June. You can see Nevada Fall (from a distance) from Glacier Point ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Nevada Fall Trail | Discover Yosemite National Park
Nevada Fall is a 594-foot high waterfall on the Merced River in Yosemite located below granite dome, Liberty Cap, at the west end of Little Yosemite valley.
[3]
Yosemite Waterfalls
A towering 594-foot high waterfall, Nevada Fall is at westernmost side of Little Yosemite Valley. Identifiable by its curved shape and dramatic mist, which ...
[4]
"Nevada Fall," Yosemite: Its Wonders and Its Beauties (1868) by ...
The friction of the rock breaks the stream into a white froth, and hence the name of Nevada or Snowy. At some time, the Merced ran to the east of Yowiye, and ...
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Nevada Fall, California, United States - World Waterfall Database
Jan 1, 2025 · Lafayette Bunnell cites the Native American name for the falls as Yo-wy-we, meaning "wormy" water. He later proposed the name Nevada ...
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Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall Trails - National Park Service
Mist Trail, John Muir Trail, and Panorama Trail (Vernal Fall-Nevada Fall corridor). Trail projects are improving safety in the Vernal and Nevada Falls corridor.
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The Mist Trail (Vernal & Nevada Falls) - Yosemite Hikes
Distance: 3 miles (4.8 km) round trip to Vernal Fall, 7 miles (11 km) round trip to Nevada Fall. · Elevation at trailhead: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) · Why Hike ...Nevada Fall · Vernal Fall · Trail Map · Should I Hike the Mist Trail...
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Nevada Fall - U.S. News Travel
One of Yosemite's signature waterfalls, Nevada Fall stands 594 feet tall. Its water tumbles over the edge near the granite dome, Liberty Cap, and forms part ...
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Oct 29, 2025 · Yosemite's 747,956 acres (1,169 square miles), nearly 95 percent of which are designated Wilderness, are home to hundreds of wildlife ...Natural Features & Ecosystems · Environmental Factors · Smoke in Yosemite · Birds
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Oct 29, 2025 · Complex mapping software, called geographic information systems, allows park scientists to carefully map and analyze Yosemite's 750,000 acres.
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Ansel Adams Nevada Fall Rainbow Yosemite Photography
The twisting cascade of Nevada Fall is an impressive sight for any visitor to Yosemite National Park. Plunging 594 feet to the boulders below.Missing: shape granite slab
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Nevada Fall - One of Yosemite's Permanent Falls on the Merced
Feb 26, 2023 · Nevada Fall resides in Yosemite National Park near El Portal in Mariposa County, California. It is administered by the National Park Service.<|control11|><|separator|>
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Hydrology and Watersheds - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National ...
The main stem and the South Fork of the Merced River drain the southern portion of the park, approximately 319,840 acres (499 square miles). Below Yosemite ...
[15]
Merced River at Happy Isles Bridge near Yosemite, California
Aug 2, 2000 · Mean monthly discharge varies from 1.1 m³/s in October to 35.4 m³/s in May, and average annual runoff from the basin was 66.5 cm from 1916 ...<|separator|>
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Hydrology - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
As the air moves up and over the mountains, it cools by several degrees Fahrenheit per 1,000 feet (several degrees Celsius per 1,000 meters), causing water to ...Exiting Nps.Gov · Alerts In Effect · Park Closures
[17]
Should I Hike the Mist Trail Today? - Yosemite Hikes
It depends. If the Merced River's flowing at 5 cfs (cubic feet per second), which is not at all uncommon in the autumn, the views may underwhelm you.
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Merced R a Happy Isles Bridge NR Yosemite CA - USGS-11264500
Detailed Inventory · Daily Statistical Data · Monthly Statistical Data · Annual Statistical Data · Peak Streamflow · Field Measurements · Water Year Summary ...
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Learn about Yosemite's animals. Flora. Flowering plants: Approximately 1,500 species. Trees: 35 species. Meadows: 36,620 acres. Learn about Yosemite's plants ...
[20]
Changes in Streamflow Timing in the United States" - USGS.gov
Annual streamflow in most western rivers has come progressively earlier during the past several decades.Missing: peak | Show results with:peak
[21]
[PDF] Yosemite National Park Geologic Resources Inventory Report
Creek has cut a deep V-shaped valley, characteristic of fluvial-incised valleys, above the falls. B. Vernal Fall (foreground) and Nevada Fall. The falls ...
[22]
Geology of Yosemite National Park - USGS.gov
Yosemite's geology includes granitic rocks formed from cooled magma, shaped by uplift, erosion, and glaciation, with older rocks from sediments and volcanic ...Missing: height | Show results with:height
[23]
Geology - Yosemite Valley - National Park Service
Looking east from Glacier Point at some of the characteristic geological features of Yosemite National Park: U-shaped valleys, granite domes, and waterfalls.Rockfall · Glaciers · Granite
[24]
[PDF] The geologic story of Yosemite National Park
Then, about 25 million years ago, this lowland area began to be uplifted and tilted toward the southwest, a con- struction that would eventually lead to the ...
[25]
Rockfall - Yosemite Valley - National Park Service
Rockfalls are a natural process of rock detachment and rapid downward movement, common in Yosemite due to steep cliffs. Over 1,000 have occurred in the past ...Missing: type | Show results with:type
[26]
Early History of Yosemite Valley
Dec 9, 2011 · A year or two before 1851 James D. Savage, while in pursuit of Indians, reached a point within a few miles of the valley. But the real discovery ...
[27]
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Discovery of the Yosemite, by ...
... 1851, that the Mariposa Battalion first entered the Yosemite. As a matter of fact, our adjutant was not with us when the discovery was made in March, nor ...
[28]
Discovery of the Yosemite, Chapter XIII, by Lafayette H. Bunnell
... Vernal, as an English name for Yan-o-pah, and Nevada, for that of Yo-wy-we. The Nevada Fall was so called because it was the nearest to the Sierra Nevada ...
[29]
[PDF] PLACE NAMES - Yosemite Nature Notes - NPS History
Fall, just south of Liberty Cap. Dr. Bunnell suggested "Nevada" for the upper of the two falls because it was nearest the crest of the Siera Nevada.
[30]
Yosemite Grant Act of 1864 - National Park Service
Sep 2, 2025 · Blasting for trail repair on the John Muir Trail will result in trail closures on some weekdays until early December.
[31]
Yosemite: the Park and its Resources (1987) by Linda W. Greene
The Yosemite Grant included 36,111 acres and was entrusted to the state of California with certain stipulations. The act also granted, under similar conditions, ...
[32]
YOSEMITE - NPS History
This Historic Resource Study had been prepared in accordance with the approved task directive for Package No. 806, Yosemite National Park.
[33]
Albert and Emily Snow - Yosemite Valley - National Park Service
Jul 23, 2024 · In 1869, he sought permission from the grant's board of commissioners to construct a hotel at the base of Nevada Fall and to build a toll trail ...
[34]
Stories - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Oct 18, 2024 · Among them, John Conway designed and constructed several of the park's earliest tourist trails in the late 19th century, including the Yosemite ...
[35]
[PDF] NEVADA FALL CORRIDOR: A CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT
... 1880 ... Thomas Ayres, produced illustrations of Yosemite Valley for an 1856 issue of California Magazine, a new. 2. Ibid., 19-20. 3. Ibid., 34. 4. Ibid., 20. 5 ...
[36]
[Nevada Fall, Yosemite Valley] - The Library of Congress
Title: [Nevada Fall, Yosemite Valley]; Creator(s): Watkins, Carleton E., 1829-1916, photographer; Date Created/Published: [ca. 1865]; Medium: 1 photographic ...
[37]
Ansel Easton Adams - Nevada Fall, Yosemite National Park, California
Title: Nevada Fall, Yosemite National Park, California; Artist: Ansel Easton Adams (American, San Francisco, California 1902–1984 Carmel, California)Missing: 1930s 1940s
[38]
Pathways: A Story of Trails and Men (1968), by John W. Bingaman
The following year John Conway built a trail which ascended from the La Casa Nevada to the top of Nevada Falls and Little Yosemite Valley. John Conway ...
[39]
John Muir - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
John Muir, in his beloved Sierra Nevada, sparks dialogue leading to the creation of Yosemite National Park in 1890. John Muir has inspired Yosemite's ...Missing: advocacy | Show results with:advocacy
[40]
Glacier Point - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Oct 29, 2025 · Glacier Point, an overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite's high country, is accessible by car
[41]
Park Statistics - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Oct 29, 2025 · Size · Land Mass: 759,620 acres (or 1,187 square miles) · Designated Wilderness: 704,624 acres (or 1,101 square miles) ...Infrastructure · Visitor Use
[42]
Public Transportation - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park ...
Oct 29, 2025 · The free Yosemite Valley shuttle system provides convenient access around Yosemite Valley. Valleywide shuttle: This route serves all stops in ...
[43]
Wilderness Permits - National Park Service
A wilderness permit is required year-round for backpacking, overnight climbing, or any other overnight stay in the Yosemite Wilderness.John Muir & Pacific Crest Trails · Half Dome Permits · Frequently Asked Questions
[44]
Yosemite — The Embattled Wilderness (Introduction)
The National Park Service Organic Act of 1916 itself left every methodology for management deliberately vague, calling simply for protection of scenery and ...
[45]
Bear Management - Yosemite - National Park Service
... practices. ... Because bears can claw open unsecured dumpster lids and pull out trash, all of Yosemite's outdoor garbage cans and dumpsters are bear-resistant.
[46]
Zero Landfill Initiative - Yosemite - National Park Service
Efforts to reduce trash and collect recycling are not just good management practices—they also help protect wildlife, especially bears, by keeping them from ...
[47]
Forest Restoration - Yosemite - National Park Service
Aug 28, 2023 · Yosemite Conservancy has funded scenic vista restoration and restoration in the Merced Grove. Hazard tree removal is funded primarily through ...
[48]
Merced River Restoration - Projects - National Park Service
Jul 2, 2024 · Over time the thousands of willows, cottonwoods, alders, rhododendrons, and other riparian plants will grow in. 2020. Riverbank restoration ...
[49]
Plants - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Yosemite's giant sequoia groves including the Mariposa, Merced, and the Tuolumne Groves are also found within this vegetation zone. The lower montane forest ...
[50]
Wetland Vegetation - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park ...
Riparian habitat (riverine wetland) alongside the Merced River. Photo by Christal Niederer. Riverine wetlands are found within river and stream channels and are ...Missing: flora | Show results with:flora
[51]
Common Wildflowers - Yosemite - National Park Service
Sierra butterweed, also a type of Senecio, plays a major role of the meadow wildflower display in Tuolumne Meadows. Sierra lessingia (Lessingia genus), colored ...
[52]
Where to See Wildflowers - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National ...
Up high on rocky ridges, look for ranger's buttons, Sierra penstemon, wallflower, low-growing buckwheats, stonecrop, phlox, sandworts, mountain monkeyflowers ( ...
[53]
Ferns of the Sierra (1960) “Adiantum,” by Robert J. Rodin
It may be observed along several trails leading out of Yosemite Valley as on the horse trail to Nevada Falls, in Sequoia National Park along the middle fork of ...
[54]
Mosses and Ferns Drink From Waterfall Spray — Biological Strategy
Jun 23, 2025 · In waterfall spray zones, they use their entire surface area to absorb moisture directly from the air and from the constant drizzle of mist.Missing: yosemite | Show results with:yosemite
[55]
Mammals - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Oct 29, 2025 · Yosemite National Park's approximately 90 mammal species, and their behaviors, are truly fascinating for park visitors to observe safely and responsibly.
[56]
American Dipper - Animal Life in the Yosemite (Birds)
These dates indicate a nesting season continuing at least from April until the end of June. In winter months dippers appear on the Merced River below El Portal ...
[57]
Behavior - American Dipper - Cinclus mexicanus - Birds of the World
Inaccessibility of nest probably helps protect this species from most mammalian predators (124 Ealey, D. M. (1978). The American Dipper-fellow of the waterfall.
[58]
Birds - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
### Summary of Birds Near Nevada Fall or Merced River
[59]
Amphibians - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Eleven native and one-non-native amphibian species can be found in Yosemite. Three of these species—the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, the Yosemite toad, and ...
[60]
Butterfly Count - Raw Data - National Park Service
Aug 19, 2024 · Each year, Yosemite coordinates its Yosemite Butterfly Count event with the North American Butterfly ... Acmon Blue, 3, 1, 2, 23, 19, 11, 17, 24 ...
[61]
Wilderness Safety - Yosemite - National Park Service
Oct 29, 2025 · Respect animals at a distance: never feed or approach them. If you encounter wildlife, maintain a safe distance. Animals are unpredictable and ...Missing: fauna | Show results with:fauna
[62]
Hiking Yosemite National Park: The Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls ...
Apr 14, 2016 · The green tint is caused by algae that live on the granite. A few folks (illegally) make use of the rocks and pool in the summer for swimming.
[63]
[PDF] Quantitative Rock-Fall Hazard and Risk Assessment for Yosemite ...
Rock-fall triggers, which initiate movement of rock fragments, can include earthquakes (Keefer, 1984; Harp and Wilson, 1995), freeze-thaw cycles of water ( ...
[64]
Yosemite rockfall closes key segment of John Muir Trail
Apr 24, 2024 · A major rockfall near Nevada Fall has covered 1000 feet of the popular John Muir Trail with boulders, trees and debris, according to ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[65]
Water Safety - Yosemite - National Park Service
Be aware that mountain water is extremely cold, despite hot air temperatures. Strong swimmers may quickly become too weak from hypothermia to swim. Even ...
[66]
Merced River - Yosemite Valley, CA - Water Temperature and Weather
Water Temperature of the Merced River in Yosemite Valley, CA. Current Water Temperature. 46.2°F. Measurement Time: Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 3:30 AM PST ...
[67]
Lightning Safety - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Watch for afternoon build-up of cumulus clouds. Seek shelter or go to lower elevations if you see towering thunderheads, darkening skies, increased wind, or ...
[68]
Visitor Swept Over Nevada Fall in Yosemite National Park
Jun 1, 2013 · At approximately 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, a visitor was witnessed being swept over the precipice of Nevada Fall in Yosemite National Park.Missing: drowning | Show results with:drowning
[69]
Search for Yosemite waterfall victim halted temporarily - CNN
Jun 3, 2013 · Aleh Kalman had been swimming about 150 feet from the edge of the Nevada Fall on Saturday afternoon when he was caught up in the swift current ...
[70]
Yosemite Hiker Swept to His Death Over Falls - Los Angeles Times
Jul 13, 1999 · A Diamond Bar man died when he was accidentally swept over Nevada Falls on the John Muir Trail at Yosemite National Park, park officials reported Monday.
[71]
19-Year Old Swept Off 594-Foot Nevada Falls in Yosemite
Jun 4, 2013 · At approximately 2:45 pm on Saturday, June 1, a visitor was witnessed being swept over the precipice of Nevada Fall in Yosemite National Park.
[72]
Teen falls to death while trying to take a selfie at Yosemite National ...
Sep 6, 2018 · An 18-year-old hiker died Wednesday after falling off a cliff at Yosemite National Park, according to the National Park Service.
[73]
He dangled from the top of Yosemite's Nevada Fall for a selfie, but ...
Apr 17, 2019 · Tomer Frankfurter wanted an adventurous selfie photo as a keepsake of his Yosemite trip, so he ventured out on a ledge above 594-foot-high ...
[74]
Deaths in Yosemite National Park - Personal Injury Lawyer
Rating 4.9 (49) Between 2007 and 2023, there have been 53 fall deaths out of a total 163 deaths during the same time period. These deaths can be attributed to slips and trips, ...Common Causes of Yosemite... · Yosemite Deaths by Location
[75]
Closures - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Mist Trail between the Silver Apron and top of Nevada Fall will close intermittently for 4-6 hour periods between September 29 and October 24. These ...Missing: 2020 | Show results with:2020
[76]
Ranger & Interpretive Programs - Yosemite National Park (U.S. ...
Oct 29, 2025 · Yosemite offers a range of informative and inspiring walks or talks to learn about Yosemite. All regularly scheduled programs are listed on our calendar.
[77]
NPS App - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
The NPS App takes authoritative information from park rangers and combines it with a great suite of features. Here's a quick look at some of those features.Missing: talks | Show results with:talks
[78]
Preventive Search and Rescue: Keep Visitors Safe – 2020
The PSAR team shares key information to help people stay safe, stressing the importance of respecting guidelines, closures and railings; the value of carrying ...Missing: measures shuttle