Leavitt Falls (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, California, USA)

Special Topics

World's Best Waterfalls

Waterfalls
In The USA
Regions

Special States

Special Parks

Waterfalls
Around The World
The Americas

Asia

Oceania

Europe and Africa

Waterfall Community

Leavitt Falls

Leavitt Falls is an interesting multi-tiered waterfall in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest that makes for a nice roadside stop on the Sonora Pass Road well north of Lee Vining. It doesn't appear you can safely access the base of the falls as it sits in a rugged canyon facing the wide open Leavitt Meadow. However, you can see both the falls and the meadow from the roadside overlook right off of Hwy 108. Looking east from this area, you can see the rugged yet dry mountains that contrast with the lush pine forests in which the falls sits.

Directions: We visited this waterfall on an out-and-back driving excursion from Mammoth Lakes. It took us about 2 hours to drive each way with stops along the way to check out vistas of Mono Lake as well as checking out the alluring rustic town of Bridgeport. We headed west on Hwy 108 when it junctioned with Hwy 395 (staying on Hwy 395 would lead to Lake Tahoe).

I do recall the last hairpin turn as the road climbed on Hwy 108 was quite steep and Dad's minivan (since totalled by me when I hit a deer with it) struggled on it (though he did make it up). Just something to consider if you're taking an old beater up here.

[Back to top]

View of Leavitt Meadow from the falls overlook

View World of Waterfalls in a larger map