Waterfalls of the Southern and Central Sierras

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The Southern and Central Sierras feature an interesting mix of 14,000ft peaks, remote pine forests, groves of giant sequoia trees, deep river canyons, and ancient volcanic remnants.

In the rainshadow of this mountainous spine of California is the forbidding Death Valley. Nestled within the mountain range of this part of the Sierras are several national forests and national parks. The most notable reserves are Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (featuring some of the largest known living organisms on earth as well as one of the deepest canyons in the US) and the world famous Yosemite National Park.

Of course, Yosemite is a waterfall haven in its own right and we've devoted a section on just this park alone. Still, waterfalls galore in the remainder of this mountainous area and you could spend a lifetime trying to collect sightings of all of them.

Some of the more notable waterfalls we've seen in this region include Rainbow Falls in the Devils Postpile National Monument, Peppermint Creek Falls in the Sequoia National Forest, and Tokopah Falls in Sequoia National Park.

We've also visited some backcountry waterfalls requiring overnight backpacks such Moonlight Falls and the Big Pine Creek Waterfalls.

Indeed, we've collected the waterfalls in this area in a variety of weekend trips. Thus, such trips can easily be arranged by those wishing to escape the urban chaos of Los Angeles, San Fransisco, and even the sprawling Central Valley cities. Although we've seen our share of waterfalls in this area alone, we haven't come close to even seeing half of the waterfalls that exist out here!




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WATERFALLS

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4 Rainbow Falls Devil's Postpile National Monument	1.5 Lower Falls Devil's Postpile National Monument / Ansel Adams Wilderness	2.5 Minaret Falls Devil's Postpile National Monument
2 Lundy Canyon Waterfalls near Lee Vining / Inyo National Forest	2.5 Leavitt Falls near Sonora Pass / Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	2 Rancheria Falls Huntington Lake / Sierra National Forest
2.5 Grizzly Falls near Cedar Grove / Sequoia National Forest	1.5 Roaring River Falls Cedar Grove / Kings Canyon National Park	2 Mist Falls Cedar Grove / Kings Canyon National Park
1 Sheep Creek Cascade Cedar Grove / Kings Canyon National Park	1 Waterfalls on Kings Canyon Highway Sequoia National Forest / near Cedar Grove	3 Tokopah Falls Sequoia National Park / Lodgepole
1.5 Marble Falls Sequoia National Park	1.5 Black Wolf Falls Mineral King / Sequoia National Park	2.5 "Mineral King Falls" Mineral King / Sequoia National Park
1.5 Middle Fork Tule River Falls Sequoia National Forest	2.5 Nobe Young Falls near Ponderosa / Sequoia National Forest	3 Peppermint Creek Falls Sequoia National Forest
2.5 South Creek Falls near Kernville / Sequoia National Forest	1.5 Boulder Creek Falls near Ponderosa / Sequoia National Forest	1.5 Darwin Falls Death Valley National Park
2 Horsetail Falls John Muir Wilderness / Inyo National Forest	2.5 Twin Falls Mammoth Lakes / Inyo National Forest	1 Big Pine Creek Waterfalls Inyo National Forest
1.5 "Shadow Falls" Inyo National Forest	1.5 Moonlight Falls near Bishop / Inyo National Forest

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