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Destinations of Waterfalls ≫ North America Waterfalls ≫ USA Waterfalls and How To Visit Them ≫ California Waterfalls and How To Visit Them

Southern and Central Sierras Waterfalls (the spine of California) and How To Visit Them

Waterfalls in the Southern and Central Sierras (the spine of California)

Southern and Central Sierras Waterfalls
Southern and Central Sierras Waterfalls
California Southern and Central Sierras Waterfalls Map
Click for the interactive map

The Southern and Central Sierras Waterfalls page is where we focus on the waterfalls in pretty much the eastern center of California in the mountainous Sierra Nevada Range. This area pretty much represents the spine of California as the Sierra Nevada mountain range dominates and follows most of the length of the state.  Since this spine contains 14,000ft peaks as well as deep canyons, it comes as no surprise that many of the state’s most notable waterfalls are found here.

For the purposes of this page, this region covers the inland area east of Central Valley south of Sacramento’s latitude and north of (but not including) the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains.  It encompasses the forbidding Death Valley National Park as well as the more famous reserve like Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks as well as Yosemite National Park.

Indeed, we’ve collected the waterfalls in this area over a variety of weekend trips. Although we’ve seen our share of waterfalls in this region alone (as you can see in the waterfall map above), we haven’t come close to even seeing half of the waterfalls that exist out here!

So we’re always keen to add to this page with more waterfall sightings in our spine of our home state of California. In the mean time, have a look at our waterfall survey so far, and explore the real treasures of the Golden State…

Top 10 Lists that feature Southern and Central Sierras Waterfalls

Top 10 Best Waterfalls in California & How To Visit Them

Top 10 Best Waterfalls in Yosemite & How To Visit Them

Top 10 Best Waterfalls of the USA & How To Visit Them

Top 10 Best Waterfalls of the World & How To Visit Them

Top 10 Tallest Waterfalls – based on cumulative height

Top 10 Tallest Waterfalls – based on highest vertical drop

Most Recent Waterfall Write-ups

Angel Falls and Devils Slide

Sierra National Forest / Bass Lake / Oakhurst, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

Corlieu Falls and Red Rock Falls

Sierra National Forest / Bass Lake / Oakhurst, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Whiskey Falls (Whisky Falls)

Sierra National Forest / Bass Lake, California, USA
Rating: 1

Sardine Falls

Sonora Pass / Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

Onion Valley Waterfalls

Inyo National Forest / Independence, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Moonlight Falls

Inyo National Forest / Bishop, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

“Glacier Point Falls”

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 1

“Shadow Falls”

Inyo National Forest, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Big Pine Creek Waterfalls

Inyo National Forest, California, USA
Rating: 1

Darwin Falls

Death Valley National Park / Panamint Springs, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Boulder Creek Falls

Sequoia National Forest / Ponderosa, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Marble Falls

Sequoia National Park / Generals Highway, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Black Wolf Falls

Sequoia National Park / Mineral King, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

“Mineral King Falls”

Sequoia National Park / Silver City, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

Sheep Creek Cascade

Kings Canyon National Park / Cedar Grove, California, USA
Rating: 1

Mist Falls

Kings Canyon National Park / Cedar Grove, California, USA
Rating: 2

“Quaking Aspen Falls”

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 1

“Cathedral Lake Falls”

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 1

Lee Vining Canyon Waterfalls

Yosemite National Park / Lee Vining, California, USA
Rating: 1

California Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 1

LeConte Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

Waterwheel Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

“Mattie Falls”

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Tuolumne Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

White Cascade (Glen Aulin Falls)

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 2

Lehamite Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 1

Widow’s Tears

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 1

“Tilltill Creek Falls”

Yosemite National Park / Hetch Hetchy, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Rancheria Falls

Yosemite National Park / Hetch Hetchy, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Foresta Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 2

“Tamarack Creek Falls”

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 1

Carlon Falls

Yosemite National Park / Stanislaus National Forest / Groveland, California, USA
Rating: 2

“El Capitan Falls”

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 1

“Mirror Lake Falls”

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 1

Horsetail Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 2

Snow Creek Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 3

Pywiack Cascade

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 2

Alder Creek Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

Staircase Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Royal Arch Cascade

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 1

Silver Strand Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 2

Chilnualna Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 3.5

Lundy Canyon Waterfalls

Inyo National Forest / Hoover Wilderness / Lee Vining, California, USA
Rating: 3

Leavitt Falls

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest / Sonora Pass, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

Rancheria Falls

Sierra National Forest / Huntington Lake, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

Vernal Fall

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 4

Nevada Fall

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 4

Illilouette Fall

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 4

Tueeulala Fall

Yosemite National Park / Hetch Hetchy, California, USA
Rating: 2

Wapama Falls

Yosemite National Park / Hetch Hetchy, California, USA
Rating: 3.5

Unnamed Waterfalls in Hetch Hetchy

Yosemite National Park / Hetch Hetchy, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Yosemite Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 4.5

Sentinel Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

Cascade Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 3.5

Wildcat Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Nobe Young Falls

Sequoia National Forest / Ponderosa, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

Peppermint Creek Falls

Sequoia National Forest / The Needles, California, USA
Rating: 3

South Creek Falls

Sequoia National Forest / Kernville, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

Middle Fork Tule River Falls

Sequoia National Forest / Porterville, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Grizzly Falls

Sequoia National Forest / Cedar Grove, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

Roaring River Falls

Kings Canyon National Park / Cedar Grove, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Waterfalls on Kings Canyon Highway

Sequoia National Forest / Cedar Grove, California, USA
Rating: 1

Tokopah Falls

Sequoia National Park / Lodgepole, California, USA
Rating: 3

Horsetail Falls

Inyo National Forest / John Muir Wilderness, California, USA
Rating: 2

Twin Falls

Inyo National Forest / Mammoth Lakes, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

Rainbow Falls

Devils Postpile National Monument, California, USA
Rating: 3.5

Lower Falls (of the San Joaquin River)

Devils Postpile National Monument / Ansel Adams Wilderness, California, USA
Rating: 1.5

Minaret Falls

Devils Postpile National Monument / Inyo National Forest, California, USA
Rating: 2.5

Bridalveil Fall

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 4

Ribbon Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Rating: 3.5



Most Recent User-submitted Waterfalls from this Region

Autumn Ridge Road WASHED OUT

Elusive Pywiack

Three Chutes Falls

This Place is HEAVEN!! (Peppermint Creek Falls)

Spectacular Waterfall this time of year…

Yosemite and Snow Creek Falls

Hiker 2020 Cascade Falls, California

Carlon Falls found!

Since 1962 (Rancheria Falls)

My Glen Aulin Backpacking Trip


Have you been to a waterfall in this region? Submit a write-up/review and share


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© 2006-2025 World Of Waterfalls,
All Rights Reserved
The content on this website may not be copied or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior written permission.
HOME | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS

Powered by Kinsta

Affiliate Disclosure: We receive compensation from companies whose products or services are used, referenced, or reviewed regardless of whether we endorse or criticize them.  We are independently owned so content written by us merely reflect our own opinions. more