United States · Mariposa County
Chilnualna Falls
Chilnualna Falls is a series of waterfalls totaling 690 feet , located on Chilnualna Creek in the southern section of Yosemite National Park. The origin of the name is uncertain.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Chilnualna Falls drops 212 metres (696 ft) on the Chilnualna Creek, inside Yosemite Wilderness. It is a tiered-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Mariposa County, United States. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a tiered waterfall, a series of distinct drops, one below the other.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Chilnualna Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Mariposa County are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotographyWildlife & safari
When to go
Snowmelt-driven: April to June is the big-water window, and some falls almost disappear by late summer.
Getting there
- Base town Mariposa County, United States
- Country United States
- Region Mariposa County, United States, North America
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Chilnualna Falls
United States
Height212 mWidth—
Most similar
Multnomah Falls
United States
Height189 mWidth—
Also a tiered waterfall, of similar height and in the United States too
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
Angel Falls is 4.6× taller than Chilnualna Falls. It drops 2.0× further than Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Chilnualna Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
37.5634, -119.618
Quick answers
Where is Chilnualna Falls?
Chilnualna Falls is in United States (Mariposa County), inside Yosemite Wilderness. The nearest base is Mariposa County, United States. Its coordinates are 37.5634, -119.6180.
How tall is Chilnualna Falls?
Chilnualna Falls drops 212 metres (696 feet). It is a tiered-type waterfall on the Chilnualna Creek.
When is the best time to visit Chilnualna Falls?
Peak flow is April to June. Snowmelt-driven: April to June is the big-water window, and some falls almost disappear by late summer.
What can you do at Chilnualna Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking, photography and wildlife & safari. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Chilnualna Falls?
The usual base is Mariposa County, United States. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Chilnualna Falls
UNESCO Bridalveil Fall
Yosemite's most reliably year-round waterfall
UNESCO Vernal Fall
One of Yosemite's most-hiked destinations
UNESCO Nevada Fall
Upper anchor of Yosemite's famous Mist Trail
Full guide Yosemite Falls
Tallest waterfall in Yosemite, and among the tallest in North America