Tag: Nevada Fall

Nevada Fall is a 594 feet (181 m) waterfall in Yosemite National Park. It is located at the western end of Little Yosemite Valley, below the granite peak of Liberty Cap. At the top of the fall, the waters of the Merced River flow through a series of pools and cascades before majestically tumbling over the cliff.

Nevada Fall can be reached along the Mist Trail from Vernal Fall. It can be extremely difficult to take photographs along this trail because of the mist and spray in the air. About 260 feet (80 m) above Vernal is the Emerald Pool. This is a small, shallow, and deep-green lake. Immediately above this lake is Silver Apron (or Diamond Cascade). At Silver Apron the river cascades 30 feet (9 m) then splays out over a smooth, granite rock for about 60 feet (18 m), before flowing into the Emerald Pool. In early spring, when there is abundant water, a waterwheel can be seen around two-thirds of the way down. Beyond the Apron, views of the top of Nevada Fall are soon be glimpsed. The trail continues through switchbacks until a full view of Nevada Falls can be seen.  

The Indian name for Nevada Fall was Yowiwe (Yo-wi-we), meaning “twisting water”. This name was given because of the bent shape of the water as it falls and is then deflected by an obstruction near the base.

It was re-named Nevada (the Spanish for snow) by Lafayette Bunnell, a member of the Mariposa Battalion, who entered Yosemite Valley in 1851 in pursuit of the indigenous people of the valley. This was during the Mariposa Indian War. The white froth of the fall reminded him of an avalanche of snow.