![]() NOTE: All swift water and waterfalls are inherently dangerous. Many are well-suited for overnight backcountry camping. Strenuous = these falls can be seen after a hike of more than 2-miles one way with significant change in elevation. Many are situated near lovely campgrounds for an easy camping adventure. Moderate = these falls can be seen after a hike of less than 2-miles one way with less than 500 feet of elevation change and some may involve a little rock scrambling. Nonetheless the hikes are wonderful and, when suitably prepared, an Eastern Sierra waterfall adventure can be an incredible experience.Įasy = these falls can be seen from the roadside or a parking lot which is accessed by motorized vehicle or after a short hike of less than a half mile and under 200 feet of elevation gain. It should be noted that many of these can only be seen from a distance. Viewing and/or access to each waterfall has been graded easy, moderate, or strenuous. In some cases, falls can be seen from vista points along these roads, but most require a hike of at least a mile and often significantly more. All waterfalls, and/or the trailheads to the falls, are accessed along spur roads off US-395. The list is compiled showing the proximity of each falls from the nearest town along scenic US Highway 395 from Lone Pine to Lee Vining. This guide is set up to show where each of the noteworthy falls is located and how best to see, photograph, and get near them. Many of these are notable and worthy of the effort to see them. These connections, on the steep Sierra escarpment of the eastside, produce countless waterfalls and cascades. Over 2,000 lakes, formed by the Pleistocene epoch glaciers that receded only a little less than 12,000 years ago, create a glacial staircase of connected lakes. So there is a constant supply of water year-round. Many areas of snow and ice don’t completely melt during the summer with some of these forming true glaciers. In summer and warm periods the snow and ice melt and water flows into innumerable glacial lakes and continues down canyons into more lakes and creeks. About 20 to 80 inches of precipitation falls annually, most of it in fall, winter, and spring, and generally in the form of snow above 6,000 feet. It causes precipitation to fall from the moisture-laden airmasses that originate in the Pacific Ocean as they move eastward. This immense range is the ‘water trap’ for California. The westside of the Sierra Nevada has a gradual incline to the higher elevations, but the eastside rises dramatically and sometimes near-vertically from the valley floors below. Whitney, which stands at 14,505 ft above sea level. It also boasts the highest point in the contiguous United States, Mt. ![]() It rises to well over 9,000 ft all along its crest and has over 120 peaks above 13,000 ft. The Sierra Nevada is a mighty mountain range in central and eastern California that runs for 400 miles, north-to-south, and about 70 miles, east-to-west. Whitney, the highest peak on the continental USA. You could spend a day, a week, a month, or a lifetime here and every experience will be unique and enchanting. Take some time to study this guide and make a plan to visit as many of these beautiful falls as you can. That means a visit to a wild and scenic waterfall in the Sierra Nevada is an extraordinary experience. Many more can only be seen from hiking trails within our national forest and wilderness areas. Some of our beautiful falls can be seen from vista points along mountain roads that will take you well into the alpine and sub-alpine regions of the Sierra Nevada. Trips to see backcountry waterfalls will provide good exercise and optimize time spent on earth. A visit to one or more of the waterfalls in our big backyard will surely result in improved mood, reduced anxiety, and restore attention capacity and mental fatigue. Not because they’re the biggest or highest, but because of the settings! Our waterfalls exist in one of the most scenic parts of our country and the most photographed region in California.Ī recent study in the United Kingdom, conducted by The University of Derby and The Wildlife Trusts, found that increased and sustained connections to nature significantly improved people’s health, happiness, and pro-nature behaviors. Our guests tell us that our waterfalls are some of the most spectacular they’ve seen. Whether it’s a close-up view or long-distance vista we feel a harmonious balance with nature that is good for the body and soul. The sound and scene of flowing water, particularly when it’s falling over a rocky cliff or cascading down a rocky chute, instills a sense of wonder and peace. So, we’re delighted you’ve found our page all about waterfalls in the Eastern Sierra. We love waterfalls and we think you might too. Lone Pine Creek Waterfall, Whitney Portal.
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