Nevada Fall is a giant of a waterfall: 594 ft (181 m) of falling water, among the tallest in the country and a standout horsetail waterfall in California. It ranks #16 by height among the waterfalls in this guide.
Its water comes from Merced River. It lies in Mariposa, California. The site is on public land managed by Yosemite National Park (NPS).
This is a moderate hike waterfall: a longer day hike, roughly one to several miles each way. The walk to the main viewpoint runs about 5.4 miles round trip. The nearest town is Yosemite Valley.
When to go: Late spring (May-Jun). Like most waterfalls, Nevada Fall runs highest after snowmelt or heavy rain and can thin out in late summer, so it's worth checking recent streamflow and the land manager's conditions page before a long drive.
