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Sentinel Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA

About Sentinel Falls

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Sentinel Falls is what I’d consider to be one of those second-tier seasonal waterfalls in Yosemite.

What I mean by “second-tier seasonal waterfalls” is that these are more substantial than the ephemeral waterfalls like Horsetail Falls.

Yosemite_Valley_002_06032011 - Sentinel Falls with Sentinel Rock
Sentinel Falls with Sentinel Rock

However, they’re not in the class of Cascade Falls.

I’d say it’s a little bit below Ribbon Falls in terms of waterflow.

Anyways, I suspect this waterfall got its name from its proximity to the giant monolith towering over it known as Sentinel Rock.

The falls is said to have over 2,000ft in cumulative height as it drops over multiple steps on its way from its source by Pothole Meadows (near the Glacier Point Road) to the valley below.

Yosemite_Valley_134_06032011 - Sentinel Falls in pretty high Spring flow accompanied by a thinner companion waterfall in the next drainage over
Sentinel Falls in pretty high Spring flow accompanied by a thinner companion waterfall in the next drainage over

Speaking of the source, the waterfall is best seen during the peak snowmelt period, which typically happens in the late Spring.

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Tagged with: oakhurst, el portal, mariposa, yosemite, yosemite valley, sierra, california, waterfall, fresno, modesto, four-mile trail, glacier point, pohono, taft point, sentinel dome, columbia



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