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Sentinel Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA

About Sentinel Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Sentinel Falls is what I’d consider 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.

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.

Yosemite_Valley_002_06032011
Sentinel Falls with Sentinel Rock

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

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.

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

However, over the years, we’ve seen how snow pack levels affect both the timing and the vigor of the falls. So it’s conceivable that peak flow could happen as early as late March or as late as early June.

We’ve also been here too early when the falls was still frozen in Winter (or merely trickling as the thaw wasn’t extensive yet) as well as too late in Summer when the falls was pretty much dry.

If I had to guess when the best time to see the falls would be given the fluctuations in snow pack levels, I’d reckon the statistics would favor May as the time to see it flow reliably.

Authorities

Sentinel Falls resides in Yosemite National Park. For information or inquiries about the park as well as current conditions, visit the National Park Service website.

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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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