Staircase Falls sits inside Yosemite National Park, so the walk in comes with the park around it: marked trails, signed junctions and, usually, other things worth a stop on the same day.
It is also one of the few falls we can link to a live USGS stream gauge, so you can check how much water is coming down before you leave home.
Part of the appeal of Staircase Falls is that it rewards a little effort: the closer you get, the cooler the air and the louder the water, and the photos rarely do it justice.
Geology and background
What makes Staircase Falls special
Staircase Falls is a series of waterfalls on the southern side of Yosemite Valley. The falls descend a total of 1,300 feet into the valley over a series of steps, and the name is literal: the water comes down in steps, one after another, rather than in a single drop. At 1,300 feet of total descent it is one of the tallest falls in the valley by the numbers, even though no single step dominates.
The timing is the catch. Staircase Falls is relatively ephemeral and is usually dry by the end of June. It is a spring fall, fed by snowmelt, and its season is short: a few months of running water, then a dry cliff for the rest of the year. Come in May and the steps are full; come in July and there is rock and no water.
Its position is easy to find. The falls are located immediately behind Camp Curry on cliffs below Glacier Point, on the southern side of the valley. Sentinel Fall is 1.4 miles away and Vernal Fall 1.8 miles away, so Staircase Falls sits among the valley’s best-known falls, close enough to pair with either in one walk.
The fall’s stepped form is the whole story: a series of steps down the cliffs below Glacier Point, descending 1,300 feet in total into Yosemite Valley. Each step is a short drop, and the steps add up to the total. The form is what the name describes, and it is why the fall reads as a staircase rather than a plunge.
Navigate by coordinates rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Prices and passes
Entry fee: $35.
Best time and crowds
Go in spring, while the snowmelt is running. Staircase Falls is usually dry by the end of June, so a summer visit is likely to find it gone. A stream gauge is linked on this page: check the live flow before you drive.
Yosemite Valley is busiest in late spring and summer. Arrive early or late: the middle of a summer weekend is peak time, and the valley’s parking lots can be full by 10 a.m.
Safety
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury. Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle. In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes: leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
A bag to pack out trash
Practical tips
Check the live gauge before you go: this fall is usually dry by the end of June, and the gauge tells you whether the trip is worth it.
Time the visit for spring snowmelt, not summer.
Look for it behind Camp Curry, on the cliffs below Glacier Point.
A waterfall is a stream caught in the middle of reshaping its valley. The plunge pool at the base is scoured out by falling water and the stones it carries, and the lip retreats a little with every flood.
Water flow and seasons
The stream that feeds Staircase Falls is tracked by USGS gauge 11264500. A reading well above the seasonal median means a fuller fall, and usually a wetter, muddier trail.
Flow tends to peak in spring with snowmelt and seasonal rain, and again for a day or two after a big storm. By late summer smaller falls can drop to a thin ribbon.
We do not have a trail length for Staircase Falls yet. Some falls are a few steps from a parking area, others take a real hike, so check the park or a trail app before you set out.
Swimming is not listed. Treat the plunge pool as off-limits unless signs say otherwise: the water at the base is colder and stronger than it looks.
Facilities and amenities
Facilities depend on Yosemite National Park: larger parks usually have a signed trailhead, restrooms and a parking area, while smaller reserves may have none of these.
Plan as if there is no drinking water and no phone signal at the falls themselves. Use the restroom and fill your bottles before you start walking.
Fees, permits, and opening hours
An entry fee of $35.00 is listed. Fees change, and some parks charge per vehicle rather than per person, so confirm before you go.
Most falls are reachable from dawn to dusk. Gates, seasonal road closures and timed-entry permits are the usual surprises, so check the managing agency on the day.
How to get to Staircase Falls
Staircase Falls is in Yosemite National Park, California. For the last stretch, navigate by coordinates (37.73504, -119.57489) rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream.
The final approach is usually the hardest part: narrow roads, small trailhead lots that fill early, and a walk that can be ten minutes or several hours. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Our California waterfalls page maps every fall in the state, which helps when you are planning a route.
For the fullest flow, visit Staircase Falls in spring or within a couple of days of heavy rain. For easier footing and warmer air, early summer is the compromise.
Light matters for photos: the base of a fall is often in shade by midday, and an overcast day evens out the bright water against dark rock.
Crowds and timing
Weekday mornings are the quietest. On summer weekends, popular falls can fill their parking by mid-morning, and the viewpoint becomes a queue.
Holiday weekends and the first warm days of spring are the busiest of all. If the lot is full, do not park on the road shoulder: it is the most common reason for tickets and towing at trailheads.
How long to spend there
Without a listed trail length, plan for half a day: enough time to find the trailhead, walk in, spend an hour at the water and walk out without rushing.
If there are other falls nearby, they are often on the same road or trail system. Two or three in a day is very doable.
Where to stay near Staircase Falls
We do not recommend specific places to stay. The links below search for hotels and campgrounds around Staircase Falls on Google Maps, so you can compare drive times from the trailhead.
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury.
Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle.
Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs. Only swim where it is allowed.
In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes. Leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
Leave no trace: pack out trash, stay off fragile moss and plants, and keep drones grounded where they are banned.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
Cash for parking
A bag to pack out trash
Practical visitor tips
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet: spray reaches further than you expect.
Keep your phone in a zip bag near the base.
Pack out everything, including food scraps.
Tell someone where you are going if the trail is long or remote.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Staircase Falls, California located?
Staircase Falls is in Yosemite National Park, California. Its GPS coordinates are 37.73504, -119.57489.
What kind of waterfall is Staircase Falls, California?
Its form (plunge, cascade, horsetail and so on) is not listed yet.
How tall is Staircase Falls?
Its height has not passed a source check yet, so we do not show a number or include it in tallest lists.
How much does it cost, and when is it open?
A fee of $35.00 is listed. Most falls are open dawn to dusk, but check the managing agency for gates and seasonal closures.
Is Staircase Falls good for families?
It depends on the trail, which we have not confirmed. Check the length and terrain first, and keep children well back from wet rock and the edge.
How do I know if it is flowing?
Check USGS gauge 11264500 for today’s streamflow, and the last three days of rain in the weather panel.
The bottom line
Staircase Falls is worth a detour, especially after rain. Check the flow before you go, start early to beat the crowds, and stay well back from the edge.
Waterfalls nearby
One fall rarely fills a day. These are within about 40 miles.
Leave a waterfall report