Chilnualna Fall is a waterfall in Mariposa County, California at about 1,946 m (6,385 ft) above sea level. It is part of Yosemite Wilderness. It sits roughly 20 km (12 mi) S of Yosemite Valley. Its recorded drop is about 212 m (696 ft).
Chilnualna Falls is a series of waterfalls totaling 690 feet (210 m), located on Chilnualna Creek in the southern section of Yosemite National Park. The origin of the name is uncertain. Shirley Sargent recorded two explanations: that Chilnualna was Paiute for “leaping waters,” and, according to a Wawona resident, that it meant “many rocks.” The falls are a popular horseback riding destination. Chilnualna Falls consists of five tiers ranging from 30 to 300 feet (9–91 m) in height. The first tier is 90–120 feet (27–36 m) high. The second is a 30-foot (9 m) high cascade. The third and largest is 300 feet (91 m) high. The fourth is 60 feet (18 m) high. The final tier is a 180–210 foot (54–64 m) high cascade. The trailhead to the falls is in the northeastern portion of Wawona, at the end of the paved portion of Chilnualna Falls Road. The trailhead elevation is approximately 4,000 feet...From the Wikipedia article “Chilnualna Falls”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Chilnualna Fall the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:03 AM | 90° E | 7:11 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:38 AM | 59° ENE | 8:24 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 46m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:47 AM | 89° E | 6:57 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:10 AM | 120° ESE | 4:44 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 34m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Waterfalls photograph best in soft, even light: overcast days, deep shade, or the hour after sunrise before direct sun hits the water. Bright sun on white water blows highlights and adds harsh contrast.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:44 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:52 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:04 PM | 5:33 PM | 9h 51m |
| February | 6:22 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:25 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:05 PM | 10h 49m |
| March | 6:44 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:45 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:06 PM | 7:32 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:57 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:59 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:34 PM | 8:01 PM | 13h 10m |
| May | 5:21 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:24 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:31 PM | 14h 11m |
| June | 5:06 AM | 5:38 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:53 PM | 14h 45m |
| July | 5:19 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:20 PM | 8:51 PM | 14h 31m |
| August | 5:47 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:53 PM | 8:20 PM | 13h 37m |
| September | 6:15 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:16 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:34 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:41 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:23 PM | 6:49 PM | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:11 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:18 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:17 PM | 10h 10m |
| December | 6:38 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:11 PM | 9h 35m |
Local time (America/Los Angeles), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Chilnualna Fall, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 4:56 AM – 5:16 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:03 AM – 5:33 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:06 AM – 4:46 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:05 AM – 3:55 AM | 3.8 | 24° | SE → S |
| June | 10:15 PM – 3:35 AM | 5.3 | 24° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:09 PM – 2:09 AM | 4.0 | 24° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:29 PM – 12:09 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 8:36 PM – 10:06 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:49 PM – 8:09 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.58 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 15% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (54%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 60 | 64 | 67 | 72 | 86 | 91 | 96 | 91 | 90 | 82 | 74 | 62 |
| Low °F | -9 | -7 | -4 | -3 | 15 | 24 | 39 | 34 | 23 | 14 | -9 | -12 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.4 | 4.7 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 4.8 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this waterfall
- Use 1/4 to 1 second for a silky look; 1/500 s or faster freezes individual drops.
- A circular polarizer cuts glare on wet rocks and leaves and deepens greens — rotate it while watching the rocks, not the sky.
- Spring snowmelt and the days after heavy rain give the strongest flow; late summer flow can drop to a trickle.
- Look for a foreground: a mossy boulder, a fallen log or the creek's leading lines make a stronger frame than the falls alone.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Peak flow is usually in late spring; autumn adds color around the falls, and winter can bring ice formations at colder locations.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Circular polarizer, 3–6 stop ND filter, Lens cloth, Waterproof footwear. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drones may not take off from or land in federally designated wilderness, where mechanized equipment is prohibited under the Wilderness Act.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Chilnualna Fall, closest first.
Covered Bridge
Waterfall
Lake
Fire Lookout
Fire LookoutWaterfall
WaterfallWaterfallWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Wawona Horse Campsites4.1 km (2.6 mi) · reservable
- Wawona Campground4.3 km (2.7 mi) · reservable
- Summerdale Campground8.3 km (5.2 mi) · reservable
- Bridalveil Creek Campground11.0 km (6.8 mi) · reservable
- Kelty Meadow15.2 km (9.4 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Chilnualna Fall?
What time is golden hour at Chilnualna Fall?
Where does the sun rise and set at Chilnualna Fall?
Can you see the Milky Way from Chilnualna Fall?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Chilnualna Fall?
How far is Chilnualna Fall from Yosemite Valley?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, USGS GNIS / GeoNames, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.