Ribbon Falls Viewpoint

Ribbon Fall drops off the sheer western face of El Capitan in a single, unbroken plunge of 1,612 feet — the longest single-drop waterfall in North America. It's also the most fleeting of Yosemite Valley's big falls: fed entirely by spring snowmelt, it runs hard for a few weeks each year and then thins out, often disappearing by midsummer while Yosemite and Bridalveil Falls are still going strong.

When to See It

Ribbon Fall crests with the broader spring runoff, generally in the weeks spanning April through June depending on that winter's snowpack, then dries to a trickle or nothing as the season turns. Show up in late summer expecting a waterfall and you'll find a bare streak of granite instead — this is not a year-round attraction, so check conditions before building a visit around it.

Getting There

Most people see Ribbon Fall from the valley floor — pullouts along Northside Drive near El Capitan Meadow give a clear, no-hiking view. For a closer look, a use trail climbs toward a viewpoint near its base, picking up from the Valley Loop Trail and Old Big Oak Flat Road. AllTrails logs this route at roughly 2.5 miles round trip with 1,345 feet of elevation gain, rated hard and typically taking 2 to 2.5 hours. It's unmaintained and lightly signed, with real route-finding and loose, steep footing — not a casual add-on to a valley-floor day.

Good to Know

Because the fall only runs during peak snowmelt, rock and footing near the base can be wet and slick, and the viewpoint area has exposed drop-offs. Stay back from any edge, and skip the scramble to the base if the trail is wet or the route isn't obvious.