The 'Invisible' Waterfall of Yosemite: An Off-Trail Adventure

The 'Invisible' Waterfall of Yosemite: An Off-Trail Adventure. Join this hike to an enclosed area surrounded by vertical granite cliffs, amazing, exhilarating, and Awe-inspiring to the soul, if Yosemite NP can not get any better. The sheer rock walls make for a dramatic, immersive experience.

You should only attempt this hike if you have proper equipment and experience with strenuous, off-the-beaten-path trails.

TripAdvisor: Ribbon Fall is located on the west side of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park and is North America's longest single-drop waterfall. As a seasonal fall, it is most visible in early spring when it's fed by snowmelt and may be dry by July.

Viewing from the valley floor
For the most accessible views, you can see Ribbon Fall from several locations on the valley floor.
From Southside Drive near Bridalveil Fall: Find a pullout near signpost V14 on Southside Drive, about a half-mile east of the Bridalveil Fall turn. From this spot, you can see both Ribbon Fall and Bridalveil Fall.
From Valley View Lookout: Located along Northside Drive, this viewpoint provides a good perspective of Ribbon Fall.
From turnouts west of El Capitan: As you drive west on Northside Drive (CA 140) past El Capitan, look for a small turnout on your right about a mile beyond the granite face. This spot is near Ribbon Creek and offers views of the fall.
Hiking to the base
An unmaintained, informal trail leads to the base of Ribbon Fall, but it is a challenging hike and not encouraged by the National Park Service.
Trail details: The informal trail is about 2.5 miles each way, with a steep elevation gain of over 1,100 feet. You should only attempt this hike if you have proper equipment and experience with strenuous, off-the-beaten-path trails.
Safety warning: The hike involves potentially dangerous creek crossings and scrambling on slippery rocks, especially in spring when the water flow is high. There are no official signs for this route, and the National Park Service may remove rock cairns left by hikers.

Ribbon Creek is named for the waterfall it feeds, Ribbon Fall, which was so named because the narrow stream of water appears like a thin, graceful ribbon against the vast granite cliff face.
The name "Ribbon Fall" was popularized by early Yosemite pioneer James Hutchings, who translated the Native American name Lung-yo to-co-ya to mean something along the lines of "long and slender". This interpretation inspired the English name "Ribbon Fall".
The creek itself is a seasonal stream, fed entirely by snowmelt, and its flow dramatically reduces or dries up completely by late summer, which contributes to the perception of a slender, fleeting "ribbon" of water when it is flowing.

the base of ribbon fall is the amphitheater? Yes, the area at the base of Ribbon Fall is often referred to as the Ribbon Fall Amphitheater or a "box canyon". This name is used because the waterfall flows into a high, enclosed area surrounded by vertical granite cliffs, which creates an amphitheater-like setting.
This unique geological formation offers a spectacular view for those who make the strenuous, off-trail hike to its base. When the fall is flowing (typically in spring), the sheer rock walls make for a dramatic, immersive experience, where visitors are completely enclosed by nature, a feeling that cannot be replicated by viewing the falls from the valley floor road.
The area is also a popular spot for experienced rock climbers, with several routes established on the surrounding walls within the amphitheater.