It is located in a small canyon that cuts into the south wall of Yosemite Valley directly across from Vernal Fall.

There is no trail to the base of the fall, as the narrow canyon is craggy and inundated with rapids during the wet season.

It is possible - though not encouraged - to reach the base of the fall during low-flow months.

According to Lafayette Bunnell, the Ahwahneechee name of the waterfall was "Too-lool-lo-we-ak".

[2] "Illilouette" may have been a perversion of the waterfall's Ahwahneechee name, though this is not known with any certainty.