The waterfall is located in lower Tahquitz Canyon, a short distance upstream from the visitor center.

The name of the canyon and its waterfall is from the spirit Tahquitz, a Cahuilla native of the Agua Caliente folklore.

[1] The river flows over a slab of granite atop the falls, after which it plunges about 60 feet (18 m)[2] into a pool.

[1] The canyon and its trail are owned and managed by the Agua Calientes Band of Cahuilla Indians.

[4] The Tahquitz Falls was also used as one of the prominent locations in the Jim Morrison's privately-funded 1969 film HWY: An American Pastoral.