Jemez Falls, Waterfall in Sandoval County, United States.

Jemez Falls is the highest waterfall in the Jemez Mountains, on the East Fork of the Jemez River in the Santa Fe National Forest. The main drop is about 70 feet, with smaller falls just upstream; the water cascades and twists at the bottom. The surrounding forest is dominated by ponderosa pine.

The landscape around Jemez Falls was shaped roughly 1 million years ago by a supervolcano that left thick layers of tuff and lava across the region. Over time, the river carved its way through this volcanic material, forming the canyon and the stepped falls seen today.

The name Jemez comes from the East Fork of the Jemez River, which carries the falls and gives the surrounding Jemez Mountains their name. The trail begins at the Jemez Falls Campground and day-use area, where the river runs close by and anglers fish and kayakers run whitewater. The overlook at the end of the trail is where visitors take in the main drop.

The falls are reached by hiking Forest Trail 137, which starts from a marked parking area off Highway 4. The path involves some uneven ground near the water, so sturdy shoes with good grip are a practical choice.

Above the main drop, the East Fork of the Jemez River carries several smaller falls that many visitors walk past on the way to the overlook. The main cascade is about 70 feet high, and its flow swells noticeably when snow in the surrounding Ponderosa pine country melts.