The Merced River area was once home to the Paiute and Shoshone Native Americans. In 1806, Gabriel Morage led an expedition through the area and named the river El Rio de Nuestra Senora de la Merced. This photogenic river forms high in the pristine Sierra Nevada Mountains, located in the southeast corner of Yosemite National Park, California. Snow melt forms smaller creeks in the Ritter Range. These streams eventually flow together, combining into Merced Lake. From the lake, the river continues through Little Yosemite Valley and begins to drop at what is often called the Giant Staircase. The river cuts through granite on its way to a 595 foot high, Nevada Falls. The next fall is the beautiful Vernal Falls (317 ft). The final step of this staircase is Illouette Falls, a 370 foot drop. Here, the Merced begins to leave the park, flowing toward the San Joaquin River.