Waterfall Hikes in California (CA)
to explore
California’s waterfalls occur across varied terrain—from the high Sierra Nevada with granite cliffs, glacial valleys and alpine streams to the Coast Ranges and redwood coast, volcanic Cascades and Lassen area, and the dry desert canyons and coastal bluffs of the south. Trails range from short family-friendly paths near cities to moderate gorge hikes and strenuous remote canyon scrambles; the state’s extreme elevation and climate contrasts produce both snowmelt-fed towering plunges and ephemeral coastal and desert falls. See waterfalls near major California cities .
Popular Difficulties
Trail Types
Featured Parks
Parks in California
Flowing strongest right now in California
Updated about 2 hours agoRanked by live stream-gauge flow versus each waterfall's seasonal normal.
- 1 Burney Falls Roaring · 1960 cfs 100th percentile
- 2 Pit River Falls Roaring · 1960 cfs 100th percentile
- 3 Fossil Falls Roaring · 24 cfs 99th percentile
- 4 Ishi Pishi Falls Roaring · 156 cfs 93rd percentile
- 5 Middleman Falls Strong · 344 cfs 87th percentile
- 6 Preston Falls Strong · 51 cfs 87th percentile
Best Waterfall Hikes in California
Our top picks based on trail quality and scenic value.
All Waterfall Hikes in California
LiDAR
Run a travel blog? Embed California waterfalls on your site for free.
Major Cities in California
Pin This Guide
Save this California waterfall guide to your Pinterest board for your next adventure.
Pin It