Waterfall Hikes Near Watsonville, CA

68,020 residents
Los Angeles Time Zone
15 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Watsonville has falls on three sides. Maple Falls, up the Aptos Creek canyon in Nisene Marks, runs 7.5 miles with 800 feet of gain and allows dogs. Over the hill near Morgan Hill, Uvas Canyon holds a tight cluster: Black Rock Falls and Basin Falls each take about two miles, Triple Falls three. Down the coast, Pfeiffer Falls in Big Sur drops 60 feet after a mile and a half. Fifteen falls sit within fifty miles, most of them loudest from December through April.

Located at 36.9206°N, -121.7708°W

Map of Waterfalls Near Watsonville

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

15 of 15 gauged

15 waterfalls near Watsonville have live flow data today

Berry Creek Falls Low Butano Falls Moderate Golden Falls Moderate Silver Falls Moderate Castle Rock Falls Barely Flowing McWay Falls Barely Flowing Pfeiffer Falls Barely Flowing Pine Falls Barely Flowing Tehan Falls Moderate

Updated about 1 hour ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

Saturday

Mostly Sunny · 69°F

Fri 75°F Sunny
Sat 69°F Mostly Sunny Best
Sun 66°F Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Mon 70°F Sunny
Tue 77°F Sunny
Wed 78°F Sunny
Thu 76°F Mostly Sunny

Flowing best right now near Watsonville

Updated about 1 hour ago

Ranked by live stream-gauge flow versus each waterfall's seasonal normal.

  1. 1 Tehan Falls Moderate · 5 cfs 66th percentile
  2. 2 Butano Falls Moderate · 6 cfs 34th percentile
  3. 3 Golden Falls Moderate · 6 cfs 34th percentile
  4. 4 Silver Falls Moderate · 6 cfs 34th percentile
  5. 5 Berry Creek Falls Low · 2 cfs 19th percentile
  6. 6 McWay Falls Barely Flowing · 16 cfs 1st percentile

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Watsonville hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Find waterfalls to hike near Watsonville

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🚗 Easy Waterfall Hikes Near Watsonville (4 waterfalls)

Easy access waterfalls are drive-up or short-walk friendly. Perfect for families, casual visitors, or anyone who loves waterfalls but is "so-so" about hiking.

🐕 Dog-Friendly Waterfall Hikes Around Watsonville (3 waterfalls)

Bring your four-legged friend along! These waterfalls welcome dogs on their trails.

Maple Falls waterfall

Maple Falls

11.5 miles away
California
Moderate
7.5 miles 800 ft

All 15 Waterfalls Near Watsonville

Triple Falls waterfall

Triple Falls

8.7 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 500 ft
Upper Falls waterfall

Upper Falls

9.1 miles away
California
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Black Rock Falls waterfall

Black Rock Falls

9.2 miles away
California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Basin Falls waterfall

Basin Falls

9.3 miles away
California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
LiDAR terrain view around Fiver Finger Falls in California, about 230 feet of drop LiDAR

Fiver Finger Falls

10.1 miles away
California
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Maple Falls waterfall

Maple Falls

11.5 miles away
California
Moderate
7.5 miles 800 ft
Castle Rock Falls waterfall

Castle Rock Falls

29.1 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft
Pfeiffer Falls waterfall

Pfeiffer Falls

32.9 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles 200 ft
Berry Creek Falls waterfall

Berry Creek Falls

33.1 miles away
California
Hard
10.5 miles 2 ft
Silver Falls waterfall

Silver Falls

33.7 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles 200 ft
Golden Falls waterfall

Golden Falls

33.8 miles away
California
Moderate
2.5 miles 400 ft
Pine Falls waterfall

Pine Falls

35.6 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 500 ft
Butano Falls waterfall

Butano Falls

38.9 miles away
California
Moderate
4.5 miles 500 ft
McWay Falls waterfall

McWay Falls

41.4 miles away
California
Easy
0.6 miles 100 ft
LiDAR terrain view around Tehan Falls in California, about 286 feet of drop LiDAR

Tehan Falls

43.9 miles away
California
Unknown
Unknown Unknown

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near Watsonville

Are there free waterfalls near Watsonville?

There are 2 free waterfalls near Watsonville, including Golden Falls.

Are there easy waterfall hikes near Watsonville?

There are 4 easy waterfall hikes near Watsonville, including Castle Rock Falls.

Are there dog friendly waterfalls in Watsonville?

There are 3 dog-friendly waterfalls near Watsonville, including Golden Falls.

Are there kid-friendly waterfalls near Watsonville?

There are 9 kid-friendly waterfalls near Watsonville, including Berry Creek Falls.

What is the shortest waterfall hike near Watsonville?

The shortest waterfall hike near Watsonville is Basin Falls at 0.6 miles round trip.

How tall are the waterfalls near Watsonville?

The tallest waterfall near Watsonville is McWay Falls at 80 feet.

Do any waterfalls near Watsonville require permits?

Yes, 1 waterfall near Watsonville requires a permit. Check individual trail pages for current permit details.

Can I camp near the waterfalls around Watsonville?

Yes, 3 waterfalls near Watsonville have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to Watsonville?

The closest waterfall to Watsonville is Triple Falls, approximately 8.7 miles away.

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Nearby Hot Springs

Hot springs near Watsonville, California

Sargent Estate Warm Spring

9.6 mi 77°F

Sargent Estate Warm Spring flows at 77°F in the hills east of Gilroy in the Diablo Range. The modest 19-degree temperature rise...
Sulphur Hot Spring

Sulphur Hot Spring

17.9 mi 100°F

Sulphur Hot Spring flows at 100 degrees in Monterey County near Seaside at just 36 feet elevation, essentially at-grade with th...

Gilroy Hot Springs

21.5 mi 106°F

Gilroy Hot Springs flows at 106 degrees Fahrenheit within Henry W. Coe State Park, a California Historical Landmark and Nationa...
Mineral Springs

Mineral Springs

24.3 mi 84°F

Mineral Springs flows at 84°F near East Foothills in the Santa Clara Valley foothills, creating a modest 25-degree temperature ...

Unnamed Spring Monterey County

31.9 mi 114°F

This exceptional 114-degree thermal spring near Carmel Valley Village flows at just 255 feet elevation, creating remarkably hot...
Alameda Warm Springs

Alameda Warm Springs

34.1 mi 80°F

Alameda Warm Springs flows at 80°F (27°C) in Mission Peak Regional Preserve near Milpitas, a modest thermal seep just 20 degree...

Looking for a soak after your hike? Explore more hot springs near Watsonville, California on SoakingSprings.

Explore California springs

Where to Stay

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Glamping Hipcamp

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RV Rentals Outdoorsy

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