Waterfall Hikes Near Portola Valley, CA

4,397 residents
Los Angeles Time Zone
17 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Looking for the best waterfalls to hike near Portola Valley? There are 17 waterfall hiking trails within a 50-mile radius of Portola Valley. These trails range from easy to moderate difficulty, providing options for both casual hikers and experienced adventurers looking to explore the region's natural beauty.

Located at 37.3711°N, -122.2202°W

Map of Waterfalls Near Portola Valley

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

17 of 17 gauged

4 of 17 waterfalls near Portola Valley are flowing strongly today

Berry Creek Falls Moderate Butano Falls Moderate Golden Falls Moderate Silver Falls Moderate Castle Rock Falls Roaring Cataract Falls Barely Flowing Dawn Falls Barely Flowing Huntington Falls Roaring Kent Falls Roaring Rainbow Falls Roaring Tehan Falls Barely Flowing

Updated 36 minutes ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

Thursday

Mostly Sunny · 71°F

Tue 77°F Sunny
Wed 74°F Mostly Sunny
Thu 71°F Mostly Sunny Best
Fri 76°F Mostly Sunny
Ind 77°F Sunny
Sun 76°F Mostly Sunny
Mon 74°F Mostly Sunny

Flowing best right now near Portola Valley

Updated about 1 hour ago

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

  1. 1 Castle Rock Falls Roaring · 2 cfs 100th percentile
  2. 2 Huntington Falls Roaring · 2 cfs 95th percentile
  3. 3 Kent Falls Roaring · 2 cfs 95th percentile
  4. 4 Rainbow Falls Roaring · 2 cfs 95th percentile
  5. 5 Butano Falls Moderate · 10 cfs 66th percentile
  6. 6 Golden Falls Moderate · 10 cfs 66th percentile

Know when to go.

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

Find waterfalls to hike near Portola Valley

Have your own travel site? Embed these waterfalls for free.

🚗 Easy Waterfall Hikes Near Portola Valley (2 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.

Silver Falls waterfall

Silver Falls

41.3 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles 200 ft
Castle Rock Falls waterfall

Castle Rock Falls

33.1 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft

🐕 Dog-Friendly Waterfall Hikes Around Portola Valley (7 waterfalls)

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

Golden Falls waterfall

Golden Falls

41.3 miles away
California
Moderate
2.5 miles 400 ft

All 17 Waterfalls Near Portola Valley

Butano Falls waterfall

Butano Falls

21.3 miles away
California
Moderate
4.5 miles 500 ft
Silver Falls waterfall

Silver Falls

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

Golden Falls

41.3 miles away
California
Moderate
2.5 miles 400 ft
Berry Creek Falls waterfall

Berry Creek Falls

44.5 miles away
California
Hard
10.5 miles 2 ft
Castle Rock Falls waterfall

Castle Rock Falls

33.1 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft

Tehan Falls

37.9 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Maple Falls waterfall

Maple Falls

48.8 miles away
California
Moderate
7.5 miles 800 ft
Huntington Falls waterfall CC

Huntington Falls

13.5 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Rainbow Falls waterfall

Rainbow Falls

13.4 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft

Fiver Finger Falls

32.9 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Basin Falls waterfall

Basin Falls

34.5 miles away
California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Black Rock Falls waterfall

Black Rock Falls

34.1 miles away
California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Upper Falls waterfall

Upper Falls

31.9 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Triple Falls waterfall

Triple Falls

31.5 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 500 ft
Kent Falls waterfall

Kent Falls

26.3 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Dawn Falls waterfall

Dawn Falls

24.3 miles away
California
Moderate
2.7 miles 400 ft
Cataract Falls waterfall

Cataract Falls

22.2 miles away
California
Moderate
2.6 miles 750 ft

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near Portola Valley

Are there free waterfalls near Portola Valley?

There are 6 free waterfalls near Portola Valley, including Cataract Falls.

Are there easy waterfall hikes near Portola Valley?

There are 2 easy waterfall hikes near Portola Valley, including Castle Rock Falls.

Are there dog friendly waterfalls in Portola Valley?

There are 7 dog-friendly waterfalls near Portola Valley, including Cataract Falls.

Are there kid-friendly waterfalls near Portola Valley?

There are 10 kid-friendly waterfalls near Portola Valley, including Berry Creek Falls.

What is the shortest waterfall hike near Portola Valley?

The shortest waterfall hike near Portola Valley is Basin Falls at 1.2 miles round trip.

How tall are the waterfalls near Portola Valley?

The tallest waterfall near Portola Valley is Castle Rock Falls at 80 feet.

Do any waterfalls near Portola Valley require permits?

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

Can I camp near the waterfalls around Portola Valley?

Yes, 5 waterfalls near Portola Valley have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to Portola Valley?

The closest waterfall to Portola Valley is Butano Falls, approximately 10.4 miles away.

🏙️ Other Cities Near Portola Valley With Waterfalls

Palo Alto, CA
67,901 residents
Stanford, CA
17,255 residents
Los Altos, CA
31,133 residents
North Fair Oaks, CA
13,718 residents
Redwood City, CA
83,077 residents
Menlo Park, CA
33,324 residents
Mountain View, CA
82,132 residents
San Carlos, CA
30,490 residents
East Palo Alto, CA
29,520 residents
Sunnyvale, CA
154,573 residents
Cupertino, CA
59,763 residents
Belmont, CA
27,820 residents

Nearby Hot Springs

Hot springs near Portola Valley, California

Mineral Springs

Mineral Springs

19.3 mi 84°F

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

Alameda Warm Springs

19.8 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...
Crohare Spring

Crohare Spring

32.1 mi 70°F

Crohare Spring emerges at 70°F from protected conservation lands near Livermore, flowing barely 9 degrees above ambient tempera...
Sulphur Spring

Sulphur Spring

34.4 mi 75°F

Sulphur Spring emerges at 75°F near San Francisco Bay, reaching temperatures 14.4 degrees warmer than the mild East Bay climate...

Springs

38.1 mi

These warm springs emerge in Contra Costa County's Mount Diablo foothills near Clayton at just 649 feet elevation, sitting bare...

Unnamed Spring Contra Costa County

40.2 mi 70°F

Mount Diablo State Park shelters this 70-degree thermal spring in warm, dry foothills just 17 meters from a paved road. The 10....

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

Explore California springs

Where to Stay

Hotels & Lodges Booking.com

Find hotels, lodges, and B&Bs near the trailhead
Cabins & Rentals VRBO

Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
RV Rentals Outdoorsy

Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

← → walk · Esc to stop