Waterfall Hikes Near San Carlos, CA

30,490 residents
Los Angeles Time Zone
20 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Looking for the best waterfalls to hike near San Carlos? There are 20 waterfall hiking trails within a 50-mile radius of San Carlos. 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 37.4982°N, -122.2677°W

Map of Waterfalls Near San Carlos

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

20 of 20 gauged

20 waterfalls near San Carlos have live flow data today

Alamere Falls Barely Flowing Berry Creek Falls Low Butano Falls Low Golden Falls Low Silver Falls Low Castle Rock Falls Moderate Cataract Falls Moderate Dawn Falls Moderate Green Valley Falls Moderate Huntington Falls Moderate Kent Falls Moderate Rainbow Falls Moderate Tehan Falls Barely Flowing

Updated 20 minutes ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

Sunday

Mostly Sunny · 74°F

Tod 81°F Sunny
Wed 79°F Mostly Cloudy
Thu 73°F Partly Sunny
Fri 75°F Mostly Sunny
Sat 76°F Mostly Sunny
Sun 74°F Mostly Sunny Best
Mon 74°F Partly Sunny

Flowing best right now near San Carlos

Updated 35 minutes ago

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

  1. 1 Green Valley Falls Moderate · 2 cfs 41st percentile
  2. 2 Huntington Falls Moderate · 0 cfs 35th percentile
  3. 3 Kent Falls Moderate · 0 cfs 35th percentile
  4. 4 Rainbow Falls Moderate · 0 cfs 35th percentile
  5. 5 Castle Rock Falls Moderate · 1 cfs 34th percentile
  6. 6 Cataract Falls Moderate · 0 cfs 26th percentile

Know when to go.

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

Find waterfalls to hike near San Carlos

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

🚗 Easy Waterfall Hikes Near San Carlos (3 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

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

Castle Rock Falls

47.5 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft

🐕 Dog-Friendly Waterfall Hikes Around San Carlos (8 waterfalls)

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

Golden Falls waterfall

Golden Falls

18.2 miles away
California
Moderate
2.5 miles 400 ft
Huntington Falls waterfall CC

Huntington Falls

45 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft

All 20 Waterfalls Near San Carlos

Butano Falls waterfall

Butano Falls

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

Silver Falls

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

Golden Falls

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

Berry Creek Falls

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

Castle Rock Falls

47.5 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft
Huntington Falls waterfall CC

Huntington Falls

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

Rainbow Falls

45 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft

Tehan Falls

23.3 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Kent Falls waterfall

Kent Falls

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

Dawn Falls

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

Cataract Falls

25.3 miles away
California
Moderate
2.6 miles 750 ft
Maple Falls waterfall

Maple Falls

8.6 miles away
California
Moderate
7.5 miles 800 ft

Fiver Finger Falls

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

Basin Falls

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

Black Rock Falls

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

Upper Falls

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

Triple Falls

14 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 500 ft
Green Valley Falls waterfall

Green Valley Falls

8.9 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles 100 ft
Alamere Falls waterfall

Alamere Falls

30.4 miles away
California
Hard
13.0 miles 1,600 ft
Haraszthy Falls waterfall CC

Haraszthy Falls

29.2 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near San Carlos

Are there free waterfalls near San Carlos?

There are 7 free waterfalls near San Carlos, including Alamere Falls.

Are there easy waterfall hikes near San Carlos?

There are 3 easy waterfall hikes near San Carlos, including Castle Rock Falls.

Are there dog friendly waterfalls in San Carlos?

There are 8 dog-friendly waterfalls near San Carlos, including Cataract Falls.

Are there kid-friendly waterfalls near San Carlos?

There are 11 kid-friendly waterfalls near San Carlos, including Berry Creek Falls.

Can you swim in any waterfalls near San Carlos?

There is 1 waterfall that allows swimming near San Carlos, including Green Valley Falls.

What is the shortest waterfall hike near San Carlos?

The shortest waterfall hike near San Carlos is Alamere Falls at 1.2 miles round trip.

How tall are the waterfalls near San Carlos?

The tallest waterfall near San Carlos is Castle Rock Falls at 80 feet.

Do any waterfalls near San Carlos require permits?

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

Can I camp near the waterfalls around San Carlos?

Yes, 8 waterfalls near San Carlos have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to San Carlos?

The closest waterfall to San Carlos is Butano Falls, approximately 14.6 miles away.

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Nearby Hot Springs

Hot springs near San Carlos, California

Alameda Warm Springs

Alameda Warm Springs

15.6 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...
Mineral Springs

Mineral Springs

24.9 mi 84°F

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

Crohare Spring

27.9 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

30.2 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...

Unnamed Spring Solano County

33.6 mi 73°F

Near Benicia in Solano County, this 73-degree spring flows at 218 feet, 14 degrees warmer than ambient, just 68.5 meters from L...

Springs

33.9 mi

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

Looking for a soak after your hike? Explore more hot springs near San Carlos, 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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