Waterfall Hikes Near San Francisco, CA

3,364,979 residents
Los Angeles Time Zone
15 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Golden Gate Park keeps two waterfalls inside the city. Huntington Falls tumbles down Strawberry Hill on a mile loop, and Rainbow Falls waits just off JFK Drive, both fine for dogs. Marin holds the serious walking. On Mount Tamalpais, Cataract Falls earns its 750 feet of gain across 2.6 miles of creekside trail. Alamere at Point Reyes lands on sand, a forty foot drop reached by thirteen hard miles and 1,600 feet of climbing. Fifteen falls make the circle.

Located at 37.7558°N, -122.4449°W

Map of Waterfalls Near San Francisco

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

15 of 15 gauged

9 of 15 waterfalls near San Francisco are flowing strongly today

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

Updated about 3 hours ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny · 64°F

Aft 64°F Mostly Sunny Best
Sat 64°F Slight Chance Drizzle then Partly Sunny
Sun 65°F Partly Sunny
Mon 64°F Mostly Cloudy
Tue 66°F Mostly Cloudy
Wed 68°F Partly Sunny
Thu 66°F Partly Sunny

Flowing best right now near San Francisco

Updated about 1 hour ago

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

  1. 1 Cataract Falls Roaring · 0 cfs 99th percentile
  2. 2 Dawn Falls Roaring · 0 cfs 99th percentile
  3. 3 Huntington Falls Roaring · 1 cfs 96th percentile
  4. 4 Kent Falls Roaring · 1 cfs 96th percentile
  5. 5 Rainbow Falls Roaring · 1 cfs 96th percentile
  6. 6 Butano Falls Strong · 4 cfs 80th percentile

Know when to go.

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Find waterfalls to hike near San Francisco

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🚗 Easy Waterfall Hikes Near San Francisco (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.

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

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

Huntington Falls waterfall CC

Huntington Falls

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

Rainbow Falls

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

Dawn Falls

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

Cataract Falls

23 miles away
California
Moderate
2.6 miles 750 ft

All 15 Waterfalls Near San Francisco

Huntington Falls waterfall CC

Huntington Falls

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

Rainbow Falls

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

Kent Falls

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

Dawn Falls

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

Cataract Falls

23 miles away
California
Moderate
2.6 miles 750 ft
Alamere Falls waterfall

Alamere Falls

31 miles away
California
Hard
13.0 miles 1,600 ft

Tehan Falls

18.4 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Haraszthy Falls waterfall CC

Haraszthy Falls

32.1 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Butano Falls waterfall

Butano Falls

13.7 miles away
California
Moderate
4.5 miles 500 ft
Golden Falls waterfall

Golden Falls

11.4 miles away
California
Moderate
2.5 miles 400 ft
Silver Falls waterfall

Silver Falls

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

Berry Creek Falls

15 miles away
California
Hard
10.5 miles 2 ft
Green Valley Falls waterfall

Green Valley Falls

46.2 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles 100 ft
Linda Falls waterfall

Linda Falls

46 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Castle Rock Falls waterfall

Castle Rock Falls

33.2 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near San Francisco

Are there free waterfalls near San Francisco?

There are 8 free waterfalls near San Francisco, including Alamere Falls.

Are there easy waterfall hikes near San Francisco?

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

Are there dog friendly waterfalls in San Francisco?

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

Are there kid-friendly waterfalls near San Francisco?

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

Can you swim in any waterfalls near San Francisco?

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

What is the shortest waterfall hike near San Francisco?

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

How tall are the waterfalls near San Francisco?

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

Do any waterfalls near San Francisco require permits?

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

Can I camp near the waterfalls around San Francisco?

Yes, 9 waterfalls near San Francisco have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to San Francisco?

The closest waterfall to San Francisco is Huntington Falls, approximately 1.9 miles away.

Waterfall Hikes Near San Francisco, CA Pinterest Guide

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

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