Waterfall Hikes in California (CA)

5 Parks
1546 Major Cities
181 Waterfalls

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

Moderate: 131 trails
Easy: 35 trails
Hard: 15 trails

Trail Types

Loop: 4 trails
Out And Back: 176 trails
Out And Back: 1 trails

Featured Parks

Channel Islands
Joshua Tree
Lassen Volcanic

Parks in California

Steep, rugged ocean cliffs extending in an island chain.

California

0 Waterfalls

0.0 Total Trail Miles

The sky turns hues of pink and purple over a field of Joshua trees.

California

0 Waterfalls

0.0 Total Trail Miles

A frozen lake below snow-covered trees and peak

California

3 Waterfalls

7.6 Total Trail Miles

Boulders in the Balconies Cave.

California

0 Waterfalls

0.0 Total Trail Miles

A mountain reflecting in a lake.

California

33 Waterfalls

152.3 Total Trail Miles

Flowing strongest right now in California

Updated about 3 hours ago

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

  1. 1 Cholollo Falls Roaring · 6 cfs 94th percentile
  2. 2 South Creek Falls Roaring · 6 cfs 94th percentile
  3. 3 Salmon Creek Falls Roaring · 6 cfs 94th percentile
  4. 4 Alamere Falls Roaring · 9 cfs 93rd percentile
  5. 5 Finnegan Falls Roaring · 690 cfs 92nd percentile
  6. 6 Tehan Falls Roaring · 5 cfs 92nd percentile

Best Waterfall Hikes in California

Our top picks based on trail quality and scenic value.

Chagoopa Falls waterfall

Chagoopa Falls

California
Hard
30.0 miles 6 ft
Waterwheel Falls waterfall

Waterwheel Falls

In Yosemite National Park
California
Hard
18.0 miles 2 ft
Canyon Creek Falls waterfall

Canyon Creek Falls

California
Hard
16.0 miles 2 ft
California Falls waterfall

California Falls

In Yosemite National Park
California
Hard
15.0 miles 2 ft
Alamere Falls waterfall

Alamere Falls

California
Hard
13.0 miles 1,600 ft
White Cascade waterfall

White Cascade

In Yosemite National Park
California
Moderate
11.0 miles 800 ft

All Waterfall Hikes in California

Alamere Falls waterfall

Alamere Falls

California
Hard
13.0 miles 1,600 ft
Andreas Falls waterfall

Andreas Falls

California
Easy
1.6 miles 100 ft
Angel Falls waterfall

Angel Falls

California
Moderate
3.0 miles 500 ft
Ash Creek Falls waterfall

Ash Creek Falls

California
Moderate
4.0 miles 500 ft
Basin Falls waterfall

Basin Falls

California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Bassi Falls waterfall

Bassi Falls

27.7 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft
Bear Canyon Falls waterfall

Bear Canyon Falls

California
Moderate
4.5 miles 800 ft
Bear Creek Falls waterfall

Bear Creek Falls

California
Moderate
2.5 miles 500 ft
Berry Creek Falls waterfall

Berry Creek Falls

California
Hard
10.5 miles 2 ft
Big Falls waterfall

Big Falls

California
Easy
0.7 miles 100 ft
Black Rock Falls waterfall

Black Rock Falls

California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Blue Canyon Falls waterfall

Blue Canyon Falls

44.1 miles away
California
Hard
4.0 miles 800 ft
Bluff Falls waterfall

Bluff Falls

In Lassen Volcanic National Park
California
Easy
1.5 miles 200 ft
LiDAR terrain view around Bonita Falls in California, about 429 feet of drop LiDAR

Bonita Falls

California
Moderate
1.5 miles 200 ft
Bridalveil Fall waterfall

Bridalveil Fall

In Yosemite National Park
California
Easy
0.5 miles 80 ft
Bunnell Cascade waterfall

Bunnell Cascade

In Yosemite National Park
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Burney Falls waterfall

Burney Falls

California
Easy
1.0 miles 100 ft
Burnt Ranch Falls waterfall

Burnt Ranch Falls

California
Moderate
1.5 miles 300 ft
Butano Falls waterfall

Butano Falls

California
Moderate
4.5 miles 500 ft
California Falls waterfall

California Falls

In Yosemite National Park
California
Hard
15.0 miles 2 ft

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Major Cities in California

Waterfall Hikes Near Los Angeles

11.9 M residents

Waterfall Hikes Near San Francisco

3.4 M residents

Waterfall Hikes Near San Diego

3 M residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Riverside

2.3 M residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Sacramento

2 M residents

Waterfall Hikes Near San Jose

1.8 M residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Fresno

725.3 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Mission Viejo

642.2 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Concord

531.2 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Long Beach

462.3 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Oakland

437.8 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Stockton

413.6 K residents

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