Waterfall Hikes Near San Mateo, CA

104,165 residents
Los Angeles Time Zone
20 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Looking for the best waterfalls to hike near San Mateo? There are 20 waterfall hiking trails within a 50-mile radius of San Mateo. 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 37.5522°N, -122.3121°W

Map of Waterfalls Near San Mateo

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

20 of 20 gauged

1 of 20 waterfalls near San Mateo is flowing strongly today

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

Updated about 1 hour ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

Tuesday

Mostly Sunny · 79°F

Tod 81°F Mostly Sunny
Thu 82°F Mostly Sunny
Fri 84°F Sunny
Sat 86°F Sunny
Sun 85°F Sunny
Mon 81°F Sunny
Tue 79°F Mostly Sunny Best

Flowing best right now near San Mateo

Updated about 2 hours ago

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

  1. 1 Castle Rock Falls Strong · 1 cfs 80th percentile
  2. 2 Alamere Falls Moderate · 9 cfs 64th percentile
  3. 3 Huntington Falls Moderate · 0 cfs 51st percentile
  4. 4 Kent Falls Moderate · 0 cfs 51st percentile
  5. 5 Rainbow Falls Moderate · 0 cfs 51st percentile
  6. 6 Berry Creek Falls Low · 2 cfs 16th percentile

Know when to go.

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

Find waterfalls to hike near San Mateo

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

🚗 Easy Waterfall Hikes Near San Mateo (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

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

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

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
Golden Falls waterfall

Golden Falls

18.2 miles away
California
Moderate
2.5 miles 400 ft

All 20 Waterfalls Near San Mateo

Butano Falls waterfall

Butano Falls

5.8 miles away
California
Moderate
4.5 miles 500 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
Golden Falls waterfall

Golden Falls

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

Silver Falls

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

Berry Creek Falls

5.8 miles away
California
Hard
10.5 miles 2 ft

Tehan Falls

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

Castle Rock Falls

47.5 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 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
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
Green Valley Falls waterfall

Green Valley Falls

8.9 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles 100 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

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near San Mateo

Are there free waterfalls near San Mateo?

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

Are there easy waterfall hikes near San Mateo?

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

Are there dog friendly waterfalls in San Mateo?

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

Are there kid-friendly waterfalls near San Mateo?

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

Can you swim in any waterfalls near San Mateo?

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

What is the shortest waterfall hike near San Mateo?

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

How tall are the waterfalls near San Mateo?

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

Do any waterfalls near San Mateo require permits?

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

Can I camp near the waterfalls around San Mateo?

Yes, 8 waterfalls near San Mateo have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to San Mateo?

The closest waterfall to San Mateo is Butano Falls, approximately 15.4 miles away.

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Nearby Hot Springs

Hot springs near San Mateo, California

Alameda Warm Springs

Alameda Warm Springs

19.7 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

27.2 mi 70°F

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

Rocky Point Springs

29.3 mi 90°F

Rocky Point Springs emerges at 90°F along the Marin County coastline near Bolinas at the unusual elevation of negative 5 feet, ...
Sulphur Spring

Sulphur Spring

29.4 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...
Mineral Springs

Mineral Springs

29.5 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 Solano County

32.9 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...

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

Explore California springs

Where to Stay

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Glamping Hipcamp

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

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