Waterfall Hikes Near Santa Cruz, CA

167,835 residents
Los Angeles Time Zone
14 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Redwood canyons behind Santa Cruz hold most of these fourteen falls. The big commitment is Berry Creek Falls, 65 feet deep in Big Basin, reached partway through ten and a half miles of round trip. In the Forest of Nisene Marks, Maple Falls costs 7.5 miles and 800 feet of climbing, dog friendly. Castle Rock Falls drops 80 feet near the Skyline ridge after a 1.2 mile walk. Come in the wet months, because these creeks thin out by midsummer.

Located at 36.9789°N, -122.0346°W

Map of Waterfalls Near Santa Cruz

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

14 of 14 gauged

14 waterfalls near Santa Cruz have live flow data today

Butano Falls Barely Flowing Golden Falls Barely Flowing Silver Falls Barely Flowing Castle Rock Falls Low Pfeiffer Falls Low Pine Falls Low Tehan Falls Moderate

Updated about 1 hour ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

Thursday

Sunny · 78°F

Tue 83°F Sunny
Wed 80°F Sunny
Thu 78°F Sunny Best
Fri 78°F Mostly Sunny
Sat 79°F Mostly Sunny
Sun 79°F Sunny
Mon 80°F Sunny

Flowing best right now near Santa Cruz

Updated about 3 hours ago

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

  1. 1 Tehan Falls Roaring · 6 cfs 93rd percentile
  2. 2 Castle Rock Falls Moderate · 1 cfs 41st percentile
  3. 3 Pfeiffer Falls Low · 16 cfs 24th percentile
  4. 4 Pine Falls Low · 16 cfs 24th percentile
  5. 5 Berry Creek Falls Barely Flowing · 2 cfs 3rd percentile
  6. 6 Butano Falls Barely Flowing · 5 cfs 1st percentile

Know when to go.

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

Find waterfalls to hike near Santa Cruz

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🚗 Easy Waterfall Hikes Near Santa Cruz (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 Santa Cruz (3 waterfalls)

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

Maple Falls waterfall

Maple Falls

9.6 miles away
California
Moderate
7.5 miles 800 ft

All 14 Waterfalls Near Santa Cruz

Maple Falls waterfall

Maple Falls

9.6 miles away
California
Moderate
7.5 miles 800 ft
LiDAR terrain view around Fiver Finger Falls in California, about 230 feet of drop LiDAR

Fiver Finger Falls

10.8 miles away
California
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Basin Falls waterfall

Basin Falls

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

Upper Falls

14.8 miles away
California
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Black Rock Falls waterfall

Black Rock Falls

14.9 miles away
California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Triple Falls waterfall

Triple Falls

15 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 500 ft
Castle Rock Falls waterfall

Castle Rock Falls

15.1 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft
Berry Creek Falls waterfall

Berry Creek Falls

19.1 miles away
California
Hard
10.5 miles 2 ft
Silver Falls waterfall

Silver Falls

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

Golden Falls

19.8 miles away
California
Moderate
2.5 miles 400 ft
Butano Falls waterfall

Butano Falls

24.9 miles away
California
Moderate
4.5 miles 500 ft
LiDAR terrain view around Tehan Falls in California, about 286 feet of drop LiDAR

Tehan Falls

37.9 miles away
California
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Pfeiffer Falls waterfall

Pfeiffer Falls

46 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles 200 ft
Pine Falls waterfall

Pine Falls

49.6 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 500 ft

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near Santa Cruz

Are there free waterfalls near Santa Cruz?

There are 2 free waterfalls near Santa Cruz, including Golden Falls.

Are there easy waterfall hikes near Santa Cruz?

There are 3 easy waterfall hikes near Santa Cruz, including Castle Rock Falls.

Are there dog friendly waterfalls in Santa Cruz?

There are 3 dog-friendly waterfalls near Santa Cruz, including Golden Falls.

Are there kid-friendly waterfalls near Santa Cruz?

There are 8 kid-friendly waterfalls near Santa Cruz, including Berry Creek Falls.

What is the shortest waterfall hike near Santa Cruz?

The shortest waterfall hike near Santa Cruz is Basin Falls at 1.2 miles round trip.

How tall are the waterfalls near Santa Cruz?

The tallest waterfall near Santa Cruz is Castle Rock Falls at 80 feet.

Do any waterfalls near Santa Cruz require permits?

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

Can I camp near the waterfalls around Santa Cruz?

Yes, 2 waterfalls near Santa Cruz have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to Santa Cruz?

The closest waterfall to Santa Cruz is Maple Falls, approximately 9.6 miles away.

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Nearby Hot Springs

Hot springs near Santa Cruz, California

Sargent Estate Warm Spring

21.9 mi 77°F

Sargent Estate Warm Spring flows at 77°F in the hills east of Gilroy in the Diablo Range. The modest 19-degree temperature rise...
Sulphur Hot Spring

Sulphur Hot Spring

25.7 mi 100°F

Sulphur Hot Spring flows at 100 degrees in Monterey County near Seaside at just 36 feet elevation, essentially at-grade with th...

Gilroy Hot Springs

29.9 mi 106°F

Gilroy Hot Springs flows at 106 degrees Fahrenheit within Henry W. Coe State Park, a California Historical Landmark and Nationa...
Mineral Springs

Mineral Springs

30.7 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

31.1 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...

Unnamed Spring Monterey County

39.8 mi 114°F

This exceptional 114-degree thermal spring near Carmel Valley Village flows at just 255 feet elevation, creating remarkably hot...

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

Explore California springs

Where to Stay

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RV Rentals Outdoorsy

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