Waterfall Hikes Near South Lake Tahoe, CA

21,346 residents
Los Angeles Time Zone
12 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Snowmelt runs the show around South Lake Tahoe, so June and early July are when these falls go big. Eagle Falls pours just above Emerald Bay, two miles out and back with 400 feet of gain and room for dogs. Horsetail Falls fills a granite cleft near Twin Bridges on Highway 50, three miles round trip. Bassi Falls to the west drops 109 feet across slab granite, an easy 1.2 miles with swimming below. Twelve falls sit within fifty miles, several strung along the drive toward Placerville.

Located at 38.9393°N, -119.9828°W

Map of Waterfalls Near South Lake Tahoe

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

11 of 12 gauged

3 of 11 waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe are flowing strongly today

Carson Falls Moderate Llewellyn Falls Moderate Codfish Falls Strong Jawbone Falls Strong Jumbo Falls Roaring Leavitt Falls Low Sardine Falls Low Silver Falls Low

Updated about 1 hour ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

Monday

Sunny · 60°F

Tod 65°F Mostly Sunny
Sat 66°F Sunny
Sun 61°F Mostly Sunny
Mon 60°F Sunny Best
Tue 67°F Sunny
Wed 70°F Sunny
Thu 70°F Sunny

Flowing best right now near South Lake Tahoe

Updated about 1 hour ago

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

  1. 1 Jumbo Falls Roaring · 3 cfs 94th percentile
  2. 2 Codfish Falls Strong · 84 cfs 82nd percentile
  3. 3 Jawbone Falls Strong · 19 cfs 75th percentile
  4. 4 Leavitt Falls Low · 32 cfs 14th percentile
  5. 5 Sardine Falls Low · 32 cfs 14th percentile
  6. 6 Silver Falls Low · 32 cfs 14th percentile

Know when to go.

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

Find waterfalls to hike near South Lake Tahoe

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🚗 Easy Waterfall Hikes Near South Lake Tahoe (6 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.

Eagle Falls waterfall

Eagle Falls

6 miles away
California
Easy
2.0 miles 400 ft
Bassi Falls waterfall

Bassi Falls

17 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft

🐕 Dog-Friendly Waterfall Hikes Around South Lake Tahoe (9 waterfalls)

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

Horsetail Falls waterfall

Horsetail Falls

11.3 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 600 ft
Carson Falls waterfall

Carson Falls

34.7 miles away
California
Moderate
3.6 miles 800 ft

All 12 Waterfalls Near South Lake Tahoe

Eagle Falls waterfall

Eagle Falls

6 miles away
California
Easy
2.0 miles 400 ft
Sawyier Falls waterfall

Sawyier Falls

7.6 miles away
California
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Horsetail Falls waterfall

Horsetail Falls

11.3 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 600 ft
Bassi Falls waterfall

Bassi Falls

17 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft
Jumbo Falls waterfall

Jumbo Falls

31.4 miles away
Nevada
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Carson Falls waterfall

Carson Falls

34.7 miles away
California
Moderate
3.6 miles 800 ft
LiDAR terrain view around Llewellyn Falls in California, about 60 feet of drop LiDAR

Llewellyn Falls

39.4 miles away
California
Moderate
6.0 miles 600 ft
LiDAR terrain view around Codfish Falls in California, about 210 feet of drop LiDAR

Codfish Falls

43.9 miles away
California
Easy
3.1 miles 200 ft
LiDAR terrain view around Jawbone Falls in California, about 115 feet of drop LiDAR

Jawbone Falls

46 miles away
California
Easy
1.0 miles Unknown
Sardine Falls waterfall

Sardine Falls

46.1 miles away
California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Silver Falls waterfall

Silver Falls

47.6 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles Unknown
Leavitt Falls waterfall

Leavitt Falls

48.1 miles away
California
Easy
0.4 miles 75 ft

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near South Lake Tahoe

Are there free waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe?

There are 8 free waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe, including Bassi Falls.

Are there easy waterfall hikes near South Lake Tahoe?

There are 6 easy waterfall hikes near South Lake Tahoe, including Bassi Falls.

Are there dog friendly waterfalls in South Lake Tahoe?

There are 9 dog-friendly waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe, including Bassi Falls.

Are there kid-friendly waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe?

There are 10 kid-friendly waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe, including Bassi Falls.

Can you swim in any waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe?

There are 2 waterfalls that allow swimming near South Lake Tahoe, including Bassi Falls.

What is the shortest waterfall hike near South Lake Tahoe?

The shortest waterfall hike near South Lake Tahoe is Bassi Falls at 0.4 miles round trip.

How tall are the waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe?

The tallest waterfall near South Lake Tahoe is Bassi Falls at 109 feet.

Do any waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe require permits?

Yes, 2 waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe require a permit. Check individual trail pages for current permit details.

Can I camp near the waterfalls around South Lake Tahoe?

Yes, 12 waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to South Lake Tahoe?

The closest waterfall to South Lake Tahoe is Eagle Falls, approximately 6 miles away.

🏙️ Other Cities Near South Lake Tahoe With Waterfalls

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457,702 residents
Sparks, NV
108,025 residents
Folsom, CA
81,077 residents
Roseville, CA
148,879 residents
Sacramento, CA
1,957,738 residents
Elk Grove, CA
176,105 residents
Davis, CA
77,874 residents
Lodi, CA
73,239 residents
Stockton, CA
413,637 residents
Turlock, CA
79,301 residents
Manteca, CA
90,678 residents

Nearby Hot Springs

Hot springs near South Lake Tahoe, California

Myers Warm Spring

Myers Warm Spring

6.1 mi 75°F

Myers Warm Spring flows at 75°F (24°C) near South Lake Tahoe at an elevation of 7,615 feet—one of California's highest-elevatio...

Walleys Hot Springs

8.4 mi 160°F

Walleys Hot Springs flows at 160°F in Douglas County at 4,690 feet elevation, positioned just 20 meters from the roadside near ...

Hobo Hot Springs

12.9 mi 114°F

Hobo Hot Springs flows at 114 degrees Fahrenheit on Stewart Community tribal land in Douglas County at 4,760 feet elevation, po...

Springs

14.6 mi 90°F

Flowing at 90°F along Washoe Springs Road in Douglas County, these thermal springs run 38 degrees warmer than the 52°F ambient ...
Brockway Hot Springs

Brockway Hot Springs

15.2 mi 131°F

Brockway Hot Springs surges at 131°F directly into Lake Tahoe's frigid waters at 6,337 feet elevation near Kings Beach. Located...
Saratoga Hot Spring

Saratoga Hot Spring

16.0 mi 122°F

Saratoga Hot Spring flows at 122°F in Douglas County near Johnson Lane, positioned 42.7 meters from Vicky Lane at 4,700 feet el...

Looking for a soak after your hike? Explore more hot springs near South Lake Tahoe, California on SoakingSprings.

Explore California springs

Where to Stay

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