Waterfall Hikes in California (CA)

5 National 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: 177 trails

Featured Parks

Channel Islands
Joshua Tree
Lassen Volcanic

National Parks in California

Steep, rugged ocean cliffs extending in an island chain.

California

0 Waterfalls

0.0 Total Trail Miles

Waterfalls Hikes in Channel Islands
The sky turns hues of pink and purple over a field of Joshua trees.

California

0 Waterfalls

0.0 Total Trail Miles

Waterfalls Hikes in Joshua Tree
A frozen lake below snow-covered trees and peak

California

3 Waterfalls

7.6 Total Trail Miles

Waterfalls Hikes in Lassen Volcanic
Boulders in the Balconies Cave.

California

0 Waterfalls

0.0 Total Trail Miles

Waterfalls Hikes in Pinnacles
A mountain reflecting in a lake.

California

33 Waterfalls

152.3 Total Trail Miles

Waterfalls Hikes in Yosemite

Best Waterfall Hikes in California

Our top picks based on trail quality and scenic value.

Chagoopa Falls waterfall

Chagoopa Falls

46.5 miles away
California
Hard
30.0 miles 6 ft
Waterwheel Falls waterfall

Waterwheel Falls

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

Canyon Creek Falls

45.5 miles away
California
Hard
16.0 miles 2 ft
California Falls waterfall

California Falls

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

Alamere Falls

49 miles away
California
Hard
13.0 miles 1,600 ft
White Cascade waterfall

White Cascade

2.6 miles away
In Yosemite National Park
California
Moderate
11.0 miles 800 ft

All Waterfall Hikes in California

Hatchet Creek Falls waterfall

Hatchet Creek Falls

24.2 miles away
California
Moderate
1.5 miles 200 ft
Hidden Falls waterfall

Hidden Falls

37.2 miles away
California
Moderate
2.5 miles 500 ft
Hidden Falls waterfall

Hidden Falls

15.6 miles away
California
Moderate
4.5 miles 500 ft
Hidden Heart Falls waterfall

Hidden Heart Falls

31 miles away
California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Horsetail Falls waterfall

Horsetail Falls

5 miles away
California
Moderate
4.5 miles 800 ft
Horsetail Falls waterfall

Horsetail Falls

36.2 miles away
In Yosemite National Park
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 600 ft
Horsetail Falls waterfall

Horsetail Falls

38.5 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 600 ft
Horsetail Falls waterfall

Horsetail Falls

31.6 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 600 ft
Huntington Falls waterfall

Huntington Falls

4.1 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Illilouette Falls waterfall

Illilouette Falls

30.4 miles away
In Yosemite National Park
California
Moderate
4.0 miles 600 ft
Indian Falls waterfall

Indian Falls

16.2 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Ishi Pishi Falls waterfall

Ishi Pishi Falls

42.4 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Islay Falls waterfall

Islay Falls

26.8 miles away
California
Moderate
5.0 miles 300 ft
Jackson Falls waterfall

Jackson Falls

0.2 miles away
California
Moderate
2.5 miles 400 ft
Jawbone Falls waterfall

Jawbone Falls

27.5 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Johnson Creek Falls waterfall

Johnson Creek Falls

25.1 miles away
California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Kent Falls waterfall

Kent Falls

37.1 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Kickapoo Waterfall waterfall

Kickapoo Waterfall

30.8 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Kings Creek Falls waterfall

Kings Creek Falls

41.8 miles away
In Lassen Volcanic National Park
California
Moderate
2.3 miles 500 ft
Kinner Falls waterfall

Kinner Falls

33 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft

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 Bakersfield

572 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