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
National Parks in California
Best Waterfall Hikes in California
Our top picks based on trail quality and scenic value.
46.5 miles away
California
Hard
30.0 miles
6 ft
16.8 miles away
45.5 miles away
California
Hard
16.0 miles
2 ft
33.2 miles away
49 miles away
California
Hard
13.0 miles
1,600 ft
2.6 miles away
All Waterfall Hikes in California
46.1 miles away
40.1 miles away
California
Easy
0.4 miles
75 ft
13.1 miles away
3.5 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles
350 ft
26.2 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles
350 ft
3.4 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles
500 ft
47.1 miles away
21.2 miles away
California
Moderate
6.0 miles
600 ft
11 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles
350 ft
39.7 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles
100 ft
25.9 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles
300 ft
44.2 miles away
California
Easy
1.0 miles
50 ft
36.5 miles away
California
Moderate
2.5 miles
300 ft
11.8 miles away
18.6 miles away
California
Moderate
6.0 miles
900 ft
17.1 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles
350 ft
1.3 miles away
California
Moderate
7.5 miles
800 ft
47.6 miles away
California
Moderate
7.5 miles
800 ft
9.9 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles
350 ft
41.4 miles away
California
Easy
0.6 miles
100 ft