10 Best Waterfall Hiking Locations in California (2026 Updated)
These 10 California waterfalls are reached on foot and rated highly by the people who hiked them, led by Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and Lower Yosemite Fall. The list spans the Yosemite and the Western Sierra, Shasta Cascade and the Klamath Mountains, and Coast Ranges and Southern California Mountains.
How We Picked
We started with the 34 publicly accessible California waterfalls whose reviews or listing mention hiking, trails or walks, then ranked them by a weighted Google rating. Difficulty notes quote what reviewers say; always check current trail conditions with the land manager. Every waterfall links to a full page with coordinates, maps and nearby falls.
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1. Vernal Fall
Yosemite Valley, CA · Mariposa County · Yosemite and the Western Sierra
Why hike it
On the trail: "Powerful 317-foot waterfall featuring a shady, steep trail to the top & sweeping scenic views." It is rated 4.9 stars by 321 Google reviewers. 10 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Silver Apron and Nevada Fall), so there is more to explore nearby. Grizzly Peak, a summit 0.3 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. The nearest town is Yosemite Valley, about 1.9 miles to the northwest.
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2. Nevada Fall
Yosemite Valley, CA · Mariposa County · Yosemite and the Western Sierra
Why hike it
On the trail: "594-ft. waterfall in scenic surrounds, featuring hiking trails to the top & sweeping park vistas." It is rated 4.9 stars by 120 Google reviewers. 10 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Silver Apron and Vernal Fall), so there is more to explore nearby. Liberty Cap, a summit 0.2 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. The nearest town is Yosemite Valley, about 2.6 miles to the northwest.
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3. Lower Yosemite Fall
Yosemite Valley, CA · Mariposa County · Yosemite and the Western Sierra
Why hike it
Reviewers describe the hike with words like "easy hike", so it suits most hikers. It is rated 4.9 stars by 79 Google reviewers. 10 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Upper Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. The nearest town is Yosemite Valley, about 1.3 miles to the southeast.
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4. Red Rock Falls
Ahwahnee, CA · Madera County · Yosemite and the Western Sierra
Why hike it
It is rated 4.9 stars by 56 Google reviewers. 1 more named waterfall is within 5 miles (Corlieu Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. The nearest town is Ahwahnee, about 6.8 miles to the southwest.
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5. Burney Falls
Burney, CA · Shasta County · Shasta Cascade and the Klamath Mountains
Why hike it
On the trail: "Well-known scenic waterfall accessible by hiking trails & surrounded by an overlook & greenery." It is rated 4.8 stars by 1,774 Google reviewers. Burney Spring Mountain, a summit 1.3 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 44 named falls in the Shasta Cascade and the Klamath Mountains region. The nearest town is Burney, about 8.9 miles to the south.
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6. Alamere Falls
Bolinas, CA · Marin County · Coast Ranges and Southern California Mountains
Why hike it
On the trail: "Day hikes to a scenic, remote spot where water cascades down a 30 ft. cliff onto a rugged beach." It is rated 4.8 stars by 414 Google reviewers. It is one of 52 named falls in the Coast Ranges and Southern California Mountains region. The nearest town is Bolinas, about 6.1 miles to the southeast.
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7. Fossil Falls
Inyokern, CA · Inyo County · Eastern Sierra and Owens Valley
Why hike it
Expect effort: reviewers mention "rocky path". It is rated 4.8 stars by 160 Google reviewers. Red Hill, a summit 1.3 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 14 named falls in the Eastern Sierra and Owens Valley region. The nearest town is Inyokern, about 23 miles to the south.
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8. Horsetail Falls
South Lake Tahoe, CA · El Dorado County · Yosemite and the Western Sierra
Why hike it
On the trail: "Waterfall cascading about 500 feet in stages, amid Desolation Wilderness & near a hiking trail." It is rated 4.8 stars by 115 Google reviewers. 1 more named waterfall is within 5 miles (Sawyier Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. Ralston Peak, a summit 1.2 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. The nearest town is South Lake Tahoe, about 10 miles to the northeast.
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9. Tokopah Falls
Three Rivers, CA · Tulare County · Yosemite and the Western Sierra
Why hike it
On the trail: "Viewable via hike, this 1,200-ft. waterfall flows over a granite precipice in Sequoia National Park." Reviews are mixed on difficulty, mentioning both "easy trail" and "family friendly" and "rocky trail" and "steep trail". It is rated 4.8 stars by 110 Google reviewers. Alta Peak, a summit 2.0 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. The nearest town is Three Rivers, about 17 miles to the southwest.
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10. Rose Valley Falls
Ojai, CA · Ventura County · Coast Ranges and Southern California Mountains
Why hike it
Reviewers describe the hike with words like "easy hike" and "kids", so it suits most hikers. It is rated 4.8 stars by 102 Google reviewers. Chief Peak, a summit 1.3 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 52 named falls in the Coast Ranges and Southern California Mountains region. The nearest town is Ojai, about 6.5 miles to the southwest.
When to Visit California's Waterfalls
Timing depends on elevation. Low-elevation coastal and Southern California falls peak during and just after winter storms, typically January through April, and often fade by June. Sierra Nevada falls follow the snowpack: in Yosemite, flows usually build in April, peak in May and June, and decline through July, with some falls dry by late summer in an average year. Big snow years extend the season; drought years shorten it sharply. Spring-fed falls in Shasta and Siskiyou counties are the exception and are worthwhile in any season. High Sierra roads such as the Tioga Road and those to the eastern trailheads usually remain closed into late spring, and summer weekends bring heavy crowds to Yosemite Valley and other well-known sites.
Before You Go
California's falls are spread across national parks, national forests, state parks and county or regional open space, with a few on tribal land. In Yosemite and other heavily visited parks, the National Park Service has used vehicle reservation systems during busy periods in recent years, so checking current entry requirements before travel is wise. Many trailheads in Southern California fill early on weekends. The most serious hazards are swift, cold snowmelt and slick granite: people regularly die after slipping into rivers above waterfalls in the Sierra, especially in late spring. In the southern mountains and deserts, sudden storms can produce flash floods in narrow canyons, and summer heat makes midday hiking risky. Wildfire closures can also affect forest access in late summer and autumn.
Read our waterfall safety rules and packing list before heading out. Hiking with children? Read waterfall hikes with kids.
Explore More California Waterfalls
See all 189 waterfalls in the California waterfall guide, or browse by town: Yosemite Valley, Ahwahnee, Burney, Bolinas, Inyokern, South Lake Tahoe, Three Rivers, Ojai.
More California Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hiking waterfall in California?
Vernal Fall tops our 2026 list, with a 4.9-star rating from 321 Google reviews. It is near Yosemite Valley in Mariposa County.
How was this list made?
We started with the 34 publicly accessible California waterfalls whose reviews or listing mention hiking, trails or walks, then ranked them by a weighted Google rating. Difficulty notes quote what reviewers say; always check current trail conditions with the land manager.
How many waterfalls are in California?
Our directory lists 189 named waterfalls in California. See them all, sorted by town, in the California waterfall guide.
When are Yosemite's waterfalls at their best?
Usually in May and June, when snowmelt from the high country is at its peak. By late summer some of the valley's falls shrink dramatically or stop flowing altogether, depending on the previous winter's snowpack.