15 Best Waterfalls in California (2026 Updated)
Of the 189 named waterfalls in California, these 15 earn the strongest visitor ratings, led by Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and Lower Yosemite Fall. The list spans the Yosemite and the Western Sierra, Coast Ranges and Southern California Mountains, and Shasta Cascade and the Klamath Mountains.
How We Picked
We ranked the 94 publicly accessible California waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands. 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 it made the list
It holds a 4.9-star Google rating and is the 6th most reviewed in the state, with 321 reviews. 92% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Powerful 317-foot waterfall featuring a shady, steep trail to the top & sweeping scenic views." The USGS gazetteer describes it as: In Yosemite National Park, just east of mile marker 131 on the Merced River and just west of Emeral Pool. (US-T121). Older records also call it Nevada Fall and Peiwayak. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. Silver Apron is only 0.3 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. 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 it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 120 reviews. 97% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "594-ft. waterfall in scenic surrounds, featuring hiking trails to the top & sweeping park vistas." The USGS gazetteer describes it as: In Yosemite National Park, on the Merced River just west of mile marker 132 in Little Yosemite Valley and at the base of Liberty Cap. (US-T121). Older records also call it Yo-wy-we and Yo-wi-we. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. Silver Apron is only 0.4 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. 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 it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 79 reviews. 94% of reviewers give it five stars. Reviews most often mention rocks, wooden overlook bridge, valley views, and easy hike. Older records also call it Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Lower Falls. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. Upper Yosemite Falls is only 0.3 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. 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 it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 56 reviews. 93% of reviewers give it five stars. Reviews most often mention struggles, nature, beautiful place, and waterfall. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. Corlieu Falls is only 1.4 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Ahwahnee, about 6.8 miles to the southwest.
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5. Corlieu Falls
Oakhurst, CA · Madera County · Yosemite and the Western Sierra
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 55 reviews. 91% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. Red Rock Falls is only 1.4 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Oakhurst, about 6.2 miles to the south.
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6. San Antonio Falls
Wrightwood, CA · San Bernardino County · Coast Ranges and Southern California Mountains
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 37 reviews. 95% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 52 named falls in the Coast Ranges and Southern California Mountains region. The nearest town is Wrightwood, about 6.1 miles to the north.
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7. Wildcat Falls
Yosemite Valley, CA · Mariposa County · Yosemite and the Western Sierra
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 28 reviews. 93% of reviewers give it five stars. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: In Yosimite National Park, 0.48 km (0.3 mi) northwest of the mouth of Wildcat Creek and 0.8 mi) northwest of Elephant Rock. (US-T121). It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. The Cascades is only 0.3 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Yosemite Valley, about 7.7 miles to the east.
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8. Tuolumne Falls
Yosemite Valley, CA · Tuolumne County · Yosemite and the Western Sierra
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 11 reviews. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: In Yosemite National Park, on Tuolumne River 34 km (2.1 mi) southeast of Wildcat Point and 1 km (0.6 mi) northeast of McGee Lake. (US-T121). Older records also call it White Cascade and Lower Virginia Falls. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. White Cascade is only 0.2 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Yosemite Valley, about 14 miles to the southwest.
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9. Burney Falls
Burney, CA · Shasta County · Shasta Cascade and the Klamath Mountains
Why it made the list
It is the most reviewed waterfall in California, holding 4.8 stars across 1,774 Google reviews. 88% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Well-known scenic waterfall accessible by hiking trails & surrounded by an overlook & greenery." The USGS gazetteer describes it as: 129 feet high. Name history: Designated a National Natural Landmark in December 1984. 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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10. Rancheria Falls
Yosemite Valley, CA · Tuolumne County · Yosemite and the Western Sierra
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 18 reviews. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: In Yosemite National Park, on Rancheria Creek 1.6 km (1 mi) east of its mouth with the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and 0.96 km (0.6 mi) north of Le Conte Point. (US-T121). Older records also call it Five-Finger Falls. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. The nearest town is Yosemite Valley, about 16 miles to the southeast.
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11. Jawbone Falls
Twain Harte, CA · Tuolumne County · Yosemite and the Western Sierra
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 9 reviews. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. The nearest town is Twain Harte, about 14 miles to the west.
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12. Leavitt Falls
Bridgeport, CA · Mono County · Eastern Sierra and Owens Valley
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 9 reviews. It is one of 14 named falls in the Eastern Sierra and Owens Valley region. Silver Falls is only 1.9 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Bridgeport, about 19 miles to the east.
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13. Alamere Falls
Bolinas, CA · Marin County · Coast Ranges and Southern California Mountains
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 4th most reviewed in the state, with 414 reviews. 86% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Day hikes to a scenic, remote spot where water cascades down a 30 ft. cliff onto a rugged beach." The USGS gazetteer describes it as: 40 feet high. Older records also call it Algmere Falls. 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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14. Bridalveil Fall
Yosemite Valley, CA · Mariposa County · Yosemite and the Western Sierra
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 5th most reviewed in the state, with 379 reviews. 84% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "This famous plunge waterfall in Yosemite National Park drops from a height of 617 ft." The USGS gazetteer describes it as: In Yosemite National Park, 620 ft plunge over the south wall of Yosemite Valley on Bridalveil Creek between the north slope of Leaning Tower and the southwest slope of Cathedral Rocks. (US-T121). Older records also call it Bridalveil Falls and The Bridal Veil Fall. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. Horsetail Fall is only 1.3 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Yosemite Valley, about 4.1 miles to the northeast.
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15. Bassi Falls
Tahoma, CA · El Dorado County · Yosemite and the Western Sierra
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 180 reviews. 87% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 67 named falls in the Yosemite and the Western Sierra region. The nearest town is Tahoma, about 16 miles to the northeast.
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.
Explore More California Waterfalls
See all 189 waterfalls in the California waterfall guide, or browse by town: Yosemite Valley, Ahwahnee, Oakhurst, Wrightwood, Burney, Twain Harte, Bridgeport, Bolinas.
More California Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best 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 ranked the 94 publicly accessible California waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands.
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.