Outdoors Nearby

Waterfalls in California

We list 401 named waterfalls in California, with the most near Yosemite Valley (45), Oroville (11) and Burney (11). The highest drop we have on record is East Snow Mountain Falls at about 2198 feet.

Waterfall areas: near Yosemite Valley (45) · near Oroville (11) · near Burney (11) · near Mammoth Lakes (11) · near Three Rivers (11) · near South Lake Tahoe (10) · near Day Valley (9) · near Altadena (9) · near San Diego Country Estates (8) · near Boulder Creek (7) · near Big Pine (7) · near Bridgeport (7) · near Carmel Valley Village (7) · near Kernville (6) · near Bolinas (5) · near McCloud (5) · near Dunsmuir (5) · near Weaverville (5) · near Lone Pine (5) · near Thermalito (5) · near Squaw Valley (5) · near Malibu (5) · near Happy Camp (5) · near Cambria (5)

Near Yosemite Valley 45

Near Oroville 11

Near Burney 11

Near Mammoth Lakes 11

Near Three Rivers 11

Near South Lake Tahoe 10

Near Day Valley 9

Near Altadena 9

Near San Diego Country Estates 8

Near Boulder Creek 7

Near Big Pine 7

Near Bridgeport 7

Near Carmel Valley Village 7

Near Kernville 6

Near Bolinas 5

Near McCloud 5

Near Dunsmuir 5

Near Weaverville 5

Near Lone Pine 5

Near Thermalito 5

Near Squaw Valley 5

Near Malibu 5

Near Happy Camp 5

Near Cambria 5

Near Oakhurst 4

Near Anaheim 4

Near Chester 4

Near La Cañada Flintridge 4

Near Greenfield 4

Near Portola 4

Near Sierra Madre 3

Near Cherry Valley 3

Near San Luis Obispo 3

Near Rancho Cucamonga 3

Near Bella Vista 3

Near Pine Valley 3

Near Yucaipa 3

Near Bradbury 3

Near Santa Paula 3

Near Auberry 3

Near Lakeland Village 3

Near Cathedral City 3

Near Topanga 3

Near La Mesa 2

Near Lake Arrowhead 2

Near Winterhaven 2

Near Shingletown 2

Near Ramona 2

Near Borrego Springs 2

Near Willow Creek 2

Near Portola Valley 2

Near Trabuco Canyon 2

Near Weed 2

Near Lewiston 2

Near Berry Creek 2

Near Palm Springs 2

Near Truckee 2

Near Loyola 2

Near Portola Hills 2

Near Crestline 2

Near Montecito 2

Near Noe Valley 2

Near King City 2

Near Woodacre 2

Near Aguanga 2

Near West Bishop 2

Near Montague 2

Near Julian 2

Near Casa Conejo 2

Near Mission Canyon 2

Near Meiners Oaks 1

Near Lafayette 1

Near San Diego 1

Near Idyllwild 1

Near Rocklin 1

Near Tahoma 1

Near Corona 1

Near Gilroy 1

Near Pollock Pines 1

Near Lucas Valley-Marinwood 1

Near San Antonio Heights 1

Near Fairfax 1

Near Saratoga 1

Near Brooktrails 1

Near East Porterville 1

Near Meadow Vista 1

Near Littlerock 1

Near Dana Point 1

Near Kentfield 1

Near Midpines 1

Near Piñon Hills 1

Near Death Valley 1

Near Carlsbad 1

Near Mount Shasta 1

Near Bertsch-Oceanview 1

Near Mount Hermon 1

Near Ripon 1

Near Azusa 1

Near Inyokern 1

Near Idyllwild-Pine Cove 1

Near Rainbow 1

Near Descanso 1

Near Green Valley 1

Near Visitacion Valley 1

Near Sonoma 1

Near Rancho Mirage 1

Near North Auburn 1

Near Greenville 1

Near Los Osos 1

Near Twain Harte 1

Near Yreka 1

Near Tamalpais Valley 1

Near Folsom 1

Near Angwin 1

Near Mira Mesa 1

Near Forest Ranch 1

Near East Pasadena 1

Near San Juan Capistrano 1

Near Alturas 1

Near Redway 1

Near Pasatiempo 1

Near Livermore 1

Near Solvang 1

Near San Martin 1

Near El Dorado Hills 1

Near Rio Dell 1

Near Morgan Hill 1

Near Valley Center 1

Near Ahwahnee 1

Near Patterson 1

Near Placerville 1

Near Ojai 1

Near Wrightwood 1

Near Banning 1

Near Kenwood 1

Near Lagunitas-Forest Knolls 1

Near Nipomo 1

Near Dublin 1

Near Sutter 1

Near Sunland 1

Near Westhaven-Moonstone 1

Near Goleta 1

Near Glendora 1

Near Santa Clarita 1

Near La Verne 1

Locations from OpenStreetMap volunteers. Access rules are set by whoever owns the land. 243 smaller or less documented falls are listed with directions only.

For the trail to the falls

We haven't tested these ourselves; we chose them by size and specs. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Check the current price on Amazon.

Waterfalls in other states

Frequently asked questions

Where can you see waterfalls in California?

The most waterfalls in our data are near Yosemite Valley (45), Oroville (11) and Burney (11). Among the tallest are East Snow Mountain Falls (2198 ft), Snow Creek Falls (2133 ft) and Sentinel Fall (1936 ft).

What is the tallest waterfall in California?

Of the waterfalls with a mapped height, East Snow Mountain Falls near Truckee is the tallest at about 2198 feet. Heights for California come from OpenStreetMap and are not mapped for every fall.

Do waterfalls in California run all year?

54 of the 401 are marked as seasonal or intermittent, so they may be dry in late summer. Snowmelt and rain make spring the best time for most of them.