California is home to countless waterfalls, which can be found all over the state. Ranging from 10 feet to 1,000 feet, these natural wonders are one of my favorite things to see when traveling around the state. While the below list is by no means a complete list of the state’s waterfalls, they feature all the waterfalls that I have personally seen during my time traveling California. Click on the image of the waterfall to learn more about each one and let me know what your favorite waterfall is in the comments. Be sure to bookmark this page as it will update as I find more amazing waterfalls to explore.
Southern California
Black Star Falls
- Height: 65 Feet
- Hike Distance: 8 Miles
- Location: Cleveland National Forest
Big Falls
- Height: 150 Feet
- Hike Distance: 1 – 2 Miles
- Location: San Bernadino National Forest
Bonita Falls
- Height: 90 Feet
- Hike Distance: 2 Miles
- Location: San Bernardino National Forest
Cedar Creek Falls
- Height: 90 Feet
- Hike Distance: 4 Miles
- Location: Near Ramona City
- Photo Credit: LastAdventurer.com
Dana Point Harbor Falls
- Height: 60 Feet
- Hike Distance: .25 Miles
- Location: Dana Point City
- Seasonal: Only flows during heavy rain
Eaton Canyon Falls
- Height: 30 Feet
- Hike Distance: 4 Miles
- Location: Angeles National Forest
Escondido Falls
- Height: 150 Feet
- Hike Distance: 4 Miles
- Location: Santa Monica Mountains
Etiwanda Falls
- Height: 15 Feet
- Hike Distance: 3.5 Miles
- Location: Angeles National Forest
Fish Canyon Falls
- Height: 100 Feet
- Hike Distance: 4 Miles
- Location: Angeles National Forest
- Tiers: Multiple
Heart Rock Falls
- Height: 25 Feet
- Hike Distance: 2 Miles
- Location: San Bernardino National Forest
Hermit Falls
- Height: 45 Feet
- Hike Distance: 2.75 Miles
- Location: Angeles National Forest
Holy Jim Falls
- Height: 15 Feet
- Hike Distance: 3 Miles
- Location: Cleveland National Forest
Millard Falls
- Height: 30 Feet
- Hike Distance: 2 Miles
- Location: Angeles National Forest
Monrovia Canyon Falls
- Height: 15 Feet
- Hike Distance: 2 Miles
- Location: Angeles National Forest
Ortega Falls
- Height: 25 Feet
- Hike Distance: .5 Miles
- Location: Cleveland National Forest
Rose Valley Falls
- Height: 100 Feet
- Hike Distance: 1 Miles
- Location: Los Padres National Forest
Sapphire Falls
- Height: 15 Feet
- Hike Distance: 4 Miles
- Location: Angeles National Forest
- Trail closed
Solstice Canyon Falls
- Height: 20 Feet
- Hike Distance: 2 Miles
- Location: Santa Monica Mountains
Sturtevant Falls
- Height: 30 Feet
- Hike Distance: 3 Miles
- Location: Angeles National Forest
Tahquitz Canyon Falls
- Height: 25 Feet
- Hike Distance: 2 Miles
- Location: Agua Caliente Indian Reservation
Tenaja Falls
- Height: 150 Feet
- Hike Distance: 2 Miles
- Location: Cleveland National Forest
- Tiers: Multiple
Three Sisters Falls
- Height: 150 Feet
- Hike Distance: 4 Miles
- Location: Near Julian City
- Tiers: Multiple
Trail Canyon Falls
- Height: 30 Feet
- Hike Distance: 4 Miles
- Location: Angeles National Forest
Central California
Ewoldsen Falls
- Height: 25 Feet
- Hike Distance: 2 Miles
- Location: Big Sur
Limekiln Falls
- Height: 30 Feet
- Hike Distance: .5 Miles
- Location: Big Sur
McWay Falls
- Height: 30 Feet
- Hike Distance: .5 Miles
- Location: Big Sur
Pfeiffer Falls
- Height: 40 Feet
- Hike Distance: 3 Miles
- Location: Big Sur
Salmon Creek Falls
- Height: 40 Feet
- Hike Distance: 1 Mile
- Location: Big Sur
Tokopah Falls
- Height: 1,200 feet
- Hike Distance: 4 Miles
- Location: Sequoia National Park
Grizzly Falls
- Height: 80 feet
- Hike Distance: .1 Miles
- Location: Kings Canyon National Park
Roaring River Falls
- Height: 25 feet
- Hike Distance: .25 Miles
- Location: Kings Canyon National Park
Northern California
Alamere Falls
- Height: 40 Feet
- Hike Distance: 13 Mile
- Location: Point Reyes National Seashore
Berry Creek Falls
- Height: 75 Feet
- Hike Distance: 10 Miles
- Location: Big Basin State Park
Bridalveil Falls
- Height: 615 Feet
- Hike Distance: 1 Mile
- Location: Yosemite National Park
Cascade Falls
- Height: 100 Feet
- Hike Distance: 3 Miles
- Location: South Lake Tahoe
Crystal Creek Falls
- Height: 30 Feet
- Hike Distance: 1 Mile
- Location: Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
Eagle Falls
- Height: 45 Feet
- Hike Distance: 2 Mile
- Location: Desolation Wilderness
Faery Falls
- Height: 50 Feet
- Hike Distance: 1 mile
- Location: Mt Shasta
Glen Alpine Falls
- Height: 30 Feet
- Hike Distance: .25 Mile
- Location: South Lake Tahoe
King Creek Falls
- Height: 40 Feet
- Hike Distance: 3 Mile
- Location: Lassen National Park
Lake Clementine Dam
- Height: 150 Feet
- Hike Distance: 4 Miles
- Location: Auburn City
- Man-made
McArthur-Burney Falls
- Height: 130 Feet
- Hike Distance: .25 to overlook, 1 mile to base
- Location: MacArthur-Burney Falls State Park
McCloud Falls
- Height: 20 Feet, 40 Feet, 15 Feet
- Hike Distance: .5 miles with driving to each stop
- Location: Near Mt Shasta
- Tiers: Multiple
Mossbrae Falls
- Height: 40 Feet
- Hike Distance: 2.5 Mile
- Location: Near Mt Shasta
- Trail Closed
Nevada Falls
- Height: 595 Feet
- Hike Distance: 6.5 Mile
- Location: Yosemite National Park
Phantom Falls
- Height: 130 Feet
- Hike Distance: 6.5 Miles
- Location: Oroville, CA
Potem Falls
- Height: 70 Feet
- Hike Distance: .5 Mile
- Location: Near Redding
Rainbow Falls
- Height: 90 Feet
- Hike Distance: 3Mile
- Location: Devils Postpile National Monument
Rancheria Falls
- Height: 45 Feet
- Hike Distance: 2 Mile
- Location: Near Huntington Lake
Wapama Falls
- Height: 1,000 Feet
- Hike Distance: 2.5 Mile
- Location: Yosemite National Park (Hetch Hetchy Area)
- Tiers: Multiple
Waterwheel Falls
- Height: 200 Feet
- Hike Distance: 20 Miles (backpacking required)
- Location: Yosemite National Park
Whiskeytown Falls
- Height: 200 Feet
- Hike Distance: 3Miles
- Location: Whiskeytown National Monument
- Tiers: Multiple
White Cascade Falls
- Height: 30 Feet
- Hike Distance: 12 Mile
- Location: Yosemite National Park
Vernal Falls
- Height: 200 Feet
- Hike Distance: 3 Mile
- Location: Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Falls
- Height: 2,400 Feet
- Hike Distance: .25 miles to base, 6 miles to top
- Location: Yosemite National Park
Here is a video I made on some of my favorite waterfalls from throughout the state. Let me know what your favorite is in the comments.
