Top waterfalls
WaterfallYosemite Falls
WaterfallAlamere Falls
WaterfallHorsetail Fall
WaterfallNevada Fall
WaterfallBridalveil Fall
WaterfallVernal Fall
WaterfallChilnualna Fall
WaterfallIllilouette Fall
WaterfallRibbon Fall
WaterfallMcWay Falls
WaterfallStaircase Falls
WaterfallSilver Strand Falls
Waterfalls by county
- Butte County4
- El Dorado County6
- Fresno County9
- Imperial County4
- Inyo County5
- Los Angeles County5
- Madera County8
- Marin County5
- Mariposa County24
- Mono County8
- Monterey County4
- Placer County4
- Riverside County3
- San Bernardino County9
- San Diego County8
- Santa Barbara County3
- Santa Clara County5
- Santa Cruz County6
- Shasta County13
- Sierra County3
- Siskiyou County16
- Tehama County6
- Trinity County4
- Tulare County11
- Tuolumne County14
- Ventura County4
All waterfalls (216)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yosemite FallsYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,368 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Alamere FallsPoint Reyes | Marin County | 18 m | Bolinas | 5 |
| Horsetail FallYosemite | Mariposa County | — | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Nevada FallYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,719 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Bridalveil FallYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,352 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Vernal FallYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,568 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Chilnualna Fall | Mariposa County | 1,946 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Illilouette FallYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,702 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Ribbon FallYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,918 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| McWay Falls | Monterey County | 5 m | Big Sur | 3 |
| Staircase FallsYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,341 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Silver Strand FallsYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,962 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Waterwheel FallsYosemite | Tuolumne County | 2,071 m | Yosemite Valley | 2 |
| Lehamite FallsYosemite | Mariposa County | 2,069 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Snow Creek FallsYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,594 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Wapama FallsYosemite | Tuolumne County | 1,468 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Tueeulala FallsYosemite | Tuolumne County | 1,552 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Royal Arch CascadeYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,632 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Bonita Falls | San Bernardino County | 1,014 m | Rancho Cucamonga | 6 |
| Rainbow FallsDevils Postpile | Madera County | 2,200 m | Mammoth Lakes | 3 |
| Feather Falls | Butte County | 498 m | Berry Creek | 3 |
| Burney Falls | Shasta County | 893 m | Burney | 2 |
| Darwin Falls | Inyo County | 850 m | Lone Pine | 2 |
| Tahquitz Falls | Riverside County | 256 m | Palm Springs | 7 |
| Nojoqui Falls | Santa Barbara County | 309 m | Solvang | 4 |
| Fossil Falls | Inyo County | 990 m | Inyokern | 3 |
| Mossbrae Falls | Siskiyou County | 771 m | Dunsmuir | 2 |
| Bassi Falls | El Dorado County | 1,669 m | Tahoma | 3 |
| Tokopah FallsSequoia & Kings Canyon | Tulare County | 2,471 m | Three Rivers | 3 |
| Leavitt Falls | Mono County | 2,368 m | Topaz Ranch Estates | 2 |
| Salmon Creek Falls | Monterey County | — | Cambria | 3 |
| Quaking Aspen FallsYosemite | Tuolumne County | — | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Tip Toe Falls | San Mateo County | — | Portola Valley | 5 |
| Sentinel FallYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,716 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Pywiack CascadeYosemite | Mariposa County | 2,215 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Phantom Falls | Butte County | — | Oroville | 4 |
| Zim Zim Falls | Napa County | — | Hidden Valley Lake | 4 |
| Horsetail Falls | El Dorado County | 2,217 m | South Lake Tahoe | 3 |
| Whiskeytown FallsWhiskeytown | Shasta County | 873 m | Lewiston | 3 |
| Wildcat FallsYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,296 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Hedge Creek Falls | Siskiyou County | — | Dunsmuir | 2 |
| Corlieu Falls | Madera County | 1,115 m | Oakhurst | 3 |
| Potem Falls | Shasta County | 359 m | Bella Vista | 2 |
| Sisquoc Falls | Santa Barbara County | 1,109 m | Mission Canyon | 4 |
| Huntington Falls | City and County of San Francisco | 103 m | Parkside | 8 |
| Roaring River FallsSequoia & Kings Canyon | Fresno County | 1,550 m | Three Rivers | 2 |
| Rainbow Falls | City and County of San Francisco | 80 m | Parkside | 8 |
| East Snow Mountain Falls | Placer County | — | Truckee | 3 |
| New York Canyon Falls | Placer County | — | Sunnyside-Tahoe City | 3 |
| The Jams | Lake County | — | Clearlake | 4 |
| Three Chute FallsYosemite | Mariposa County | — | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Uvas Falls | Santa Clara County | — | Day Valley | 5 |
| Adobe Falls | San Diego County | — | La Mesa | 7 |
| Fish Canyon Falls | Los Angeles County | — | Azusa | 7 |
| LeConte FallsYosemite | Tuolumne County | — | Yosemite Valley | 2 |
| Etiwanda Falls | San Bernardino County | — | Rancho Cucamonga | 6 |
| Glen Alpine Falls | El Dorado County | — | South Lake Tahoe | 4 |
| McCloud Falls (Lower, Middle, Upper) | Siskiyou County | — | McCloud | 2 |
| Los Angeles Aqueduct Cascades | Los Angeles County | — | Sylmar | 7 |
| Chamberlain Creek Waterfall | Mendocino County | — | Brooktrails | 3 |
| Switzer Falls | Los Angeles County | — | La Cañada Flintridge | 7 |
| Paradise Falls | Ventura County | — | Casa Conejo | 6 |
| Bridal Veil Falls | El Dorado County | 1,043 m | Pollock Pines | 4 |
| Carson Falls | Marin County | 316 m | Woodacre | 6 |
| Minaret FallsDevils Postpile | Madera County | 2,470 m | Mammoth Lakes | 3 |
| Chagoopa Falls | Tulare County | 2,134 m | Lone Pine | 2 |
| Bunnell CascadeYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,928 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Silver Spray Falls | Fresno County | 1,383 m | Yokuts Valley | 2 |
| Blue Canyon Falls | Fresno County | 1,556 m | Big Pine | 2 |
| Triple Falls | Fresno County | 2,505 m | Big Pine | 2 |
| Mist FallsSequoia & Kings Canyon | Fresno County | 1,755 m | Big Pine | 2 |
| Foresta FallsYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,234 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Horsetail Falls | Mono County | 2,761 m | Mammoth Lakes | 2 |
| Volcano Falls | Tulare County | 2,066 m | Lone Pine | 2 |
| Red Rock Falls | San Bernardino County | 214 m | Golden Shores | 3 |
| Bear Canyon Falls | Imperial County | 103 m | Yuma | 3 |
| Carrizo Falls | Imperial County | 97 m | Yuma | 3 |
| Lower Ravine Falls | Butte County | — | Oroville | 4 |
| Lundy Canyon Waterfalls | Mono County | — | Yosemite Valley | 2 |
| Rancheria Falls | Fresno County | — | Auberry | 3 |
| Unnamed Waterfalls in Hetch HetchyYosemite | Tuolumne County | — | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Alder Creek Falls | Mariposa County | — | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Angel Falls | Madera County | — | Oakhurst | 3 |
| Stevenson Creek Falls | Fresno County | — | Auberry | 3 |
| Nobe Young Falls | Tulare County | — | Kernville | 3 |
| Grizzly FallsSequoia & Kings Canyon | Fresno County | — | Three Rivers | 2 |
| Carlon FallsYosemite | Tuolumne County | — | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Whisky Falls | Madera County | 1,801 m | Oakhurst | 3 |
| Andreas Falls | Riverside County | 1,423 m | Idyllwild | 5 |
| Angle Falls | Madera County | 1,112 m | Oakhurst | 3 |
| Berry Creek Falls | Santa Cruz County | 127 m | Boulder Creek | 5 |
| Big Falls | San Bernardino County | 1,897 m | Cherry Valley | 5 |
| Butano Falls | San Mateo County | 123 m | Portola Valley | 5 |
| California FallsYosemite | Tuolumne County | 2,360 m | Yosemite Valley | 2 |
| Camino Falls | Madera County | 1,867 m | Oakhurst | 3 |
| Carson Falls | Alpine County | 2,133 m | Topaz Ranch Estates | 3 |
| Cascade Falls | Mono County | 2,547 m | Yosemite Valley | 2 |
| The CascadesYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,263 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Castle Rock Falls | Santa Cruz County | 772 m | Saratoga | 6 |
| Cataract FallsMuir Woods | Marin County | 478 m | Bolinas | 6 |
| Cedar Creek Falls | San Diego County | 304 m | San Diego Country Estates | 5 |
| Chinquapin Falls | Mariposa County | 1,137 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Cholollo Falls | Tulare County | 1,284 m | East Porterville | 3 |
| Codfish Falls | Placer County | 267 m | Meadow Vista | 4 |
| Curtain Falls | Butte County | 366 m | Berry Creek | 3 |
| Dawn FallsMuir Woods | Marin County | 126 m | Kentfield | 7 |
| Drop One | Imperial County | 45 m | Donovan Estates | 3 |
| Drop One | Imperial County | 49 m | Donovan Estates | 3 |
| Eagle Falls | El Dorado County | 1,986 m | South Lake Tahoe | 4 |
| Ella Falls | Tulare County | 1,738 m | Yokuts Valley | 3 |
| The Falls | San Diego County | 966 m | Pine Valley | 4 |
| The Falls | Sutter County | 172 m | Sutter | 4 |
| Fern Falls | Plumas County | 1,816 m | Portola | 3 |
| Finnegan Falls | Stanislaus County | 7 m | Ripon | 5 |
| First Falls | Inyo County | 2,515 m | Big Pine | 2 |
| Fiver Finger Falls | Santa Cruz County | 246 m | Day Valley | 5 |
| Frazier Falls | Sierra County | 1,855 m | Portola | 3 |
| Garlic Falls | Fresno County | 578 m | Yokuts Valley | 3 |
| Golden Falls | Santa Cruz County | 232 m | Boulder Creek | 5 |
| Green Valley Falls | Solano County | 140 m | Green Valley | 5 |
| Green Valley Falls | San Diego County | 1,205 m | Descanso | 4 |
| Hackmans Falls | Sierra County | 1,401 m | Portola | 3 |
| Haraszthy Falls | Sonoma County | 65 m | Sonoma | 6 |
| Hidden Falls | Riverside County | 962 m | Rancho Mirage | 5 |
| Horsetail Falls | Mono County | 2,338 m | Yosemite Valley | 2 |
| Islay Falls | San Luis Obispo County | 52 m | Los Osos | 5 |
| Jackson Falls | Ventura County | 750 m | Santa Paula | 5 |
| Jawbone Falls | Tuolumne County | 1,697 m | Twain Harte | 3 |
| Kent FallsMuir Woods | Marin County | 33 m | Tamalpais Valley | 7 |
| Le Conte FallsYosemite | Tuolumne County | 2,150 m | Yosemite Valley | 2 |
| Linda Falls | Napa County | 418 m | Angwin | 5 |
| Little Nellie FallsYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,403 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Llewellyn Falls | Alpine County | 2,439 m | Topaz Ranch Estates | 3 |
| Loves Falls | Sierra County | 1,444 m | Portola | 3 |
| Maidenhair Falls | San Diego County | 534 m | Borrego Springs | 4 |
| Manly Fall | Inyo County | 466 m | Searles Valley | 3 |
| Maple Falls | Santa Cruz County | 299 m | Day Valley | 5 |
| Marble Falls | Tulare County | 1,298 m | Three Rivers | 3 |
| Middleman Falls | San Bernardino County | 945 m | Crestline | 6 |
| Mildred Falls | San Diego County | 696 m | San Diego Country Estates | 5 |
| Mill Creek Falls | Mendocino County | 259 m | Redway | 2 |
| Monkeyface Falls | San Bernardino County | 1,562 m | Yucaipa | 5 |
| Pfeiffer Falls | Monterey County | 181 m | Big Sur | 3 |
| Pine Falls | Monterey County | 850 m | Big Sur | 3 |
| Preston Falls | Tuolumne County | 844 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| The Punch Bowl | Ventura County | 874 m | Santa Paula | 5 |
| Rancheria FallsYosemite | Tuolumne County | 1,411 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Red Rock Falls | Madera County | 1,266 m | Ahwahnee | 3 |
| Rose Valley Falls | Ventura County | 1,232 m | Ojai | 5 |
| Salmon Creek Falls | Tulare County | 1,970 m | Kernville | 3 |
| San Antonio Falls | San Bernardino County | 2,011 m | Wrightwood | 6 |
| Sardine Falls | Mono County | 2,817 m | Topaz Ranch Estates | 3 |
| Second Falls | Inyo County | 2,708 m | Big Pine | 2 |
| Silver ApronYosemite | Mariposa County | 1,555 m | Yosemite Valley | 3 |
| Silver Falls | Mono County | 2,180 m | Topaz Ranch Estates | 2 |
| Silver Falls | Santa Cruz County | 206 m | Boulder Creek | 5 |
| Silverwood Falls | San Bernardino County | 2,431 m | Banning | 5 |
| South Creek Falls | Tulare County | 1,204 m | Kernville | 3 |
| Sturtevant Falls | Los Angeles County | 644 m | Sierra Madre | 7 |
| Tehan Falls | Alameda County | 245 m | Dublin | 8 |
| Tufa Falls | Tulare County | 2,564 m | Three Rivers | 3 |
| Tuolumne FallsYosemite | Tuolumne County | 2,480 m | Yosemite Valley | 2 |
| Twin FallsDevils Postpile | Mono County | 2,693 m | Mammoth Lakes | 4 |
| Valley of the Falls | San Bernardino County | 1,742 m | Yucaipa | 5 |
| Washtub Falls | San Diego County | 892 m | Ramona | 5 |
| Wellhouse Falls | Santa Barbara County | 544 m | Goleta | 5 |
| White CascadeYosemite | Tuolumne County | 2,402 m | Yosemite Valley | 2 |
| Wolfskill Falls | Los Angeles County | 618 m | La Verne | 7 |
| Salmon Falls | El Dorado County | 143 m | Granite Bay | 5 |
| Ash Creek Falls | Siskiyou County | 2,205 m | McCloud | 2 |
| Bear Creek Falls | Shasta County | 625 m | Shingletown | 2 |
| Bluff FallsLassen Volcanic | Tehama County | 1,990 m | Chester | 2 |
| Burnt Ranch Falls | Trinity County | 345 m | Willow Creek | 2 |
| Canyon Creek Falls | Trinity County | 1,389 m | Weaverville | 2 |
| Clover Creek Falls | Shasta County | 343 m | Bella Vista | 3 |
| Coquette Falls | Siskiyou County | 2,435 m | Weed | 2 |
| Deadhorse Falls | Tehama County | 1,655 m | Shingletown | 2 |
| Deadhorse Falls | Tehama County | 1,256 m | Shingletown | 2 |
| Deer Creek Falls | Tehama County | 1,109 m | Chester | 2 |
| Faery Falls | Siskiyou County | 999 m | Mount Shasta | 3 |
| Gray Falls | Trinity County | 192 m | Willow Creek | 2 |
| Hatchet Creek Falls | Shasta County | 494 m | Burney | 2 |
| Horsetail Falls | Siskiyou County | 1,279 m | Happy Camp | 2 |
| Indian Falls | Plumas County | 976 m | Greenville | 2 |
| Ishi Pishi Falls | Siskiyou County | 147 m | Happy Camp | 1 |
| Johnson Creek Falls | Siskiyou County | 1,119 m | Yreka | 2 |
| Kickapoo Waterfall | Trinity County | 1,039 m | Weaverville | 2 |
| Kings Creek FallsLassen Volcanic | Shasta County | 2,088 m | Chester | 2 |
| Kinner Falls | Shasta County | 559 m | Burney | 2 |
| Lion Slide Falls | Shasta County | 914 m | Burney | 2 |
| Lion Wash Falls | Shasta County | 948 m | Burney | 2 |
| Loretta Falls | Del Norte County | 1,490 m | Cave Junction | 2 |
| Lower Deer Creek Falls | Tehama County | 963 m | Forest Ranch | 2 |
| Lower Falls | Siskiyou County | 989 m | McCloud | 2 |
| Maple Falls | Siskiyou County | 1,311 m | Happy Camp | 2 |
| Middle Falls | Siskiyou County | 1,032 m | McCloud | 2 |
| Mill Creek Falls | Modoc County | 1,758 m | Alturas | 1 |
| Mill Creek FallsLassen Volcanic | Tehama County | 1,956 m | Chester | 2 |
| Montgomery Creek Falls | Shasta County | 625 m | Burney | 2 |
| Pepperwood Falls | Humboldt County | 134 m | Rio Dell | 2 |
| Pit River Falls | Shasta County | 925 m | Burney | 2 |
| Ponytail Falls | Siskiyou County | 1,348 m | Happy Camp | 2 |
| Upper Falls | Siskiyou County | 1,052 m | McCloud | 2 |
| Whitney Falls | Siskiyou County | 2,025 m | Weed | 2 |
| Wilderness Falls | Siskiyou County | 800 m | Happy Camp | 1 |
| Young Falls | Lassen County | 1,002 m | Burney | 1 |
| Crystal Creek FallsWhiskeytown | Shasta County | 524 m | Lewiston | 3 |
| South Creek | Tulare County | 1,479 m | Kernville | 3 |
| Upper Falls | Santa Clara County | 489 m | Day Valley | 5 |
| Black Rock Falls | Santa Clara County | 426 m | Day Valley | 5 |
| Triple Falls | Santa Clara County | 498 m | Day Valley | 5 |
| Basin Falls | Santa Clara County | 557 m | Day Valley | 5 |
| Hidden Falls | Placer County | 173 m | North Auburn | 5 |
| Hidden Falls | Orange County | 470 m | Trabuco Canyon | 6 |
| Sierra Nevada Falls | San Diego County | 196 m | Eucalyptus Hills | 6 |
| Three Troughs Falls | San Luis Obispo County | — | Cambria | 3 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph waterfalls
Waterfalls photograph best in soft, even light: overcast days, deep shade, or the hour after sunrise before direct sun hits the water. Bright sun on white water blows highlights and adds harsh contrast.
- Use 1/4 to 1 second for a silky look; 1/500 s or faster freezes individual drops.
- A circular polarizer cuts glare on wet rocks and leaves and deepens greens — rotate it while watching the rocks, not the sky.
- Spring snowmelt and the days after heavy rain give the strongest flow; late summer flow can drop to a trickle.
- Look for a foreground: a mossy boulder, a fallen log or the creek's leading lines make a stronger frame than the falls alone.
- Keep a microfiber cloth handy — spray drifts onto the lens, especially at the plunge pool.
Season: Peak flow is usually in late spring; autumn adds color around the falls, and winter can bring ice formations at colder locations.