California has different biomes within the state’s borders as well as many lakes, rivers and waterfalls, but finding some of the best in the state can be difficult.
The state also has one of the most famous waterfalls in the world, Yosemite Falls, in Yosemite National Park. Aside from the 2,245 foot waterfall, there are nearly a dozen more waterfalls in the park including Ribbon Falls, Vernal Falls, Bridalveil Fall and Hetchy Hetchy Reservoir.
With so many waterfalls scattered across the state, what are some of the best?
What are the best waterfalls in California?
Travel website Tripadvisor compiled a list of some of the state’s waterfalls and ranked them based on user ratings.
Listed below are some famous waterfalls and hidden gems scattered throughout the state − many just a short drive from Visalia.
Here are the Top 15 California waterfalls as of 2025:
McWay Falls- No. 1
The No. 1 spot was given to the beachside waterfall in Big Sur. The waterfall feeds directly into the Pacific Ocean.
Yosemite Falls- No. 2
Located in Yosemite National Park, the waterfall is one of the top 15 waterfalls.
Vernal Falls- No. 3
The second waterfall in Yosemite ranks in the top 15. The 317-foot waterfall flows year-round and is best seen in Glacier Point.
Lower Eagle Falls- No. 4
The waterfall is in Emerald Bay near south Lake Tahoe.
Rainbow Falls- No.5
The waterfall is about 2.5 miles from the Devil’s Postpile National Monument in Mammoth Lakes. The falls are named after the rainbows that appear near the base of the falls on sunny days.
Bridalveil Fall- No. 6
The 620-foot waterfall is in Yosemite. There are several trails leading to the base, but it is also viewable from Highway 120.
Mossbrae Falls- No. 7
The waterfall in Dunsmuir is a short hike from the city. The waterfall has been a popular tourist destination since the 1800s and is accessible through rail or hiking, according to the city’s website.
Tokopah Falls- No. 8
The waterfall is located in Sequoia National Park in Three Rivers. The waterfall is located at the end of a 1.7-mile hike.
Hetchy Hetchy Reservoir- No. 9
The waterfall is the last of the Yosemite waterfalls to make the top 15.
Alamere Falls- No. 10
Another “tidefall” is a waterfall that feeds into the ocean. The fall in Bolinas is just north of San Francisco.
McCloud River’s Three Waterfalls- No. 11
Located in Shasta County’s McCloud, the trio of waterfalls are all fed from the same river.
Paradise Falls- No. 12
Located in Thousand Oaks’ Wildwood Park, the waterfall is a popular hiking location accessible through both the Santa Rosa Valley and Thousand Oaks
Rose Valley Falls Trails- No. 13
The popular hiking destination is in the Los Padres National Forest above Ojai.
Cedar Creeks Falls- No. 14
The waterfall is in Cleveland National Forest in Julian, just outside of San Diego. A permit is required to access the trail.
Roaring Rivers Falls- No. 15
Ending off the list is a waterfall in King’s Canyon National Park. A 3.9-mile round-trip walk takes you to the 40-foot waterfall. The King’s Canyon National Park website warns that the pool of water at the base of the falls is dangerous to swim in due to powerful currents.
What is the most beautiful lake in California?
California is also home to many lakes —some of which are prime destinations for snowboarding and skiing, such as Lake Tahoe, Big Bear, and Mammoth— but one was recently chosen as the best in the state.
Housely.com, an online home living and lifestyle platform, took the time to rank one lake in each state as the best.
The website chose Lake Tahoe as the most beautiful lake in California.
The lake is shared by California and Nevada and is the largest alpine lake in North America, according to the website.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: 15 best waterfalls in California, from King’s Canyon and Sequoia National Park to Yosemite
Reporting by Ernesto Centeno Araujo, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
