Our 5 Favorite Waterfalls in California
California is littered with beautiful waterfalls and as such, we found it difficult to narrow them down to just five. We haven’t seen every waterfall in the state, but we’ve been fortunate enough to see many of them and below is our list of five of our favorites (so far).
They are in no particular order and if there’s a link listed in the description of a waterfall, click or tap it to find out more detailed information about how you can see it for yourself.
1) Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls has a commanding presence in the park and is not only the highest waterfall in Yosemite, but it’s one of the highest in the country!
Upper Yosemite Falls is the highest at 1,430 feet, followed the middle cascades at 675 feet, and finishing with Lower Yosemite Falls at 320 feet. This gives this beast a total of 2,425 feet.
Yosemite Falls is easily seen from multiple points throughout the park but the most popular viewpoint is the short trail to Lower Yosemite Falls. You can also hike to the top via a 3.5 mile (one-way), strenuous trail.
READ ALSO: 10 Awesome Things To Do In Yosemite Valley
2) Burney Falls
This 129-foot tall behemoth is a sight to behold. Nestled within the Cascade Range and Modoc Plateau, Burney Falls can be found just outside the small town of Burney, CA and can be accessed via a short, quarter mile trail down to the bottom.
It’s so spectacular that Theodore Roosevelt himself referred to it as the, “eighth wonder of the world” (allegedly). Burney is a MUST see attraction in California.
READ ALSO: The Complete Guide To Visiting Burney Falls
3) Tuolumne Falls
This is the first waterfall on the list that requires quite a bit of effort to see. It can be accessed via the Glen Aulin trail in Yosemite. The trail is located on the east side of the park (closed during the winter).
Tuolumne Falls stands at around 50-feet and is located within a mile from Glen Aulin proper and about 6 miles into the trail. You can read more about this trail below.
READ ALSO: Glen Aulin: A Glorious Hike Through Yosemite’s Backcountry
4) Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls is located within Devil’s Postpile National Monument and gets its name from the multiple rainbows that appear near the base when the sun hits it just right. While not the largest waterfall on the list, it still stands at a respectable 101 feet.
5) Vernal Fall
You want to see a beautiful waterfall? Look no further than Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park. Vernal is the third Yosemite waterfall on this list and for good reason; It is stunning!
Vernal Falls is one of two waterfalls along Yosemite’s Mist Trail (the other is Nevada Fall). It features a 317-foot drop and provides the “mist” that makes up the trail’s namesake.
The trail leading to Vernal may be short, but it’s steep and because of the mist, has hundreds of slick stone steps giving you plenty of opportunity for injury. Remember, slow and steady wins the race here.
READ ALSO: The Mist Trail: Yosemite’s Most Beautiful Hike
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Conclusion
That’s it. Those were our five favorite California waterfalls. Did we leave one off the list that you thought should be included? Want to suggest one to us? Drop us a comment below!
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Thanks for reading and safe travels!
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2020 and has recently been updated for comprehensiveness and accuracy.
