Waterfalls near San Francisco, CA
19 waterfalls within 75 miles · 19 with detail pages · 16 within 25 miles
This page lists every named waterfall in our database within driving distance of San Francisco, sorted by how far they are. Distances are straight-line; drive times assume average highway-plus-local routes (typically 30% longer than the straight-line miles). For trip planning, treat them as a starting point and verify the actual route in Google Maps.
Always check current access, parking, and seasonal closures with the relevant land manager — state parks, the National Park Service, or the local ranger district — before heading out. Several of these falls are seasonal and may run dry in mid-to-late summer.
Closest waterfalls to San Francisco
All waterfalls within 75 miles, by distance
Within 25 miles of San Francisco
| Waterfall | Height | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington Falls | 110 ft | 3 mi | ~5 min |
| Rainbow Falls | — | 3 mi | ~5 min |
| Grey Fox Creek Fountain | — | 4 mi | ~5 min |
| Kent Falls | — | 12 mi | ~20 min |
| Dawn Falls | — | 14 mi | ~25 min |
| Laurel Dell Falls | — | 15 mi | ~25 min |
| Midway Falls | — | 16 mi | ~25 min |
| Helen Markt Falls | — | 16 mi | ~30 min |
| Cataract Falls | — | 16 mi | ~30 min |
| Little Carson Falls | — | 18 mi | ~30 min |
| Cascade Falls | — | 18 mi | ~30 min |
| Abrigo Falls | 15 ft | 19 mi | ~30 min |
| Roy's Riffles | — | 21 mi | ~35 min |
| Buck Gulch Falls | — | 22 mi | ~40 min |
| Alamere Falls | — | 23 mi | ~40 min |
| Stairstep Falls | — | 24 mi | ~40 min |
25–50 miles
| Waterfall | Height | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haraszthy Falls | — | 36 mi | ~1.0 hr |
| Green Valley Falls | — | 37 mi | ~1.1 hr |
| Sonoma Creek Falls | — | 46 mi | ~1.3 hr |
Beyond 75 miles
Looking for waterfalls further out? Browse the full California waterfall list or jump to all U.S. waterfalls.