Waterfalls around San Francisco at a glance
There are 33 named waterfalls within 50 miles of downtown San Francisco. The nearest is Huntington Falls, about 3.0 mi W in a straight line, a 110 ft drop. Most of the falls around the city lie to the south: 13 of the 33. All of them are in California.
Distances here are straight lines from the city centre. Roads bend around ridges and rivers, so a fall 20 miles out can take an hour to reach. Search your own street or tap Find falls near me above to measure from where you are.
How far you have to drive
| Within | Named waterfalls |
|---|---|
| 10 miles of San Francisco | 3 |
| 25 miles of San Francisco | 16 |
| 50 miles of San Francisco | 33 |
Well-known falls within reach of San Francisco
Rainbow Falls (3.2 miW) is among the best-known waterfalls within 50 miles. Each is described on its state page: waterfalls in California.
The 15 nearest waterfalls to San Francisco
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington Falls | 3.0 mi W | 110 ft | San Francisco County, California |
| Rainbow Falls | 3.2 mi W | not recorded | San Francisco County, California |
| Grey Fox Creek Fountain | 3.8 mi S | not recorded | California |
| Kent Falls | 12 mi NW | not recorded | Marin County, California |
| Dawn Falls | 14 mi NW | not recorded | Marin County, California |
| Laurel Dell Falls | 15 mi NW | not recorded | California |
| Cataract Falls | 15 mi NW | not recorded | Marin County, California |
| Midway Falls | 16 mi NW | not recorded | California |
| Helen Markt Falls | 16 mi NW | not recorded | California |
| Little Carson Falls | 18 mi NW | not recorded | California |
| Cascade Falls | 18 mi NW | not recorded | California |
| Abrigo Falls | 19 mi NE | 15 ft | California |
| Roy's Riffles | 21 mi NW | not recorded | California |
| Buck Gulch Falls | 22 mi NNW | not recorded | California |
| Alamere Falls | 23 mi WNW | not recorded | Marin County, California |
Tallest recorded waterfalls near San Francisco
Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap. 4 of the 33 falls have one; the rest are often small ledges and cascades. Why published heights differ.
| Waterfall | Height | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Huntington Falls | 110 ft | 3.0 mi W |
| Murietta Falls | 108 ft | 42 mi ESE |
| Tehan Falls | 60 ft | 27 mi ESE |
| Abrigo Falls | 15 ft | 19 mi NE |
Counties with the most falls near San Francisco
Marin County, CA (4), Santa Cruz County, CA (4), San Francisco County, CA (2), Alameda County, CA (1) and Sonoma County, CA (1). County is from the USGS record, so falls mapped only in OpenStreetMap are not counted here.
Before you go
The map shows where falls are, not whether a trail reaches them or the land is open. Check the land manager for closures, fees and parking, and stay on the trail near the water. See waterfall safety, waterfall hikes near me and the best time to see waterfalls.
Waterfalls near other cities: Sacramento.