Waterfall Hikes Near Merced, CA

160,638 residents
Los Angeles Time Zone
9 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Merced calls itself the Gateway to Yosemite, and this waterfall list reads that way. Chilnualna Fall above Wawona is the serious outing, 8.2 miles round trip and rated hard. Foresta Falls inside the park needs only 1.2 miles. Closer options gather around Bass Lake, where Angel Falls runs three miles with 500 feet of gain and a swimming hole, and Whisky Falls is an easy mile and a half. Corlieu Falls drops 80 feet along Lewis Creek near Oakhurst. Nine falls in range, most dog friendly outside the park boundary.

Located at 37.3057°N, -120.4779°W

Map of Waterfalls Near Merced

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

5 of 9 gauged

5 waterfalls near Merced have live flow data today

Chilnualna Fall Moderate Chinquapin Falls Moderate Foresta Falls Moderate Little Nellie Falls Moderate Finnegan Falls Low

Updated 36 minutes ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

This Afternoon

Sunny · 81°F

Aft 81°F Sunny Best
Sat 86°F Sunny
Sun 84°F Sunny
Lab 87°F Sunny
Tue 91°F Sunny
Wed 88°F Slight Chance Light Rain then Partly Sunny
Thu 90°F Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain

Flowing best right now near Merced

Updated about 3 hours ago

Ranked by live stream-gauge flow versus each waterfall's seasonal normal.

  1. 1 Chilnualna Fall Moderate · 31 cfs 34th percentile
  2. 2 Chinquapin Falls Moderate · 31 cfs 34th percentile
  3. 3 Foresta Falls Moderate · 31 cfs 34th percentile
  4. 4 Little Nellie Falls Moderate · 31 cfs 34th percentile
  5. 5 Finnegan Falls Low · 583 cfs 10th percentile

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Merced hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Find waterfalls to hike near Merced

Have your own travel site? Embed these waterfalls for free.

🚗 Easy Waterfall Hikes Near Merced (3 waterfalls)

Easy access waterfalls are drive-up or short-walk friendly. Perfect for families, casual visitors, or anyone who loves waterfalls but is "so-so" about hiking.

Corlieu Falls waterfall

Corlieu Falls

47.4 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles 300 ft
Whisky Falls waterfall CC

Whisky Falls

33.7 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles 200 ft

🐕 Dog-Friendly Waterfall Hikes Around Merced (5 waterfalls)

Bring your four-legged friend along! These waterfalls welcome dogs on their trails.

Angel Falls waterfall

Angel Falls

31.7 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 500 ft
Red Rock Falls waterfall

Red Rock Falls

46 miles away
California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft

All 9 Waterfalls Near Merced

Angel Falls waterfall

Angel Falls

31.7 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 500 ft
Corlieu Falls waterfall

Corlieu Falls

47.4 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles 300 ft
Red Rock Falls waterfall

Red Rock Falls

46 miles away
California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Whisky Falls waterfall CC

Whisky Falls

33.7 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles 200 ft
Chinquapin Falls waterfall

Chinquapin Falls

44.8 miles away
In Yosemite National Park
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft

Finnegan Falls

14.4 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 500 ft
Chilnualna Fall waterfall

Chilnualna Fall

48.2 miles away
In Yosemite National Park
California
Hard
8.2 miles 2 ft
Foresta Falls waterfall

Foresta Falls

27.1 miles away
In Yosemite National Park
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft
Little Nellie Falls waterfall

Little Nellie Falls

24.7 miles away
In Yosemite National Park
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near Merced

Are there free waterfalls near Merced?

There are 5 free waterfalls near Merced, including Angel Falls.

Are there easy waterfall hikes near Merced?

There are 3 easy waterfall hikes near Merced, including Corlieu Falls.

Are there dog friendly waterfalls in Merced?

There are 5 dog-friendly waterfalls near Merced, including Angel Falls.

Are there kid-friendly waterfalls near Merced?

There are 6 kid-friendly waterfalls near Merced, including Angel Falls.

Can you swim in any waterfalls near Merced?

There is 1 waterfall that allows swimming near Merced, including Angel Falls.

What is the shortest waterfall hike near Merced?

The shortest waterfall hike near Merced is Angel Falls at 1.2 miles round trip.

How tall are the waterfalls near Merced?

The tallest waterfall near Merced is Corlieu Falls at 80 feet.

Do any waterfalls near Merced require permits?

Yes, 1 waterfall near Merced requires a permit. Check individual trail pages for current permit details.

Can I camp near the waterfalls around Merced?

Yes, 8 waterfalls near Merced have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to Merced?

The closest waterfall to Merced is Angel Falls, approximately 40 miles away.

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Nearby Hot Springs

Hot springs near Merced, California

Spring In Oneill Forebay

34.7 mi 70°F

This unusual 70-degree thermal spring emerges within the O'Neill Forebay, part of California's San Luis Reservoir State Recreat...

Unnamed Spring Fresno County

41.2 mi 75°F

This modest 75-degree thermal spring emerges over 1,100 meters from the nearest road in Fresno County's remote hills near Fireb...

Salt Grass Springs

41.3 mi 73°F

Salt Grass Springs emerges at 73°F in the rolling foothills of Stanislaus County near Patterson, providing modest thermal warmt...

Iridat Spring

43.8 mi 73°F

Iridat Spring emerges at 73 degrees Fahrenheit from the Merced County foothills at 1,198 feet elevation, creating a minimal 10-...

Spring

44.3 mi 81°F

This 81-degree thermal spring emerges in Merced County's oak-dotted foothills where the San Joaquin Valley rises toward the inl...
Mercey Hot Springs

Mercey Hot Springs

45.6 mi 119°F

Mercey Hot Springs flows at a scalding 119°F, among California's hottest springs, located in the remote Little Panoche Valley w...

Looking for a soak after your hike? Explore more hot springs near Merced, California on SoakingSprings.

Explore California springs

Where to Stay

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