Waterfall Hikes Near Palo Alto, CA

67,901 residents
Los Angeles Time Zone
18 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Looking for the best waterfalls to hike near Palo Alto? There are 18 waterfall hiking trails within a 50-mile radius of Palo Alto. These trails range from easy to moderate difficulty, providing options for both casual hikers and experienced adventurers looking to explore the region's natural beauty.

Located at 37.3905°N, -122.1468°W

Map of Waterfalls Near Palo Alto

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

18 of 18 gauged

11 of 18 waterfalls near Palo Alto are flowing strongly today

Berry Creek Falls Strong Butano Falls Roaring Golden Falls Roaring Silver Falls Roaring Castle Rock Falls Roaring Cataract Falls Roaring Dawn Falls Roaring Green Valley Falls Moderate Huntington Falls Roaring Kent Falls Roaring Rainbow Falls Roaring Tehan Falls Strong

Updated 32 minutes ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

Today

Sunny · 75°F

Tod 75°F Sunny Best
Sat 77°F Sunny
Sun 75°F Mostly Sunny
Lab 83°F Sunny
Tue 85°F Mostly Sunny
Wed 81°F Slight Chance Light Rain
Thu 82°F Slight Chance Light Rain

Flowing best right now near Palo Alto

Updated 32 minutes ago

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

  1. 1 Butano Falls Roaring · 6 cfs 95th percentile
  2. 2 Castle Rock Falls Roaring · 1 cfs 95th percentile
  3. 3 Golden Falls Roaring · 6 cfs 95th percentile
  4. 4 Silver Falls Roaring · 6 cfs 95th percentile
  5. 5 Cataract Falls Roaring · 1 cfs 94th percentile
  6. 6 Dawn Falls Roaring · 1 cfs 94th percentile

Know when to go.

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

Find waterfalls to hike near Palo Alto

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

🚗 Easy Waterfall Hikes Near Palo Alto (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.

Castle Rock Falls waterfall

Castle Rock Falls

6.9 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft
Silver Falls waterfall

Silver Falls

42.7 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles 200 ft

🐕 Dog-Friendly Waterfall Hikes Around Palo Alto (8 waterfalls)

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

Golden Falls waterfall

Golden Falls

42.7 miles away
California
Moderate
2.5 miles 400 ft

All 18 Waterfalls Near Palo Alto

Castle Rock Falls waterfall

Castle Rock Falls

6.9 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft
Butano Falls waterfall

Butano Falls

47.6 miles away
California
Moderate
4.5 miles 500 ft
Silver Falls waterfall

Silver Falls

42.7 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles 200 ft
Golden Falls waterfall

Golden Falls

42.7 miles away
California
Moderate
2.5 miles 400 ft
Berry Creek Falls waterfall

Berry Creek Falls

48.9 miles away
California
Hard
10.5 miles 2 ft

Tehan Falls

21.9 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Maple Falls waterfall

Maple Falls

36.7 miles away
California
Moderate
7.5 miles 800 ft

Fiver Finger Falls

38 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Basin Falls waterfall

Basin Falls

38.9 miles away
California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Black Rock Falls waterfall

Black Rock Falls

39 miles away
California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Upper Falls waterfall

Upper Falls

39 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Triple Falls waterfall

Triple Falls

39.5 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 500 ft
Huntington Falls waterfall CC

Huntington Falls

28.5 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Rainbow Falls waterfall

Rainbow Falls

28.5 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Kent Falls waterfall

Kent Falls

4.7 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Dawn Falls waterfall

Dawn Falls

2.8 miles away
California
Moderate
2.7 miles 400 ft
Green Valley Falls waterfall

Green Valley Falls

11.2 miles away
California
Easy
1.5 miles 100 ft
Cataract Falls waterfall

Cataract Falls

5 miles away
California
Moderate
2.6 miles 750 ft

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near Palo Alto

Are there free waterfalls near Palo Alto?

There are 6 free waterfalls near Palo Alto, including Cataract Falls.

Are there easy waterfall hikes near Palo Alto?

There are 3 easy waterfall hikes near Palo Alto, including Castle Rock Falls.

Are there dog friendly waterfalls in Palo Alto?

There are 8 dog-friendly waterfalls near Palo Alto, including Cataract Falls.

Are there kid-friendly waterfalls near Palo Alto?

There are 11 kid-friendly waterfalls near Palo Alto, including Berry Creek Falls.

Can you swim in any waterfalls near Palo Alto?

There is 1 waterfall that allows swimming near Palo Alto, including Green Valley Falls.

What is the shortest waterfall hike near Palo Alto?

The shortest waterfall hike near Palo Alto is Basin Falls at 1.2 miles round trip.

How tall are the waterfalls near Palo Alto?

The tallest waterfall near Palo Alto is Castle Rock Falls at 80 feet.

Do any waterfalls near Palo Alto require permits?

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

Can I camp near the waterfalls around Palo Alto?

Yes, 6 waterfalls near Palo Alto have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to Palo Alto?

The closest waterfall to Palo Alto is Castle Rock Falls, approximately 9.8 miles away.

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Nearby Hot Springs

Hot springs near Palo Alto, California

Mineral Springs

Mineral Springs

15.3 mi 84°F

Mineral Springs flows at 84°F near East Foothills in the Santa Clara Valley foothills, creating a modest 25-degree temperature ...
Alameda Warm Springs

Alameda Warm Springs

15.8 mi 80°F

Alameda Warm Springs flows at 80°F (27°C) in Mission Peak Regional Preserve near Milpitas, a modest thermal seep just 20 degree...
Crohare Spring

Crohare Spring

28.1 mi 70°F

Crohare Spring emerges at 70°F from protected conservation lands near Livermore, flowing barely 9 degrees above ambient tempera...
Sulphur Spring

Sulphur Spring

30.3 mi 75°F

Sulphur Spring emerges at 75°F near San Francisco Bay, reaching temperatures 14.4 degrees warmer than the mild East Bay climate...

Springs

34.0 mi

These warm springs emerge in Contra Costa County's Mount Diablo foothills near Clayton at just 649 feet elevation, sitting bare...

Unnamed Spring Solano County

35.7 mi 73°F

Near Benicia in Solano County, this 73-degree spring flows at 218 feet, 14 degrees warmer than ambient, just 68.5 meters from L...

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

Explore California springs

Where to Stay

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RV Rentals Outdoorsy

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