Waterfall Hikes Near South Lake Tahoe, CA

21,346 residents
Los Angeles Time Zone
12 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Snowmelt runs the show around South Lake Tahoe, so June and early July are when these falls go big. Eagle Falls pours just above Emerald Bay, two miles out and back with 400 feet of gain and room for dogs. Horsetail Falls fills a granite cleft near Twin Bridges on Highway 50, three miles round trip. Bassi Falls to the west drops 109 feet across slab granite, an easy 1.2 miles with swimming below. Twelve falls sit within fifty miles, several strung along the drive toward Placerville.

Located at 38.9393°N, -119.9828°W

Map of Waterfalls Near South Lake Tahoe

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

11 of 12 gauged

2 of 11 waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe are flowing strongly today

Carson Falls Moderate Llewellyn Falls Moderate Codfish Falls Roaring Eagle Falls Moderate Horsetail Falls Moderate Sawyier Falls Moderate Jawbone Falls Moderate Jumbo Falls Roaring Leavitt Falls Moderate Sardine Falls Moderate Silver Falls Moderate

Updated 35 minutes ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

Labor Day

Sunny · 68°F

Tod 56°F Slight Chance Rain Showers
Sat 66°F Sunny
Sun 61°F Sunny
Lab 68°F Sunny Best
Tue 70°F Mostly Sunny
Wed 67°F Chance Rain Showers
Thu 67°F Chance Rain Showers

Flowing best right now near South Lake Tahoe

Updated about 1 hour ago

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

  1. 1 Jumbo Falls Roaring · 1 cfs 99th percentile
  2. 2 Codfish Falls Roaring · 55 cfs 97th percentile
  3. 3 Eagle Falls Moderate · 5 cfs 73rd percentile
  4. 4 Horsetail Falls Moderate · 5 cfs 73rd percentile
  5. 5 Sawyier Falls Moderate · 5 cfs 73rd percentile
  6. 6 Leavitt Falls Moderate · 36 cfs 53rd percentile

Know when to go.

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

Find waterfalls to hike near South Lake Tahoe

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

🚗 Easy Waterfall Hikes Near South Lake Tahoe (4 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.

Eagle Falls waterfall

Eagle Falls

45.4 miles away
California
Easy
2.0 miles 400 ft
Bassi Falls waterfall

Bassi Falls

45.8 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft

🐕 Dog-Friendly Waterfall Hikes Around South Lake Tahoe (9 waterfalls)

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

Horsetail Falls waterfall

Horsetail Falls

44.2 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 600 ft
Carson Falls waterfall

Carson Falls

40.9 miles away
California
Moderate
3.6 miles 800 ft

All 12 Waterfalls Near South Lake Tahoe

Eagle Falls waterfall

Eagle Falls

45.4 miles away
California
Easy
2.0 miles 400 ft
Sawyier Falls waterfall

Sawyier Falls

47.9 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Horsetail Falls waterfall

Horsetail Falls

44.2 miles away
California
Moderate
3.0 miles 600 ft
Bassi Falls waterfall

Bassi Falls

45.8 miles away
California
Easy
1.2 miles 200 ft
Jumbo Falls waterfall

Jumbo Falls

14 miles away
Nevada
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Carson Falls waterfall

Carson Falls

40.9 miles away
California
Moderate
3.6 miles 800 ft

Llewellyn Falls

42.8 miles away
California
Moderate
6.0 miles 600 ft

Codfish Falls

42.7 miles away
California
Easy
3.1 miles 200 ft

Jawbone Falls

27.5 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Sardine Falls waterfall

Sardine Falls

46.9 miles away
California
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Silver Falls waterfall

Silver Falls

48.4 miles away
California
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Leavitt Falls waterfall

Leavitt Falls

48.9 miles away
California
Easy
0.4 miles 75 ft

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near South Lake Tahoe

Are there free waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe?

There are 8 free waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe, including Bassi Falls.

Are there easy waterfall hikes near South Lake Tahoe?

There are 4 easy waterfall hikes near South Lake Tahoe, including Bassi Falls.

Are there dog friendly waterfalls in South Lake Tahoe?

There are 9 dog-friendly waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe, including Bassi Falls.

Are there kid-friendly waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe?

There are 10 kid-friendly waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe, including Bassi Falls.

Can you swim in any waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe?

There are 2 waterfalls that allow swimming near South Lake Tahoe, including Bassi Falls.

What is the shortest waterfall hike near South Lake Tahoe?

The shortest waterfall hike near South Lake Tahoe is Bassi Falls at 0.4 miles round trip.

How tall are the waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe?

The tallest waterfall near South Lake Tahoe is Bassi Falls at 109 feet.

Do any waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe require permits?

Yes, 2 waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe require a permit. Check individual trail pages for current permit details.

Can I camp near the waterfalls around South Lake Tahoe?

Yes, 12 waterfalls near South Lake Tahoe have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to South Lake Tahoe?

The closest waterfall to South Lake Tahoe is Eagle Falls, approximately 6 miles away.

🏙️ Other Cities Near South Lake Tahoe With Waterfalls

Gardnerville Ranchos, NV
12,057 residents
Carson City, NV
58,249 residents
Truckee, CA
16,784 residents
Dayton, NV
15,415 residents
Reno, NV
457,702 residents
Cold Springs, NV
11,029 residents
Sun Valley, NV
22,775 residents
Sparks, NV
108,025 residents
Placerville, CA
10,744 residents
North Auburn, CA
14,403 residents
Diamond Springs, CA
12,197 residents
Spanish Springs, NV
16,418 residents

Nearby Hot Springs

Hot springs near South Lake Tahoe, California

Myers Warm Spring

Myers Warm Spring

6.1 mi 75°F

Myers Warm Spring flows at 75°F (24°C) near South Lake Tahoe at an elevation of 7,615 feet—one of California's highest-elevatio...

Walleys Hot Springs

8.4 mi 160°F

Walleys Hot Springs flows at 160°F in Douglas County at 4,690 feet elevation, positioned just 20 meters from the roadside near ...

Hobo Hot Springs

12.9 mi 114°F

Hobo Hot Springs flows at 114 degrees Fahrenheit on Stewart Community tribal land in Douglas County at 4,760 feet elevation, po...

Springs

14.6 mi 90°F

Flowing at 90°F along Washoe Springs Road in Douglas County, these thermal springs run 38 degrees warmer than the 52°F ambient ...
Brockway Hot Springs

Brockway Hot Springs

15.2 mi 131°F

Brockway Hot Springs surges at 131°F directly into Lake Tahoe's frigid waters at 6,337 feet elevation near Kings Beach. Located...
Saratoga Hot Spring

Saratoga Hot Spring

16.0 mi 122°F

Saratoga Hot Spring flows at 122°F in Douglas County near Johnson Lane, positioned 42.7 meters from Vicky Lane at 4,700 feet el...

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

Explore California springs

Where to Stay

Hotels & Lodges Booking.com

Find hotels, lodges, and B&Bs near the trailhead
Cabins & Rentals VRBO

Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
RV Rentals Outdoorsy

Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

← → walk · Esc to stop