The best waterfalls near Sacramento, California are Bassi Falls, Horsetail Falls, Alamere Falls and 7 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Codfish Falls, about 41 miles northeast of Sacramento.
For more waterfalls around Sacramento, browse the nearest towns: Granite Bay, North Auburn, Meadow Vista, Sutter, Green Valley, Angwin, Sonoma, Hidden Valley Lake. You can also see every waterfall on the California waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 19 publicly accessible California waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Sacramento that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Bassi Falls
66 miles east of Sacramento. Our top pick near the city 4.8 out of 5 from 180 reviews.
El Dorado County, CA (GPS 38.8926, -120.3303)
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Bassi Falls is about 66 miles east of Sacramento, near Tahoma. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 180 Google reviews, and 87% of them give it five stars.
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2. Horsetail Falls
76 miles east of Sacramento. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 115 reviews.
El Dorado County, CA 95735 (GPS 38.8304, -120.1233)
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Horsetail Falls is about 76 miles east of Sacramento, near South Lake Tahoe. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 115 Google reviews, and 84% of them give it five stars. In short: "Waterfall cascading about 500 feet in stages, amid Desolation Wilderness & near a hiking trail."
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3. Alamere Falls
82 miles southwest of Sacramento. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 414 reviews.
Marin County, CA 94924 (GPS 37.9542, -122.7834)
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Alamere Falls is about 82 miles southwest of Sacramento, near Bolinas. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 414 Google reviews, and 86% of them give it five stars. In short: "Day hikes to a scenic, remote spot where water cascades down a 30 ft. cliff onto a rugged beach." The USGS gazetteer describes it as: 40 feet high.
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4. Jawbone Falls
92 miles southeast of Sacramento. Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 9 reviews.
Tuolumne County, CA (GPS 38.0083, -119.9718)
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Jawbone Falls is about 92 miles southeast of Sacramento, near Twain Harte. Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 9 Google reviews.
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5. Cataract Falls
77 miles southwest of Sacramento. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 34 reviews.
Marin County, CA 94970 (GPS 37.9244, -122.6294)
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Cataract Falls is about 77 miles southwest of Sacramento, near Bolinas. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 34 Google reviews, and 79% of them give it five stars.
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6. Huntington Falls
77 miles southwest of Sacramento. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 52 reviews.
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Huntington Falls is about 77 miles southwest of Sacramento, near San Francisco. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 52 Google reviews, and 88% of them give it five stars.
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7. Codfish Falls
41 miles northeast of Sacramento. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 24 reviews.
Placer County, CA 95713 (GPS 38.9971, -120.9547)
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Codfish Falls is about 41 miles northeast of Sacramento, near Meadow Vista. Visitors rate it 4.4 stars across 24 Google reviews, and 63% of them give it five stars.
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8. Loves Falls
84 miles northeast of Sacramento. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 26 reviews.
Sierra County, CA 96125 (GPS 39.5807, -120.6072)
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Loves Falls is about 84 miles northeast of Sacramento, near Downieville. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 26 Google reviews, and 81% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention short hike, bridge, and location.
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9. Fern Falls
90 miles northeast of Sacramento. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 5 reviews.
Plumas County, CA 96103 (GPS 39.7137, -120.6663)
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Fern Falls is about 90 miles northeast of Sacramento, near Portola. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 5 Google reviews.
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10. Frazier Falls
90 miles northeast of Sacramento. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 79 reviews.
Sierra County, CA 96103 (GPS 39.7064, -120.6429)
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Frazier Falls is about 90 miles northeast of Sacramento, near Portola. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 79 Google reviews, and 84% of them give it five stars.
Waterfall Day Trips From Sacramento
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codfish Falls | 41 mi northeast | Meadow Vista | 4.4 |
| Bassi Falls | 66 mi east | Tahoma | 4.8 |
| Horsetail Falls | 76 mi east | South Lake Tahoe | 4.8 |
| Cataract Falls | 77 mi southwest | Bolinas | 4.7 |
| Huntington Falls | 77 mi southwest | San Francisco | 4.7 |
| Alamere Falls | 82 mi southwest | Bolinas | 4.8 |
| Loves Falls | 84 mi northeast | Downieville | 4.7 |
| Fern Falls | 90 mi northeast | Portola | 4.8 |
| Frazier Falls | 90 mi northeast | Portola | 4.7 |
| Jawbone Falls | 92 mi southeast | Twain Harte | 5.0 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Sacramento. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Sacramento?
Bassi Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 66 miles east of Sacramento and rated 4.8 stars from 180 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Sacramento?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Codfish Falls is the closest, about 41 straight-line miles northeast of the city, near Meadow Vista.
How many waterfalls are near Sacramento?
We track 19 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in California within 100 miles of Sacramento, 1 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the California waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 19 publicly accessible California waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Sacramento that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
When are Yosemite's waterfalls at their best?
Usually in May and June, when snowmelt from the high country is at its peak. By late summer some of the valley's falls shrink dramatically or stop flowing altogether, depending on the previous winter's snowpack.
Summary
Bassi Falls is our top waterfall pick near Sacramento, rated 4.8 out of 5 and about 66 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Timing depends on elevation. Low-elevation coastal and Southern California falls peak during and just after winter storms, typically January through April, and often fade by June. Sierra Nevada falls follow the snowpack: in Yosemite, flows usually build in April, peak in May and June, and decline through July, with some falls dry by late summer in an average year. Big snow years extend the season; drought years shorten it sharply. Spring-fed falls in Shasta and Siskiyou counties are the exception and are worthwhile in any season. High Sierra roads such as the Tioga Road and those to the eastern trailheads usually remain closed into late spring, and summer weekends bring heavy crowds to Yosemite Valley and other well-known sites.
For more California waterfalls, see the full California waterfalls page, or read 15 Best Waterfalls in California, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in California and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in California.