Jeff Crider
After enduring years of drought, California has finally received enough snow that the state’s waterfalls will be brought back to life this spring. There are over 100 notable waterfalls in the Golden State with many close to campgrounds and attainable on foot. Below you'll find a list of these nearby campgrounds from Camp-California.com.
“2023 is going to be a great year for waterfalls throughout California,” said Dyana Kelley, president and CEO of the California Outdoor Hospitality Association, which hosts Camp-California.com, the travel planning website.
Waterfall enthusiasts can check out a webcam to monitor water flows at Yosemite Falls, the state’s highest waterfall. But Yosemite National Park isn’t the only option for waterfalls, Kelley said. In fact, California has over 100 waterfalls, many of which can be found online at World-of-Waterfalls.com and VisitCalifornia.com.
“California has scores of waterfalls, but most of them are not very well known outside of Yosemite,” Kelley said.
Jeff Crider
While many waterfalls are hidden deep in the mountains and can only be accessed by trail, there are quite a few that are easily accessible on foot. Camp-California.com has compiled a list of several lesser known waterfalls along with campgrounds that can be used as base camps to access these beautiful destinations. These include:
- Alamere Falls: Considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls along the Northern California coast, Alamere Falls is located in Point Reyes National Seashore. It cascades over a cliff onto a beach and then runs into the ocean. It can be accessed via the Palomarin Trailhead at the southern end of Point Reyes. Nearby campgrounds include:
— Olema Campground in Olema, which has RV and tent sites.
- Burney Falls: Located inside McArthur Burney Falls Memorial State Park, Burney Falls is a spring-fed waterfall that is considered to be among the most scenic in the state. Nearby campgrounds include:
— Hat Creek Resort and RV Park in Old Station, which has RV and tent sites as well as cabin, yurt and motel rentals.
— Lassen RV Resort in McArthur, which has RV and tent sites.
— McArthur Burney Falls Cabins, which is inside the state park.
- McCloud Falls: This is really a series of three waterfalls on the McCloud River. Nearby campgrounds include:
— Fridays RV Retreat and Fly Fishing Ranch in McCloud, which has RV and tent sites and cabins.
- Potem Creek Falls: This 69-foot waterfall is located in the Shasta Trinity National Recreation Area. Nearby campgrounds include:
— JGW RV Park in Redding, which features RV sites.
— Mountain Gate RV Park in Redding, which has RV sites and park models for rent.
- Rainbow Falls: This 100-foot waterfall is located on the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River in Devils Postpile National Park, in the eastern Sierra near Mammoth Lakes. The park typically opens in mid-June. Nearby campgrounds include:
— Mammoth RV Park: This campground has RV and tent sites as well as cabins and RV trailer rentals. Other amenities include restrooms with hot showers and an indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi.
- Tahquitz Falls: This beautiful 50-foot waterfall is flowing right now. The waterfall is hidden in a beautiful canyon on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation near the south end of Palm Springs. Nearby campgrouds include:
— Emerald Desert RV Resort in Palm Desert: This park features RV sites and rental villas that range from 500 to 2,150 square feet.
— Palm Springs / Joshua Tree KOA in Desert Hot Springs: This campground features RV and tent sites and rental accommodations.
— Palm Springs Oasis RV Resort: This park features RV sites, a pool and spa.
- Waterfalls in the Big Sur area: There are 13 waterfalls in the Big Sur area, including McWay Falls, an 80-foot waterfall that plunges from a forested cliff onto the beach below. The fall is located in Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park and can be seen from State Route 1. Other noteworthy waterfalls in the area include Limekiln Falls in Limekiln State Park and Salmon Creek Falls, which is really a pair of 100-foot waterfalls that join together as they plunge. Nearby campgrounds include:
— Big Sur Campground and Cabins in Big Sur, which includes RV and tent sites and rental cabins.
— Fernwood Resort in Big Sur. This campground includes RV and tent sites as well as furnished “Adventure Tents.”
— Riverside Campground and Cabins in Big Sur. This campground has RV and tent sites and rental cabins.
- Waterfalls in San Diego County: One of the county’s most spectacular waterfalls is Cedar Creek Falls near the picturesque mountain town of Julian, which has several campgrounds close by, including:
— Pinezanita RV Park and Campgrounds, which has RV and tent sites as well as rental accommodations.
Of course, if you have your heart set on seeing Yosemite’s waterfalls and can’t get a reservation, take heart. There are several privately owned and operated campgrounds just outside the park, including:
— High Sierra RV and Mobile Home Park in Oakhurst: This park offers RV and tent sites and rustic cabin rentals.
— Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging in Groveland, which features RV and tent sites as well as furnished cabins, yurts and retro trailer rentals.
— Yosemite Lakes RV Resort in Groveland. This campground is situated inside a 400 acre preserve five miles from the western entrance to Yosemite National Park. The campground includes RV and tent sites as well as cabin and yurt rentals. The South Fork of the Tuolumne River runs through the preserve.
For more information on trip planning ideas and campgrounds across California, please visit Camp-California.com.