Waterfall Summer Hikes

Some waterfall hikes are still spectacles even in early summer, especially after a snow-packing winter. From less known waterworks in the far reaches of both Yosemite and Shasta County, to a stunner in a neighboring state, here are three ways to have a waterfall start to summer.

Week: 06.19.2024
Regions: Northern & Southern CA

Wapama Wows

Hike to Wapama Falls in Hetch Hetchy Yosemite National Park

Woman hiking along a trail in Yosemite
Woman smiling on the hiking trail with a lake in the background at Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite
Woman on bridge at Wapama Falls in Hetch Hetchy Yosemite
Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.
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Sundialed Summer

Summer Fun in Redding

Badaloop Redding
Redding river rafting
Gather your favorite people and dial up the summer fun in Redding! There are span-tastic celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the iconic Sundial Bridge and a Fourth of July celebration with one of California’s largest fireworks shows.
Celebrate the Sundial Bridge

Three Falling

Hiking McCloud Falls in Redding Area Northern California

Three waterfalls, and fewer people. McCloud Falls might be the best waterfall hike in Northern California. There are bigger waterfalls in the state, but it’s the whole package that makes this 4-mile (round-trip) hike truly memorable.
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Watson in a Name? A lot, Sherlock!

Hike to Watson Falls in Southern Oregon

Watson Falls in Southern Oregon along the Highway of Waterfalls
Two people at the overlook and watching Watson Falls in Southern Oregon
A hiker crosses a bride enroute to Watson Falls in Southern Oregon
Up close picture of Watson Falls in Southern Oregon
The #1 rule of the unofficial waterfall club? You cannot take a road trip through Southern Oregon and skip the Highway of Waterfalls. This stretch of Highway 138 east of Roseburg along the Umpqua River is a watery marvel that’s lovely year-round.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

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  2. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

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  3. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

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  4. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

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  2. Two women on e-bikes at Cass Vineyard and Winery near Paso Robles

    Eat, Drink, E-bike!

    No offense to charcuterie but sometimes you want a full meal while tasting world-class wine. And Paso Robles knows this better than perhaps any other wine region in California. Case in point: Cass Vineyard and Winery, where you can eat, drink, and e-bike!

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  3. Diamond in the Rough

    March Madness may be over, but the wildflower rush has just begun! This spring, in the Southern California regional bracket, Hemet’s Diamond Valley Lake is our surprise pick for the Fab Flowers Finals. Take a 2-mile round-trip hike in botanical bliss.

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  4. Jurupa Jamboree

    If you like a short hike with a side of adventure, try the Jurupa Hills North Trail in Martin Tudor Jurupa Hills Regional Park.

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