One of the best parts of winter in Northern California is the way the rain colors our landscapes. The golden brown hills take on a rich green hue and our forests become lush with greenery. Best of all, normally dry riverbeds begin to flow and in some places waterfalls appear along the trail.
These are some of the best Silicon Valley hikes to do when looking for waterfalls. These waterfalls depend on rain and are best done in the weeks after a heavy storm.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park – Boulder Creek, CA
This Redwood Forest Park was established in 1902 and is the oldest state park in California. It is home to the largest continuous group of ancient coastal redwoods south of San Francisco, making it a rare opportunity to see these ancient gems.
The park has more than 80 miles of trails. You can see Semperviron Falls on the moderate level Sequoia Trail. Visit the Berry Creek Falls trail for a more strenuous hike, but views of the park’s largest redwoods and four different waterfalls, including the 70-foot Berry Creek Falls.
Park website
Uvas Canyon County Park – Morgan Hill, CA
Uvas Canyon is a lush, wooded park in Santa Clara County on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The easy three mile “Waterfall Loop” trail allows you to see three different waterfalls, Basin Falls, Upper Falls and Black Rock Falls, a thirty foot waterfall. Add the more strenuous Alec Canyon Trail to visit Triple Falls. Leashed dogs are allowed on all trails.
Park website
Portola Redwoods State Park – La Honda, CA
A quiet Silicon Valley retreat, right over the hills in a dark, shady redwood forest. Pescadero Creek is home to the beautiful Tiptoe Falls. Fall Creek has a few other smaller falls. Dogs are only allowed on campsites, picnic areas, paved roads, and the upper and lower escape roads.
Park website
San Pedro Valley County Park – Pacifica, CA
Hike the Brooks Creek trails to see one of Brooks Falls, one of the tallest seasonal waterfalls in Silicon Valley. The slender waterfalls drop 175 feet in up to five levels, depending on the rainfall. You can do a 1.2 mile round trip or a longer loop if you add another trail. Dogs are not allowed in the park.
Park website
Nisene Marks State Park – Aptos, CA
The redwood trails in this Santa Cruz area state park have two seasonal waterfalls, Maple Falls and Five Finger Falls. There are also some smaller falls that run through the parks’ many streams. All trails are well shaded. Dogs are only allowed on the driveway and in the picnic areas. Check out this site for a detailed guide to the park’s waterfall hikes.
Park website
