The best waterfall campgrounds in California

Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to resource for camping in the United States! If you're in California and craving the beauty of waterfalls, we've got you covered with over 2,150 options to choose from. Whether you're a seasoned camper or a first-timer, we've got the perfect spot for you. Looking for a specific recommendation? Check out our top campsites like Jug Handle Creek Farm (1479 reviews), Finnon Lake Recreation Area (780 reviews), and The Enchanted Forest Retreat (743 reviews). With popular amenities like showers, potable water, and trash facilities, you can enjoy the great outdoors without sacrificing comfort. And with popular activities including historic sites, swimming, and biking, there's something for everyone. So pack your gear and get ready to experience the stunning waterfalls of California. Average prices per night start at $65, with options as low as $5. Happy camping!

95% (15.1K)

Top-rated campgrounds near California

93%

(137)

912 sites · Junction City, California

California’s largest national forest offers year-round outdoor adventures and diverse camping options.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

11. Sierra National Forest

92%

(176)

1360 sites · Big Creek, California

“Secret Yosemite” offers scenic beauty, rugged forests, and outdoor recreation with smaller crowds.

Pets

Electrical hookup

Toilets

12. Los Padres National Forest

95%

(452)

762 sites · Mission Canyon, California

From beach to mountain, California's second largest forest offers recreation in diverse ecosystems.

Pets

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Camp Stoney Meadows

100%

(353)

13 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Big Bend, CA

Our 120 remote acres are adjacent to Shasta Trinity National Forest in the beautiful Cascade Range between Mt. Lassen and Mt. Shasta in Northern California. It's a working ranch with tree farms, animals, hydroelectric power, sawmill, gardens, orchards, creeks, springs, trails, and our camp alongside Kosk Creek. We're 54 miles from Redding off of 299E, (about 1-1/2 hour drive). DO NOT TAKE ROAD 11 FROM THE NORTH, IT IS CLOSED! PIease try to ignore the "car art" in the Pit River Tribe's Rancheria as you're coming here. Drive right through it, it's no reflection on us. The last mile or so of the road here can be pretty rough, but on arrival, you'll know it's worth the trip! No Cell phone service available here, so it's the perfect opportunity to unplug. We do have a land line up at the house in case of an emergency. Also, if you really need it, WiFi is available at the house.

Camp ikigai Animal Sanctuary 501c3

90%

(83)

112 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Squaw Valley, CA

Camp ikigai is a 72 acre farm/ranch stay near Sequoia-Kings (SEKI) Canyon Nat'l Parks. Rescued/EOL horses, sheep, chickens, and ducks freely roam the property. The property has a communal clubhouse with a fully stocked kitchen, washer/dryer, firepit, hot/cold showers, compost and pit toilets, and an above ground swimming pool. Our business is committed to inclusivity and respect for people from all backgrounds and a safe inclusive space for solo female travelers. 30 minutes from park entrance, 20 min from nearby lakes, 50 minutes from Fresno. 3 hours from SF, 3.5 from LA. We have running hot/cold water for our outdoor shower but NO flushable toilets. We have pit and compost toilets filled with cedar shavings for now! Our priorities: 1. Wildfire prevention 2. Community building 3. Environmentalism and Sustainability If you're coming July-Mid August, please know it is HOT (95 average/75 night) and wildfires are a consistent threat. With that, wildfire prevention is a high priority. We have a lot of projects we have started and could use all the help we can get! Some of those are: - invasive species management - tiny home building - gardening/greenhouse building - event space building - raising livestock - medicinal plant growing + onsite apothecary (Come volunteer build the food forest and medicinal garden) Come book a cabin, park a bus or RV, bring a tent, bring your cat/dog/turtle/horse etc. To see volunteer positions/project please visit https://Campikigai.com or https://linktr.ee/ikigaiSanctuary or at VolunteerMatch.com

Kernville Ranch

100%

(20)

5 sites · Lodging · Kernville, CA

Nestled in meadows with a private river flowing through horse pastures, tall shade trees and all natural cedar hot tub. Kernville Ranch is just a 5 minute walk from the center of Kernville. Plenty of fishing and white water rafting, hiking and hot springs and snow play depending on the season. Explore the lake for water-sports, the high country for pristine wilderness and a little snow. The town is full of restaurants, antiques stores, and a wonderful museum of the rich heritage of this Wild West town,

Spirit Walk - Private Retreat

99%

(563)

15 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Wofford Heights, CA

Private ADULT ONLY camping. With a central outdoor kitchen and dining area, group fire pit, and a bathroom with a composting toilet, sink and shower. Seasonal creek. Quiet and private. Stargazer and the Boulders have their own fire pit, and there's a communal fire pit too. We have a small cabin (The Playhouse) and 9 campsites. Each campsite will accommodate a medium size tent (10’x10’ max), except for The Boulders which will accommodate more. No Pets, No Smoking ADULTS ONLY. Spirit Walk is a quiet meditative place. It is not a conducive environment for young children. Thank you for understanding. Lake Isabella, the Kern River and historic Kernville are just 5 minutes down the road. All Hipcamp proceeds go directly back into the land in the way of forest maintenance, a tree planting program and improvements to the facilities.

Waterfall Camp

100%

(308)

6 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Mendocino, CA

Welcome to Waterfall Camp. Fallow us on IG https://www.instagram.com/waterfallcampmendocino/ Come enjoy your stay with us on our beautiful 5-acre property centrally located, its only 10 min to the village of Mendocino, 5 minute drive to Caspar beach and 10 min to the town of Fort Bragg. Nestled on the edge of the Redwoods and Pygmy Forest, adjacent to Russian Gulch State Park. The property has private access into park which consists of many miles of beautiful Redwood trails,the trail to the waterfall, biking trails along with a trail that leads straight to the ocean. Come and relax around your private campfire and cook over the open flames or treat yourself to fine dining in Mendocino or Fort Bragg, the experience is at your fingertips. From camping under the stars to hiking and biking through the redwoods or kayaking up Big River, come let the Mendocino coast show you what it’s all about. Our goal is to make you feel right at home. Each of our three sites has a redwood deck with a sink and food prep space, potable water, remote solar lighting, picnic table, smokeless fire pit and grill, firewood, level parking area and tent pad. One of the three sites can accommodate a 25’ trailer. There is a beautiful redwood bathhouse with two outdoor showers and two flushing toilets. All water onsite is potable so make sure to top off before your day of adventuring. There is a horseshoe pit, cornhole, and badminton set for fun under the sun. All sites are a two min walk to the State Park trails and 5 min ride to Jackson state forest bike trails. It's about a half hour walk to the beautiful waterfall from our property. Large Groups are welcome to book all three sites with two additional RV locations. Also we have a fully stocked westfalia camper van to glamp in if your wanting to pack light for the weekend. We hope to make your stay with us a memorable and fun experience. Shay & Liz -

Harmony's Glamping

95%

(347)

11 sites · Lodging · Santa Barbara, CA

Nestled along a spring fed creek in the beautiful mountains of Santa Barbara. Immerse yourself in the great outdoors while staying cozy in a Yurt, or one of our Geo Domes. Each is secluded with a hot shower, propane fire pit, camp kitchen (stove and sink ) please bring pots/ pans and all necessary cooking supplies, and a comfortable queen bed. Wake up to the sound of the birds chirping and the creek rippling. Hike to our very own 30' ft waterfall where you can take a dip, lay out and catch some sunshine. The trail is rugged so be ready to boulder and use your hands in some places. Our wood burning hot tub is freshly filled every time, and right along the creek for a natural hot/cold plunge experience. We also offer morning yoga, and relaxing massages for a fully rejuvenating experience. We provide a list of things to explore off-site, but our on-site amenities include things like disc golf, corn hole, ping pong, puzzles in the yurts, books, and more! We do require a liability waiver to be signed, and by booking, you are agreeing to and signing to the waiver. We will also send you a waiver via your welcome message. Enjoy some nearby experiences all within 30 minutes: -Cold Springs Tavern, historical stagecoach stop, live music and delicious BBQ -Wine Tasting in Solvang or on Stearns Wharf -State Street, Downtown Shopping and Restaurants -Beaches, LedBetter, East Beach, Butterfly, Hendry's Beach (Dog Friendly) -Painted Cave, a cave full of Indian paintings -Hikes, SaddleRock, Lizards Mouth, Hot Springs Please note that a high clearance vehicle is recommended! This is a mountainous bumpy dirt road with steep sharp corners. A regular car can make it, just be warned you may bottom out a couple times. We are not liable for any damage to you or your vehicle when entering our property, so do so at your own risk. Please feel free to reach out with any further questions. Text or Call: 805-698-8623 IG:@harmonys_glamping

Kings Canyon Campground

92%

(745)

21 sites · Tents, RVs · Wilsonia, CA

This rustic campground is located in Kings Canyon on hwy 180, 16 miles past the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Park entrance. Ten Mile Creek running thru the property. Magnificent views of Kings Canyon from the property. Google plus code for maps R497+877 Hume Station, California Campground sites with picnic tables. Flushing toilets on site. Water and sewer hookups available at some sites. 6 miles to the mighty Kings River, 12 miles to Grant Grove and the Giant Sequoia’s, 16 miles to Cedar Grove, 22 miles to “Roads End” and trail head for the endless backcountry trails including the Pacific Crest trail. Easy access to General’s Hwy for Sequoia National Park access

Underworld Farms

86%

(43)

15 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Kernville, CA

Underworld Farms is a small goat ranch in the Kern River Valley. Surrounded by forestry land, on the Kern River, and on top of what used to be the old town of Whiskey Flat (Later re-named Kernville). There is no end to the beauty, history and adventure all around the property. Life took us to the Kern River Valley after moving out of Los Angeles. We enjoy living in the Southern Sierras immersed in all its natural beauty. The small but magnificent town of Kernville is approximately two and a half miles north of us. Our livestock includes horses, dairy goats, sheep, and rabbits: Most of which are raised and bred as our son's 4H or FFA projects. You may be wondering why our farm is called "Underworld Farms". In a nutshell, since our ranch is on the footprint of the historic town of Whiskey Flat, we just happen to be south of the old Whiskey Flat "Boot Hill" Cemetery. Our "driveway" is the road that led from the old town of Kernville to the cemetery. We hope that you consider parking your RV, van conversion, or trailer on one of our customized spots on the property. Or drive your vehicle and pitch a tent on one of our tent friendly sports. Or enjoy a stay in one of our small cabins. Regardless of what you stay in, you will definitely have a memorable time. The campground is VERY barebones and rural. Critters, bugs, and sometimes fellow Hipcampers can be sparce or prevalent pretty randomly. Because Underworld Farms is a working ranch, you will probably hear livestock noises like horses neighing, sheep and goats calling, and our protector dogs barking from time to time. We encourage you to walk over to the horses and goats and meet them. They especially like when you bring them carrots or apple pieces. The ranch has a double outhouse with a hand washing station sandwiched in between, it is rustic and bare bones. We check it to see if it has paper products, soap, water, and plenty of room in the trash bins. During the hotter months, the "daddy longleg" spiders enjoy infiltrating the outhouses and seem to spin new webs overnight. But they and their webs are harmless and easy to brush off. We ask for your assistance if there is something missing, or the trash needs taking out, or if the spiders have taken over again by getting ahold of us through the Hipcamp App and letting us know. With all that being said, there is an ambient beauty here that is unbelievable and memorable. This beauty and draw is so powerful that it causes the many people who come visit to make arrangements to live in our little valley. There is much to do in and around our valley that you couldn't do it all in a lifetime. We hope that you come and stay at the ranch while enjoying our valley. May you have a great time. *** THE PIN MAP ON HIPCAMP IS NOT 100% ACCURATE. PLEASE REFFER TO THE MAP OF THE PROPERTY IN THE PHOTOS

9 sites · Tents, RVs · in Sequoia National Forest

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

G

Gaven

1 week ago

16 ft car

Weekend Trip to Yosemite Colfax Spring

The campground has amazing views of the canyon and waterfalls. The bathrooms and campsites were very clean and the area felt very safe, definitely would recommend to come camp.

Cabin 5 is the largest of our cabins with a queen and bunked twins. It’s also taller than the others.

U

Ujjwal

1 week ago

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Heartwood Mendocino

Definitely one of the best places I have stayed in a while!

K

Kimberly

2 weeks ago

16 ft car

With pets

3 nights at Kosk Creek Campgrounds

As the host says, it’s a magical place, it truly is the beauty is beyond your imagination, if you’re looking for a healing journey solo or a couple it’s the place to go. I spent 3 nights and 4 days at the ranch. Everything was just so easy from checking up until check out the communication and detail details were superb. And Jimmy, Jimmy is just amazing, he works on the ranch and drives around on a quad and brings you firewood and tells you amazing stories about the ranch. Oh, and if you happen to see Doug, he’s just a regular who loves to take care of the place and he does such a great job. Thank you Doug for taking care of the hot springs and all that you do the love that you pour into the hot springs shows and is felt! As the reviews say, the drive down is a little sketchy but once you get there, I promise it’s worth it. I look at the cars on the side of the road as a piece of art a story don’t let it scare you away. I will be coming back.

You get a tub and you get a tub and you get a tub!

S

Sean

2 weeks ago

Tent

Weekend Trip to Kosk Creek Campgrounds

We LOVE, LOVE this place. Big open field with great views. We will be back for husband's birthday.

Mountain views and the community recreation tent nearby

H

Heather

2 weeks ago

24 ft pop-up camper

2 nights at Hot Springs Campground

Great spot! Quiet. Love the access to the hot spring. George and Bob were great to deal with.

J

Jonathan

2 weeks ago

Tent

1 night at Kosk Creek Campgrounds

The roads out to Kosk creek are remote and sometimes sketchy (the road to McCloud is dicey with tree fall, rockfall, landslides) but the camp felt safe and the caretakers were nice. Beautiful spot and great that they've made this sacred place accessible and well maintained.

M

Mike

3 weeks ago

22 ft Class B

With kids

Weekend Trip to Musick Creek Falls by Shaver Lake

Communication was great. She helped us get situated late at night. Site was a short walk to stream water. Had plenty of firewood too. Great trip

N

Natalie

3 weeks ago

Tent

Weekend Trip to Kosk Creek Campgrounds

What an incredible stay! We had no problem arriving late in the evening (about 1:30am we came from Washington) and were able to use the hot springs at any time. This is definitely a new staple campground just be wary of the insane potholes leading up! No issue finding the place and facilities were so nice and clean :-)

R

RAJASHREE

3 weeks ago

Tent

Weekend Trip to dabudage Big Sur

I loved camping at Gene's land , highly recommend it. Great host and beautiful location close to the beach.

Maria

3 weeks ago

Tent

3 nights at Spirit Walk - Private Retreat

My bf and I enjoyed our stay at Stargazer. It was quiet, clean, secluded and spacious! We loved that there were hot showers and clean toilets. We were the only one booked in the campground and we used the outdoor shower. The outdoor shower felt like we were showering in the middle of the forest! The creek is also so close to the campsite that you can hear it and it’s so relaxing. We cant wait to be back in the spring to go white water rafting!

k

kevin

3 weeks ago

18 ft Class B

With kids

4 nights at Musick Creek Falls by Shaver Lake

We loved camping here. We took our RV and Popo-Up camper. The hikes were fun and we did great at fishing Huntington Lake. Shaver Lake town is awesome and close.

S

Steve

3 weeks ago

With pets

3 nights at Heartwood Mendocino

A true gem in the forest of Mendocino. The attention to details and hospitality was amazing. The communal spaces are well thought out and create an almost hostel like experience. Being pet friendly was a huge plus. We can't wait to visit again!

P

Patrick

3 weeks ago

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Waterfall Camp

We had an amazing thanksgiving weekend here. Shay and Liz have been amazing hosts. From firewood to string lights, everything is provided for an exceptional camping experience that still feels very connected to nature. We will definitely be back again. And the hot morning showers are a real treat.

K

Kya

3 weeks ago

Tent

2 nights at Kosk Creek Campgrounds

Kosk campground was a peaceful and beautiful spot to camp. The creek and hot springs were wonderful to try out!

Brandon & Marsha

3 weeks ago

Tent

With pets

4 nights at Waterfall Camp

Our recent stay at Shay and Liz’s Hipcamp in Mendocino County was, without question, the best Hipcamp experience we’ve ever had. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that they had thought of absolutely everything to make guests feel welcome, comfortable, and at home. Their warmth and hospitality set the tone, and the environment they’ve created is nothing short of magical, with unique artwork, beautiful plants, and thoughtful touches everywhere. Each site has its own outdoor kitchen, spacious tent pad, fire pit with chairs, blankets, and even firewood. Highlights included a hot shower among the redwoods, a trail from camp to a waterfall, and easy access to amazing beaches. The camp and nearby beaches were wonderfully dog‑friendly, and our son loved it so much he wrote a two‑page review in their guest book. We’ve already booked our return! Thanks again Shay and Liz!!

J

Justin

3 weeks ago

Tent

With pets

4 nights at Musick Creek Falls by Shaver Lake

This was an exceptional experience. This location stands out as the most picturesque I have encountered for camping. The hosts are remarkably supportive and dedicated to ensuring a comfortable stay for our family. I anticipate returning for another adventure.

S

Sabina

3 weeks ago

Tent

2 nights at Yosemite Colfax Spring

My husband and I had an amazing stay at this campsite! The bathrooms were extremely clean and well-maintained, with two separate restrooms each equipped with a sink. The showers had reliably hot water. The campsite itself came with a picnic table and benches, a fire ring (with propane available to rent for an additional fee), and a nicely leveled area perfect for setting up tents. There were convenient small water stations nearby. The views were beautiful, and the site was very easy to find thanks to the clear and detailed instructions from Leeza and Tom. They were incredibly responsive and diligent hosts, making the entire process—from locating the site to settling in—smooth and stress-free. The location is also excellent: just about 40–50 minutes from the Yosemite entrance, making it a convenient and affordable option for exploring the park. For our first time camping in a car and visiting Yosemite, this was the ideal spot. We really enjoyed our stay and are already planning to return. Perfect for a one-night weekend getaway from the city. Highly recommended! 🌲✨

R

Richard

3 weeks ago

28 ft Class C

With pets

1 night at Kosk Creek Campgrounds

Amazing place to visit!! It can look sketchy on the way down the 17 mile drive to the property but trust me it is worth it to push past the car junkyard 3 miles before your destination. Such a healing space. Already looking to visit again in May. Thank you Scott for the wonderful pre-Thanksgiving stay!!

Julie

3 weeks ago

26 ft pop-up camper

With pets

4 nights at Kosk Creek Campgrounds

We had a an amazing time camping here. It was myself, my husband, toddler and dog. We had a very spacious and private pull-through site for our pop up camper. Scott was very welcoming and helped us pick a spot and get settled. We had a really great time!