Rainbow Falls is one of our favorite California waterfalls outside Yosemite featuring a 101ft year-round drop on the San Joaquin River near Mammoth Lakes.

Lower Falls of the San Joaquin River is the overlooked 30ft neighbor to Rainbow Falls. Most visitors don’t bother with this falls, but that’s the main appeal.

Minaret Falls is a 150ft spreading cascade (some say 300ft) just outside the boundaries of the Devils Postpile National Monument accessed by a 3-mile hike.