Only 4 of these rare waterfalls can be found in the US — including 2 in California

The sound of a rushing waterfall can be soothing, and the sight of water cascading into a pool below is nothing short of majestic.

While waterfalls usually empty out into rivers or pools, there is a rare kind of waterfall that plunges straight into the ocean.

Geologists have identified less than 50 tidefalls in the world, compared to tens of thousands of waterfalls in general.

There are only four of the rare coastal waterfalls in the United States — and two are right here in California.

Here’s where to find it:

What is a tidefall?

Tidefalls, also called coastal waterfalls, channel freshwater from streams or other natural sources into the ocean.

“Most waterfalls end in a pool, a river or a rocky gorge,” Yahoo Travel creator Jacqueline Kehoe wrote in a July 1 article. “Tidefalls do something far more dramatic: they plunge straight off a coastal cliff into the open ocean, sending freshwater crashing into saltwater in a collision that shouldn’t look as surreal as it does.”

“They’re the rarest kind of waterfall there is,” Kehoe explained, describing tidefalls as “the stuff fantasy films are made of.”

Tidefalls require a specific set of geological circumstances, which is the primary reason for their rarity.

However, this means they are subject to seasonal changes. Always check the expected conditions before heading to a tidefall, since access can change.

What is McWay Falls in Big Sur?

Yahoo Travel identified two tidefalls in California, in Big Sur and Marin County.

The centerpiece of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is McWay Falls, an 80-foot high waterfall that “spills onto a scenic beach,” California State Parks said.

“McWay Falls is the one you’ve seen on screensavers and travel magazines without knowing what to call it,” Kehoe wrote. “It’s got to be one of the most photogenic natural features in the country.”

The Overlook Trail, an easy, half-mile hike, is currently closed for a long-term repair project, according to a March update from California State Parks.

“The only place to view the McWay Falls is from a small viewing area on the side of Highway 1,” State Parks said.

Where else can I find coastal waterfalls in California?

It takes some work to get to the tidefall at Point Reyes National Seashore, Alamere Falls.

You’ll have to take a 6.5-mile hike through coastal bluffs and a wilderness area to reach the falls.

“There’s no parking lot at the base, no visitor center, no easy shortcut,” Kehoe said. “What you get at the end is a waterfall sheeting over shale cliffs directly onto a remote, usually empty beach, with the Pacific stretching to the horizon beyond it.”

Kehoe recommends visiting in the fall or spring to avoid summer crowds and winter storm closures.

Where are rare waterfalls in the US?

There are only four tidefalls in the United States, according to Yahoo Travel.

Here’s where to find them:

• McWay Falls in Big Sur, California
• Alamere Falls in Point Reyes National Seashore, California
• Strawberry Bay Falls in Olympic National Park
• Kaluahine Falls in Hawai’i

This story was originally published July 18, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Only 4 of these rare waterfalls can be found in the US — including 2 in California."