California canyoneering is concentrated, technical, and far better than its low profile suggests. The San Gabriel Mountains above Los Angeles are the beating heart of it: Rubio, Hermit Falls, Bear Canyon below Switzer, Fish Canyon and Stoddard string waterfall rappels together within an hour of the city. The Santa Barbara front range sculpts pools and polished chutes in Seven Falls, Tangerine and San Ysidro; the San Bernardinos hold Aztec Falls and Heart Rock on Deep Creek; San Diego's backcountry drops Kitchen Creek. Farthest afield and most surreal are the southern Sierra granite teacups of Dry Meadow Creek, plus Dinkey Creek, Salmon Creek Falls and Nobe Young. Filter by character — rappels, waterfalls, swims, jumps — by water and technical grade, and by commitment, sorting beginner-friendly introductions from classics that assume you already own the skills.