It is no secret that we here at Only in Denver love waterfalls and - fortunately for us Denverites - there is no shortage of waterfalls around Denver for everyone to visit! That being said, let us hit the road and explore them in a brand new way by taking this waterfall trip that you can complete in either a day or two-day weekend (if you stay at the recommended hotel and eat at the noted restaurants).
If you're looking for waterfalls near Denver, get ready, and just follow this easy itinerary to some of the best Denver waterfalls.
Located inside of the scenic Staunton State Park, Elk Falls are the perfect place to begin our adventure not only because of the delicate falls and its scenic surroundings but also for the butt-busting hike that is sure to get your day off on the right foot!
The waterfalls at the historic Castlewood Canyon State Park (whose dam burst and flooded the city of Denver in 1933) are accessible and take only a few minutes to reach by foot!
C'mon... you knew we couldn't have a weekend waterfall trip without paying homage to THE Denver waterfall restaurant! Sit back, relax, pretend to eat your food, and enjoy the graceful cliff divers at this fun Colorado attraction. If Casa Bonita sounds familiar, it might be because it was re-popularized by South Park.
You have had a long day of travel, so it is time to rest and rejuvenate in - you guessed it - a beautiful hotel with its own on-site waterfall. Sweet dreams!
Good morning, explorer... are you ready for another wonderful day? Let's kick it off by visiting Boulder Falls, which is a mere 50-yard walk from your car. Totally doable first thing in the morning, right?
It's time for lunch at this Colorado institution! Grab a seat on the back patio, order your favorite Colorado-style pie, and enjoy some pizza magic whilst gazing upon the nearby Bridal Veil Falls.
We have some good news and some bad news about the falls at Guanella Pass: You will have to hike to see this natural wonder, BUT it is a much shorter and easier walk than the previous day's trek to Elk Falls!
These are just a handful of the fabulous waterfalls around Denver. The best way to find them, of course, is to hit the road and go in search of all the Denver falls you can find. You can even enjoy Denver waterfalls in the winter when they turn into stunning ice formations.
What waterfalls near Denver have you visited? Are there other waterfalls around Denver that we should know about?
Whoever said waterfalls are best seen during the spring and summer obviously never visited these fantastic falls outside the Mile High City during the winter months. While many of Colorado's most spectacular cascades are hidden in the recesses of our state and national parks, there are some wonderful frozen falls accessible just outside the metro area and even a couple that many residents drive by every day. Grab your camera and your curiosity and hunt down these ten best frozen waterfalls near Denver!
One of the best frozen waterfalls near Denver is located at Water Wheel Park. Of course you can see Bridal Veil Falls as you're zipping down I-70 past Idaho Springs, but a quick jaunt down the concrete path to Water Wheel Park gives you an unmatched view and a prime vantage point for photo ops. Learn more about Water Wheel Park on the website.
Seven Falls has been affectionately dubbed "The Grandest Mile of Scenery" in Colorado. Shaped by the Pike's Peak watershed, the pink granite Pillars of Hercules rise 900 feet above the canyon floor, and Seven Falls lies tucked away just past them. It tumbles 181 feet in seven (frozen) leaps down the granite into the box canyon, and you can get an up close and personal view of the rocks and falls by climbing the 224 steps from the base to the peak. It's one of the most enchanting winter outdoor attractions near Denver. Read our previous post to learn more about Seven Falls.
Another easily accessible frozen fall in Colorado Springs is the 35-foot Helen Hunt Falls, which plunges down Cheyenne Canyon and can be reached from the main parking lot on a mere 0.1-mile trail from or on the four-mile Columbine Trail from the base of the canyon. It's a wonderful location for some easy cold weather hiking near Denver. Read our previous coverage to learn more about Helen Hunt Falls.
Just a stone's throw from Colorado Springs is Rainbow Falls (aka Graffiti Falls), which plunges 46 feet beneath the Manitou Avenue overpass in the charming town of Manitou Springs and is worth every minute of your detour. If you're looking for things to do in winter near Denver, finding this waterfall should go to the top of your list! Read our previous post to learn more about Rainbow Falls.
Just outside of Fort Collins, Horsetooth Falls tumbles through a narrow rock chute and remains frozen in time during many of the winter months. You can access this veritable winter wonderland using the three-mile Horsetooth Falls Loop Trail but be sure to check conditions and bring proper gear for winter hiking. You can learn more about winter hiking near Denver along this trail on AllTrails.
Another easy to reach (almost drive-by) frozen waterfall is Boulder Falls, which cascades 60 feet from a cliff face in Boulder Canyon, a quick 100-yard walk from the parking area along Boulder Canyon Drive. Visit the Boulder Colorado website for more information.
Eldorado Canyon State Park is a true hidden gem tucked away in the Front Range near Denver and Boulder, boasting several trails that travel along South Boulder Creek to reveal cascading magical ice formations on a many winter days. "Brrrrrr" and beautiful all at once and perfect for winter hiking near Denver. Visit our previous coverage to learn more about Eldorado Canyon State Park and all it has to offer.
If you're up for a little adventure, strap on your snowshoes and head out into Rocky Mountain National Park, where over a dozen frozen falls lie in wait in the nooks and crannies of this remarkable state and national treasure. This park has some of the best frozen waterfalls near Denver. Visit the National Park Service website for more information.
The hike to Maxwell Falls near Evergreen is a great year-round hike with options to travel anywhere from one-to-four miles on trails all leading to the wintery waterfall (aka frozen sheets of ice). Just make sure you bring the proper footwear since it can be slippery getting there. Visit the USDA Forest Service
Last but certainly never least on our list of the best frozen waterfalls near Denver is the incomparable Hanging Lake near Glenwood Springs. And it is well worth the day trip to experience its glory! Be advised that Hanging Lake is roughly a three-hour drive from the metro area, so iron out the details ahead of time, check trail conditions, and have the proper gear and sundries in hand before hitting the road. Read our
Have you ever been to any of these amazing frozen waterfalls in Colorado? If so, what did you think? They are so spectacular, they simply must be seen to be believed!
The secret’s out! There are some surprisingly spectacular waterfalls hidden in the nooks and crannies of Colorado’s state and national parks, just outside our Mile High City. Most require a little extra effort and curiosity to reach, but it is well worth the final reward. Many of the best hikes in Colorado also afford the opportunity to explore beyond the falls to pristine lakes, wildflower-filled meadows, creeks and cascades, alpine forests, and surrounding mountain peaks. If you are looking for some amazing Denver waterfalls these 9 hidden waterfalls near Denver will take your breath away!
Ouzel Falls, which drops 40 feet down a narrow chute into Ouzel Creek, can be reached by a fairly easy yet stunning trail, which showcases the rugged beauty of the remote Wild Basin Area of Rocky Mountain National Park. This 2.7-mile trek (out and back) is really a 3-in-1 waterfall hike with access to Upper and Lower Copeland Falls and Calypso Falls along the way. If you're feeling ambitious (and you got an early start), continue on past the falls to Ouzel Lake and Bluebird Lake for a little solitude, serenity, and perhaps a picnic at almost 11,000'.
Let's take a hike to Ouzel Falls in this video so you can see this incredibly cool trail in Colorado:
The short 2.5-mile hike to Alberta Falls in Colorado, tucked away in the Glacier Gorge Area of Rocky Mountain National Park, makes for the perfect family outing. But why stop there? If you continue on Glacier Gorge Trail to the Loch Vail Trail, you can experience much, much more, including The Loch, Timberline Falls, Lake of Glass, and the lesser known Lake of Glass Falls, and finally Sky Pond. This difficult 8.4-mile journey is worth the effort but stick to the shorter option if you're just looking for a brief day hike.
The White River National Forest near Breckenridge is home to numerous mind-blowing hikes, including this one to Cascade Falls and Mohawk Lakes. The trail winds through forests and meadows before ascending along Continental Falls, which drops over 500 feet in a series of powerful cascades. These falls are one of the best kept secrets in the state. Continue on to Lower and Upper Mohawk Lakes, which rest in the rocky tundra at over 12,000' and are surrounded by awe-inspiring views and mountain peaks. (And I'll let you in on a little secret...if you push onward past Upper Mohawk Lake, there are three more unnamed alpine lakes nestled between Pacific and Crystal Peaks). Now that's hidden!
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Check out the amazing hike to Continental Falls in this video, and then let us know if you agree this is one of the best waterfall hikes near Denver:
Elk Falls in Colorado resides in Staunton State Park, near Pine and Conifer about an hour from Denver, and is The Centennial State's newest addition to its phenomenal state park system. On the trail to the falls, enjoy rolling meadows, wildlife, alpine forests, and granite cliffs. Once you reach your destination, be sure to check out Elk Falls Overlook and Staunton Rocks for incredible vistas! (This almost 4,000-acre park is also a haven for climbers, so don't forget your shoes and harness).
Cascade Falls, a multi-tiered cascade near Grand Lake drops about 50 feet through a narrow granite shoot into North Inlet Creek in Rocky Mountain National Park. It's a 6.8 mile roundtrip hike that allows for plenty of exploration around the falls and beyond, with the opportunity to continue on to The Big Pool, Ptarmigan Creek, Wardance Falls, and Bench Lake. One of the best waterfall hikes in Colorado, it offers an ideal setting for some much needed adventure and alone time.
The Booth Lake trailhead is a bit deceiving, as it starts right off I-70 near Vail, Colorado, with cars whizzing along the interstate behind you. But as you enter the edge of the Eagle Nest Wilderness, you'll find gorgeous vistas and valley views, expansive aspen meadows, and the magnificent 60-foot Booth Falls. Take it all in, then continue on the trail to Booth Lake, which fills the basin of a steep-walled valley at 11,434'. (Note: The hike to the falls is about 4 miles round-trip, with 1,200 feet of elevation gain, while the lake is a total of 9 miles round-trip, with 3,200 feet of elevation gain.) That's about 20,000 steps!
7. Bridal Veil Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park
Rise early in the morning on a brisk autumn day and hit the trail to Bridal Veil Falls, and you just may share the forests and meadows with elk, deer, turkeys, foxes, and coyotes. This is a perfectly leisurely 6 mile destination hike that ends at a lovely 20 foot cascading waterfall. An ideal day hike from Denver, it is one of the best hiking trails with waterfalls in Colorado.
Take a look at this amazingly fun trail, a little rough going, but amazing none-the-less. It might be one of our favorite waterfall hikes near Denver:
The 9.2-mile trail to (South) Cascade Falls begins at Monarch Lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness near Granby, Colorado. Experience three waterfalls in one, with each being higher and farther than the first. Take a picnic and spread a blanket by the glacier lilies that emerge during the spring...and always keep an eye out for moose!
The FernGully feel of this hike makes it well worth the nearly three hour drive from Denver to Glenwood Canyon. Spouting Rock Falls and Hanging Lake is one of Colorado's most breathtaking waterfall/lake combinations and is not to be missed! The trailhead begins along the Colorado River and winds through Dead Horse Creek Canyon before ending at what looks like a tropical rainforest. (But without the humidity)! You can freely explore behind and around the lake and falls but please be aware that this is a highly trafficked area, and the ecosystem is quite fragile. Stay out of the water and leave no trace!
There are tons of waterfalls hiding in the mountains and valleys just outside of Denver! Share some of your favorite hidden waterfalls near Denver in the comments.
