Join our Community. It’s a short hike to two beautiful waterfalls and an absolutely stunning lake. This collection of seven waterfalls are all within about a 1 hour drive waterfalls from the Denver. Tripsavvy's Editorial Guidelines. Nina Snyder. It’s less crowded than most trails at Staunton, making for a peaceful yet challenging hike near Denver. With the epic Rocky Mountains to the west and historic grasslands to the east, there’s something for everyone here. What makes this waterfall unusual is that it’s right in the town of Idaho Springs, much like Cornet Falls in Telluride. South Mineral Creek Falls Reached via the South Mineral Creek Campground, hikers will trace South Fork Mineral Creek on the way to these falls… Be sure to be prepared for high-alpine conditions. May 21, 2016 - Seven waterfalls near Denver! Read on for inspiration on waterfall hikes you can take near The Springs. Dec 23, 2020 - Seven waterfalls near Denver! Join our Colorado travel community Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. The only drawback is that parking fills fast. If you are a fan of waterfall hikes and you live near Denver, you’ll know that it’s kind of slim pickings; most of the best waterfalls in Colorado require driving beyond the Front Range, or into Rocky … These Waterfalls make for great vacation destinations or beginner hikes. (Danika Worthington, The Denver Post) I recently found some old guidebooks in a pile of hiking equipment in my closet. This set of hikes gives you the full range of options from the local guides who hike these trails. Explore the full Devils Thumb Lake hike profile below for trail ... Diamond Lake Falls requires a 1.7 mile one-way hike into Indian Peaks Wilderness. Explore the full Fern Falls hike profile below for trail map, driving directions, and more of the details and tips you need ... A 284 foot waterfall! Need we say more. Bridal Veil Falls is off the same trailhead as West Creek Falls — the two trails diverge less than a quarter mile from the start. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Cow Creek Trail also provides connectivity between Gem Lake Trail and Black Canyon Trail… © Copyright 2010-2020 Dayhikes Near Denver LLC, We use cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Located in one of the best places to spot fall colors in Colorado, Upper Piney Falls … But as its popularity grows, residents worry it's being loved to death. … However, Dayhikes Near Denver has trail profiles for more than 30 Colorado waterfall hikes on our site, so be sure to see our full set of Colorado Waterfall hikes on our Dayhikes Near Denver Waterfalls page. With minimal drive time, you can find yourself at a number of trailheads, ready to embark on an exhilarating hike. Get full trail profiles, directions, and maps. Alberta Falls, Rocky Mountain National Park . The hikes around Denver can take you to crystalline alpine lakes, chasmic canyons, and vast meadows brimming with wildflowers. This 15.5 mile, difficult trek, leads to a long set of segmented cascades spilling out of the heights and streaming down into Thunder Lake. Top Short Waterfall Hikes Near Denver One Mile or Less: Our Favorite Hikes. Why? Distance: 1.6 to 4 miles Round Trip Drive Time from Denver: 50 Minutes Difficulty: Moderate Maxwell Falls has become one of the most popular waterfall hikes near Denver. All within about a 1-hour drive from the Mile High City, these waterfall hikes range from easy trails less than one mile to 11 miles round trip and the waterfalls spill from heights ranging 20' to over 100 feet in height. Hanging Lake is a short hike to two waterfalls and one of the most beautiful lakes in Colorado. The hike begins in town and affords views down into this beautiful Colorado mountain town. Roosevelt National Forest is about an hour from Denver and is home to Boulder Falls. Elk Falls at Staunton State Park – Highest Waterfall Near Denver. It's a demanding, 10 mile, round-trip hike with significant elevation gain in the heart of RMNP. Explore our more than 50 Colorado Waterfall Hikes, our favorite Waterfall Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, or 7 Waterfalls within One Hour of Denver. If you’re curious to explore, here are five fun day hikes near Denver… This waterfall is near Rifle, about three hours west of Denver. Elk Falls was unknown to most until opened to the public in 2013 with the creation of a new Colorado State Park, Staunton State Park. Drive Time from Denver: 6.5 Hours It’s just a 1/4 mile hike from downtown Telluride to Cornet Falls, an 80 foot waterfall pouring over the red cliffs above. Jun 29, 2016 - Elk Falls in Colorado's new Staunton State Park may be the best waterfall near Denver. This 100 yard hiking trail just outside Boulder, Colorado leads you into a cliff lined notch in Boulder Canyon where the creek gushes out to form one of the best waterfalls near Denver. Because the landscape near Denver is not as dramatic as other parts of Colorado, we have a limited number of waterfalls close to town. While most of the best waterfalls are buried deep in the mountains, there are still many to explore near Denver. Photo: Ethan Beute. On the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park, south of Estes Park, is a lesser explored region called the Wild Basin. Sadly, these are not soft-baked, double-chocolate chunk cookies. Colorado has the perfect landscape for waterfall hikes: 100,000 miles of rivers and streams, many of them plunging through steep terrain. Bridal Veil Falls in Idaho Springs – Historic Waterfall Near Denver, Waterfall Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, 6. Located near the eastern base of the Rocky Mountain, Denver is home to some incredible hiking destinations. Rocky Mountain High: Colorado’s Best Waterfall Hikes Rocky Mountain National Park. If you only have time for one short hike on the East Side of RMNP, this is a ... Black Lake Falls cascades down the towering granite cliffs above Black Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. If you choose to drive from the center of Denver, then you are sure to arrive in Helen Hunt Falls within a couple of hours. Waterfall Hikes Near Denver. Next Post: Colorado’s Major Rivers » Primary Sidebar. That’s better than a double rainbow. This is another easy hike — just 1.5 miles round trip — but the rewards are threefold, literally. Best viewed in the late Spring and early Summer, this tiered fan waterfall can be accessed by either a .8 mile trail that leads directly in, or by one of two different loop hikes. This trail will take you deep into pine forests and showcase some of the Denver area’s prehistoric Dakota Sandstone. Elk Falls … 1. Alberta Falls. Distance: 11 miles Round Trip Drive Time from Denver: 50 Minutes Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult We’ll start with the most difficult hike to a waterfall near Denver,–but one that’s worth the 11 mile round-trip journey to see because it has the highest drop. While this waterfall hike isn’t exactly near Denver, it’s well worth the 3-hour drive to Glenwood Springs. There is a hitch though: it's a privately held ... Calypso Cascades is an easy 3.6 mile hike to one of several waterfall destinations along this section of trail. This waterfall is near Rifle, about three hours west of Denver. Whether you plan to spend all day or just a few hours on the trail, any one of these waterfall hikes near Denver will offer just the adventure you’re seeking. Hiking Near Denver Your Trip to Denver: The Complete Guide close Overview United States Colorado Denver Top Five Hikes Near Denver. Don’t forget your camera! What better way to take in the spectacular fall foliage, than by lacing up your hiking boots and getting to one of many nearby trails that will lead you to breathtaking views. On the same hike, you can explore Spouting Rock Falls, and even walk behind the waterfall. Bridal Veil Falls & Charlie Tayler Water Wheel – Idaho Springs. The Lowdown: While there are a few Colorado waterfalls named Bridal Veil Falls, the one near Telluride is by far the most epic. Explore our detailed profiles of over 50 waterfall trails near Denver. Boulder Falls – Most Picturesque Waterfall Near Denver, 5. Explore the full Cornet Falls hike profile below for trail map, driving directions, and all the details you need to enjoy this hike in Telluride, CO ... Devils Thumb Lake is located in Indian Peaks Wilderness north of Boulder Colorado and can be accessed via a 6.5-mile (one-way) steep and challenging hike. Distance: 2 1/2 miles Round Trip Drive Time from Denver: 1 Hour Difficulty: Moderate Eldorado Cascades, along with Forsythe Canyon Falls (see below) is one of the lesser known waterfalls near Denver. Nov 4, 2016 - Seven waterfalls near Denver! The Hike Near Denver That Takes You To Not One, But TWO Insanely Beautiful Waterfalls. Sadly, these are not soft-baked, double-chocolate chunk cookies. We partnered with CU Denver’s outdoor adventures expert, Austin Dyer, to make a list of the best hikes near Denver that lead to breathtaking waterfalls.Whether the falls are roaring or frozen, the views are equally spectacular. Lyric Falls is a beautiful stair-step waterfall that spills over the moss-covered granite slabs of Hunters Creek in Rocky Mountain National Park. Explore the full Adams Falls hike profile below for trail map, driving directions, and all the details you need for this short waterfall Hike in Rocky Mountain ... Agnes Vaille falls is viewed on this 1 mile, easy, loop hike just south of Buena Vista, Colorado. The legacy of steam locomotives and gold mining make this a historic hike in an historic Colorado town. Located on the eastern slopes of the Mosquito Range, waterfall finds its source in the high mountain ... Copeland Falls is just one of the many waterfalls hikers will encounter in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park. Posted on: August 12th, 2013. Here Tatiana kindly explains the importance of using Yaktrax and MICROspikes on winter hikes. Continue up I-70 past Evergreen to reach some high altitude day hikes near Denver. Be sure to get the details from our full hike profile and explore the many other trails in Castlewood Canyon. Nina Snyder. Rifle Falls Near Rifle, Colorado; Distance: 0.2 to 1.5 Mile Round Trip Difficulty: Easy Drive Time from Denver: 3 Hours 30 Minutes. The hike to Bridal Veil falls is just a short jaunt on a concrete path to Water Wheel Park, which is being renovated and is scheduled to reopen in June of 2016. It's an extensive cascade waterfall, named for the way it bends its course through the rocky hillside. Aaron Johnson has been hiking in Colorado for over 20 years. The hike to … 5 waterfall hikes near Denver to re-energize yourself Saint Mary’s Falls. At Granite Falls, the waters of Tonahutu Creek drop fifty feet through a course of smooth granite slabs. It's hard to beat. Where can you find waterfalls near Denver? Ouzel Falls, which drops 40 feet down a narrow chute into Ouzel Creek, can be reached by a fairly easy... 2. The waterfall is only about 100 yards from the parking area, but the view is … Fall is in the air and it is time to get outside and enjoy Colorado in all of its glory. Another stunning hike in Colorado’s Front Range! Get full trail profiles, directions, and maps. Here are a handful of waterfall hikes near Denver you are sure to enjoy. If they were, we would rename this website "paradise. Forsythe Canyon Falls Near Boulder – Shaded Hike Waterfal Near Denver, Top 10 Fall Hikes Near Denver with Aspens, Lake Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Forsythe Canyon is just outside Boulder, Colorado (1hr 15min from Denver), and is an easy to moderate hike. There you’ll find waterfalls in Rocky Mountain National Park–just 2 hours away–and many others located the farther reaches of our beautiful state of Colorado. Mount Falcon Park is located near Morrison, just west of Denver. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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