Rocky Mountain National Park’s best waterfalls
Impressive waterfalls come from epic snowfall, and this year will be a stunner in Rocky Mountain National Park. Snow will be melting throughout the summer and cascading over rocks and down mountains, providing hikers with naturally air-conditioned spots along the trails. While each of the following hikes has a single waterfall as the endpoint, most also have other waterfalls and cascades to see along the way.
As you hike, be mindful of the power of Mother Nature and stay clear of the rapidly moving water. Nearby rocks can be slippery and loose, so be sure to respect signage and any barriers near lakes, streams and waterfalls. Always supervise children around water.
It’s time to hit the trails in search of these beautiful waterfalls.
(Editor’s note: Distances are from Rocky Mountain National Park officials.)
OUZEL FALLS (includes Copeland Falls and Calypso Cascades) Where: Wild Basin trailhead near Allenspark Hike length: 5.4 miles round trip
If you really, really like waterfalls, be sure to put the Ouzel Falls hike on your list. Almost as soon as you begin hiking, there is a slight detour to Copeland Falls (both upper and lower). It’s just a half
mile round trip to check out these waterfalls and then head back to the main trail for the bigger falls. For much of the hike, the creek will be on your left. After hiking for more than a mile, you will cross a bridge that transfers you to the left side of the creek, where the trail is a series of manmade log steps with the water roaring as you ascend.
When you reach the Calypso Cascades, you again cross the creek, then hike away from the stream until you reach Ouzel Falls. The 2013 floods took out the bridge, according to park officials, but there’s a new one that allows you to get a peek at the 40foot Ouzel Falls.
There is a social path to get close to the falls to the left of the bridge, but signs warn hikers that this area of large rocks and fallen trees is treacherous. There is a small parking lot at the trailhead, but access to this is closed in late fall through sometime in spring. While you can park in a larger parking area during this seasonal closure, it will add 2 miles round trip to your hike.
EMERALD LAKE Where: Bear Lake trailhead Hike length: 3.5 miles round trip
The Bear Lake Road corridor, and the Bear Lake parking area in general, is the most popular place in Rocky Mountain National Park, according to park officials. There are several popular trails leading from that area, so go early in the day for this hike to get a parking spot and beat the crowds. The waterfall is remarkable glacier runoff that gives a little more thrill to reaching the lake. You will pass Bear Lake, Nymph Lake and Dream Lake, and cross over streams as you gain more than 600 feet in elevation, ending up at more than 10,000 feet above sea level in just over a mile of hiking.
When you reach Emerald Lake, the trail seems to end with peaks surrounding the water. Hallett Peak, in front of you, is more than 12,000 feet high. As you gaze across this subalpine lake, you will see the waterfall, which is runoff from the Tyndall Glacier.
Only serious and properly equipped climbers should attempt to go beyond Emerald Lake at this point. As you hike back down, you have a better sense of how the water is trickling from the snow waaaay up there, down to each lake you pass.
TIMBERLINE FALLS (includes Alberta Falls) Where: Glacier Gorge trailhead Hike length: 8.6 miles round trip
Explore deeper into Rocky Mountain National Park to see Timberline Falls in the Glacier Gorge. Plus, there’s a bonus — and popular — waterfall hike within this longer hike. At less than a mile, you will reach Alberta Falls, which you might hear before you see as it roars down 30 feet in this section of Glacier Creek. This portion of the hike is rated easy and might be plenty for those adjusting to altitude or with other challenges.
For those hardier hikers, know that you have more than 1,000 of elevation gain ahead to reach