Do you love hiking? What kind of question is that… if you’re a Coloradan, then it’s almost guaranteed that you do, right?! How about waterfalls? Another silly question with an obvious answer, no? What could be better than a brisk hike or a gorgeous waterfall? Hiking to a beautiful waterfall, of course! If this sounds like your jam, you will want to check out this ultimate bucket list of the best hikes in Colorado with waterfall views.
- Rifle Falls (Rifle)
toastal/Flickr Quite possibly the most dramatic of Colorado waterfalls are those of Rifle; not one, not two, but THREE 80-foot-tall waterfalls can be found at the end of a 0.25-mile Rifle State Park hike.
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike. Rifle Falls State Park, 5775 Highway 325, 10379 CO-325, Rifle, CO 81650, USA
- Maxwell Falls Lower Trail (Evergreen)
All Trails/Spencer Hunt These Denver-area waterfalls may be small, but boy are they mighty! Tucked away in Arapaho National Forest, the Maxwell Falls Lower Trail is a 3.9-mile (round trip) hike that passes not only the waterfall pictured above but also a number of dreamy creeks and streams.
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike. Maxwell Falls Lower Trail, 7627 S Brook Forest Rd, Evergreen, CO 80439, USA
- Helen Hunt Falls (Colorado Springs)
Flickr/Nan Palmero One of the easiest - and most beautiful - waterfall hikes in Colorado is Helen Hunt Falls; a short and sweet 0.8-mile walk from the parking area that leads to the lovely and historic 35-foot-tall waterfall.
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike. Helen Hunt Falls Visitor Center, 3440 N Cheyenne Canyon Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, USA
- Adams Falls (Grand Lake)
DeWayne Hansen/Alltrails Nearly as short and equally sweet to that of Helen Hunt is my personal favorite: Adams Falls. Located just outside of the charming town of Grand Lake, Adams Falls is a scenic one-mile trek that leads to what we consider to be the prize gem of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike. Adams Falls, Colorado 80510, USA
- Rainbow Falls (Cascade)
mark byzewski/Flickr Don’t let the unfortunate graffiti deter you from visiting this spot or you will miss this hidden, 46-foot wonder that is hiding beneath a bridge that was built in 1934 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The trail to see it is a mere 0.1-mile path from the parking lot, so it’s one of the quickest “hikes” on this list! (Good news: the area is in the process of being cleaned up and restored to its natural state!)
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike. Rainbow Falls, US-24, Cascade, CO 80809, USA
- Bridal Veil Falls (Telluride)
Shawn Stilwell/Flickr As the tallest free-falling waterfall in Colorado, Bridal Veil Falls boasts a jaw-dropping 365-foot-tall cascade that can be accessed via a five-mile hike or a 4-wheel drive vehicle. (Please note: Getting to the top of the falls has an elevation gain of 1,650 feet and it’s not an easy trek! Come prepared and walk/tread with caution.)
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike. Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado 81426, USA
- Hanging Lake (Glenwood Springs)
Bryce Bradford/Flickr Arguably the most beautiful hiking destination in Colorado is Hanging Lake, which houses not only these delicate falls but also pristinely turquoise waters that almost feel too beautiful to be real. The stunning color comes from travertine deposits originally created by dissolved limestone from the Mississippian Period Leadville Formation! (Note: due to abuse and misuse of this unique area, visitors will be required to have a permit. Please respect this natural wonder and leave no trace so that others may enjoy its stunning beauty too!)
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike. Hanging Lake trail head, 1-70 East of, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601, USA
- Ouzel Falls (Allenspark)
John B. Kalla/Flickr The five-mile out-and-back trail to Ouzel Falls is every adventurer’s dream, thanks to both the 40-foot-tall cascading waters and the lush land surrounding this Rocky Mountain National Park favorite.
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike. Ouzel Falls, Colorado 80510, USA
What do you think about the best hikes in Colorado with waterfall views? Have you hiked any of these gems before? Make sure to sound off in the comments section about your experiences!
toastal/Flickr
Quite possibly the most dramatic of Colorado waterfalls are those of Rifle; not one, not two, but THREE 80-foot-tall waterfalls can be found at the end of a 0.25-mile Rifle State Park hike.
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike.
Rifle Falls State Park, 5775 Highway 325, 10379 CO-325, Rifle, CO 81650, USA
All Trails/Spencer Hunt
These Denver-area waterfalls may be small, but boy are they mighty! Tucked away in Arapaho National Forest, the Maxwell Falls Lower Trail is a 3.9-mile (round trip) hike that passes not only the waterfall pictured above but also a number of dreamy creeks and streams.
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike.
Maxwell Falls Lower Trail, 7627 S Brook Forest Rd, Evergreen, CO 80439, USA
Flickr/Nan Palmero
One of the easiest - and most beautiful - waterfall hikes in Colorado is Helen Hunt Falls; a short and sweet 0.8-mile walk from the parking area that leads to the lovely and historic 35-foot-tall waterfall.
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike.
Helen Hunt Falls Visitor Center, 3440 N Cheyenne Canyon Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, USA
DeWayne Hansen/Alltrails
Nearly as short and equally sweet to that of Helen Hunt is my personal favorite: Adams Falls. Located just outside of the charming town of Grand Lake, Adams Falls is a scenic one-mile trek that leads to what we consider to be the prize gem of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike.
Adams Falls, Colorado 80510, USA
mark byzewski/Flickr
Don’t let the unfortunate graffiti deter you from visiting this spot or you will miss this hidden, 46-foot wonder that is hiding beneath a bridge that was built in 1934 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The trail to see it is a mere 0.1-mile path from the parking lot, so it’s one of the quickest “hikes” on this list! (Good news: the area is in the process of being cleaned up and restored to its natural state!)
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike.
Rainbow Falls, US-24, Cascade, CO 80809, USA
Shawn Stilwell/Flickr
As the tallest free-falling waterfall in Colorado, Bridal Veil Falls boasts a jaw-dropping 365-foot-tall cascade that can be accessed via a five-mile hike or a 4-wheel drive vehicle. (Please note: Getting to the top of the falls has an elevation gain of 1,650 feet and it’s not an easy trek! Come prepared and walk/tread with caution.)
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike.
Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado 81426, USA
Bryce Bradford/Flickr
Arguably the most beautiful hiking destination in Colorado is Hanging Lake, which houses not only these delicate falls but also pristinely turquoise waters that almost feel too beautiful to be real. The stunning color comes from travertine deposits originally created by dissolved limestone from the Mississippian Period Leadville Formation! (Note: due to abuse and misuse of this unique area, visitors will be required to have a permit. Please respect this natural wonder and leave no trace so that others may enjoy its stunning beauty too!)
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike.
Hanging Lake trail head, 1-70 East of, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601, USA
John B. Kalla/Flickr
The five-mile out-and-back trail to Ouzel Falls is every adventurer’s dream, thanks to both the 40-foot-tall cascading waters and the lush land surrounding this Rocky Mountain National Park favorite.
Click here to find out more about this Colorado waterfall hike.
Ouzel Falls, Colorado 80510, USA
Want to make your waterfall trip all the more efficient? Click on The Ultimate Colorado Waterfalls Road Trip Is Right Here – And You’ll Want To Do It.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes In Colorado February 25, 2022 Marisa Roman What is the best hike with a view in Colorado? Is anyone else constantly searching hiking trails near me with a view?! It can’t be just us, right? If you’re searching for scenic hikes in Colorado then you’ve come to the right place. As you’ve likely already seen above, Colorado has some truly scenic hiking trails. But this list of 7 of the coolest and most calming hikes will not only relax you but also give you some truly splendid scenery. Which hikes in Colorado are short and sweet? Sometimes you want to spend the day outdoors but not take on anything too strenuous. If you find yourself in this boat, we recommend tackling a few easy hikes in Colorado to keep this short and sweet. These 11 short hikes in Colorado all clock in under five miles in length but still give you that dose of nature that you crave. Plus, you’ll be able to spend the day outdoors, too! What are the best family-friendly hikes in Colorado? Hiking isn’t just solely for adults. Some of the best kid-friendly hikes around Colorado offer up the same amount of adventure that adults can find on their own. We have a list of kid-friendly trails throughout Colorado that offer up limited elevation changes but still tons of fun. Tackle the Helen Hunt Falls Trail in Colorado Springs for a 0.8-mile hike ending with a waterfall, or the Dotsero Crater which will take kids through an actual volcano!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes In Colorado
February 25, 2022
Marisa Roman
What is the best hike with a view in Colorado? Is anyone else constantly searching hiking trails near me with a view?! It can’t be just us, right? If you’re searching for scenic hikes in Colorado then you’ve come to the right place. As you’ve likely already seen above, Colorado has some truly scenic hiking trails. But this list of 7 of the coolest and most calming hikes will not only relax you but also give you some truly splendid scenery. Which hikes in Colorado are short and sweet? Sometimes you want to spend the day outdoors but not take on anything too strenuous. If you find yourself in this boat, we recommend tackling a few easy hikes in Colorado to keep this short and sweet. These 11 short hikes in Colorado all clock in under five miles in length but still give you that dose of nature that you crave. Plus, you’ll be able to spend the day outdoors, too! What are the best family-friendly hikes in Colorado? Hiking isn’t just solely for adults. Some of the best kid-friendly hikes around Colorado offer up the same amount of adventure that adults can find on their own. We have a list of kid-friendly trails throughout Colorado that offer up limited elevation changes but still tons of fun. Tackle the Helen Hunt Falls Trail in Colorado Springs for a 0.8-mile hike ending with a waterfall, or the Dotsero Crater which will take kids through an actual volcano!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Is anyone else constantly searching hiking trails near me with a view?! It can’t be just us, right? If you’re searching for scenic hikes in Colorado then you’ve come to the right place. As you’ve likely already seen above, Colorado has some truly scenic hiking trails. But this list of 7 of the coolest and most calming hikes will not only relax you but also give you some truly splendid scenery.
Which hikes in Colorado are short and sweet?
Sometimes you want to spend the day outdoors but not take on anything too strenuous. If you find yourself in this boat, we recommend tackling a few easy hikes in Colorado to keep this short and sweet. These 11 short hikes in Colorado all clock in under five miles in length but still give you that dose of nature that you crave. Plus, you’ll be able to spend the day outdoors, too!
What are the best family-friendly hikes in Colorado?
Hiking isn’t just solely for adults. Some of the best kid-friendly hikes around Colorado offer up the same amount of adventure that adults can find on their own. We have a list of kid-friendly trails throughout Colorado that offer up limited elevation changes but still tons of fun. Tackle the Helen Hunt Falls Trail in Colorado Springs for a 0.8-mile hike ending with a waterfall, or the Dotsero Crater which will take kids through an actual volcano!
