Waterfalls in Colorado

Stunning Colorado Waterfalls

Colorado's diverse topography creates a variety of waterfall types, from the 365-foot Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride to the unique triple falls of Rifle Falls State Park. These sites feature geological highlights like limestone caves, rocky crevasses near the Great Sand Dunes, and historic hydroelectric power plants. Many are accessible via hikes in the San Juan and Rocky Mountains, offering views of seasonal flows and permanent cascades across the state's national forests and parks.

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Treasure Falls

A 105-foot waterfall located off Highway 160 near Wolf Creek Pass. Named after a legend of buried gold, it is accessible via a short, steep trail providing views of the San Juan Mountains.

Rifle Falls

A 70-foot triple waterfall pouring over a limestone cliff. The site is notable for several limestone caves located directly beneath and around the cascades.

Zapata Falls

A 25-foot waterfall hidden inside a narrow rocky crevasse. Reaching the falls requires wading through the cold waters of Zapata Creek near the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Bridal Veil Falls

Colorado's tallest free-falling waterfall at 365 feet. A historic 1907 hydroelectric power plant sits at the top of the falls overlooking the box canyon of Telluride.

Cascade Falls

The lowest of seven waterfalls on Cascade Creek, accessible via a short walk from the town of Ouray. The falls drop approximately 200 feet down a sheer rock face.

Horsetooth Falls

A seasonal waterfall in the Horsetooth Mountain Open Space near Fort Collins. The falls are most active during the spring snowmelt and drop into a rocky basin.

Maxwell Falls

A multi-tiered waterfall located in the Arapaho National Forest near Evergreen. It is accessed via a loop trail through ponderosa pine and Douglas fir forests.

Fern Falls

A 60-foot waterfall in Rocky Mountain National Park. It is located along the trail to Fern Lake, cascading over large boulders in a densely forested canyon.

Hayes Creek Falls

A roadside waterfall located between Redstone and McClure Pass. The multi-tiered cascade flows over red sandstone formations characteristic of the Crystal River Valley.

Browns Creek Falls

A 25-foot waterfall in the San Isabel National Forest. The trail to the falls offers views of the 14,000-foot peaks of the Sawatch Range, including Mount Antero.