You might even find these Bighorn Sheep on your drive to Rocky Mountain National Park

Captivating Colorado

Living in Colorado for 25 years, we became avid hikers. Although short hikes were our forte, one encounters amazing views in brief spurts. You don’t have to hike for miles to discover delightful surprises. Rocky Mountain National Park is filled with many gorgeous landscapes and trails that highlight them, but some of the best features are the waterfalls. There are a many gorgeous falls in the park, but there are a few that have an ethereal quality about them that is incomparable. Some of these natural wonders are hidden on the way to glacial lakes, while others can be found just a short distance from the trailheads. There are many hikes to various waterfalls all through the park, but here are a few favorites.

1. Alberta Falls – Easy
Beginning at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, you only need to walk about 0.8 miles to reach this 30-foot waterfall. Alberta Falls is a gorgeous area to hike up to and have a picnic lunch while listening to the rushing water crash on the rocks below. There are many large rocks for seating areas all along the trail, and there isn’t a bad view of these falls to be found.

Alberta Falls is an easy hike to these splendid falls

2. Adams Falls – Easy
These falls are located on the less-visited west side of the park, making it a more secluded hike. Beginning at the East Inlet Trailhead by Grand Lake, hike only about a third of a mile to reach these thundering falls. Adams Falls is the perfect place to find gorgeous wildflowers in early summer and another perfect picnic-lunch location.

3. Timberline Falls – Moderate
Just past The Loch, these falls launch over a slab of shining black granite. Many people visit these falls on the journey to Sky Pond, but the waterfall should be a destination of its own, with a spectacular view of The Loch and the valley below. Just over 4 miles past the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, you’ll reach the base of the majestic Timberline Falls, which towers roughly 100 feet. 

4. Ribbon Falls – Moderate to Hard 
Although this is a moderate to difficult hike, it is well worth it. Ribbon Falls are the outlet of Black Lake, a high-altitude glacial lake sitting above the more popular Mills Lake and Jewel Lake. On the way to Ribbon Falls, there are also a few smaller trickling waterfalls that add to the beauty of this hike. Located about 4.6 miles from Glacier Gorge Trailhead, these serene falls lie at the top of an open meadow, which feeds into a small river that flows along the trail.

5. Granite Falls – Strenuous 
Sometimes you have to adventure out to find the hidden beauty of places such as Granite Falls. Starting from the Green Mountain Trailhead on the west side of the Park, you’ll hike about 5 miles to reach the base of this 50-foot waterfall. The water rolls down several tiers of slick granite and hikers should use caution when walking along the water. Granite Falls is a grand place for spectacular views and solitude in nature.