15 Best Waterfalls in Colorado (2026 Updated)
Of the 82 named waterfalls in Colorado, these 15 earn the strongest visitor ratings, led by Bridal Veil Falls, Fish Creek Falls, and Ouzel Falls. The list spans the San Juan Mountains, Western Slope Plateaus and Valleys, and Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park.
How We Picked
We ranked the 38 publicly accessible Colorado waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands. Every waterfall links to a full page with coordinates, maps and nearby falls.
-
1. Bridal Veil Falls
Telluride, CO · San Miguel County · San Juan Mountains
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.9-star Google rating and is the 5th most reviewed in the state, with 203 reviews. 89% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "365-ft.-high waterfall plunging over dramatic cliffs forming the head of Telluride's box canyon." Reviews most often mention rocky trail, muddy trail, black bear pass, and challenging hike. It is one of 18 named falls in the San Juan Mountains region. Ingram Falls is only 0.5 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Telluride, about 2.6 miles to the northwest.
-
2. Fish Creek Falls
Steamboat Springs, CO · Routt County · Western Slope Plateaus and Valleys
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.9-star Google rating and is the 7th most reviewed in the state, with 139 reviews. 95% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "280-foot-high freshwater waterfall with lower & upper sections & trails in a forest canyon." It is one of 16 named falls in the Western Slope Plateaus and Valleys region. The nearest town is Steamboat Springs, about 3.2 miles to the west.
-
3. Ouzel Falls
Estes Park, CO · Boulder County · Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.9-star Google rating and is the 8th most reviewed in the state, with 138 reviews. 91% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Accessed by a hiking trail in a remote area of the park, these stunning waterfalls are 40 feet tall." It is one of 31 named falls in the Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park region. Calypso Cascades is only 0.6 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Estes Park, about 13 miles to the north.
-
4. Timberline Falls
Estes Park, CO · Larimer County · Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 21 reviews. 100% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 31 named falls in the Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park region. Glacier Falls is only 1.2 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Estes Park, about 9.9 miles to the northeast.
-
5. Chasm Falls
Estes Park, CO · Larimer County · Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 40 reviews. 93% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Cascade in a narrow, rocky ravine, overlooked by a viewing platform & surrounded by mountain forest." Reviews most often mention hiking, drive, and waterfall. Older records also call it Horseshoe Falls. It is one of 31 named falls in the Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park region. Thousand Falls is only 0.6 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Estes Park, about 8.4 miles to the east.
-
6. Hayes Creek Falls
Carbondale, CO · Pitkin County · Western Slope Plateaus and Valleys
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 33 reviews. 91% of reviewers give it five stars. Reviews most often mention roadside access, easy access, accessibility, and highway. It is one of 16 named falls in the Western Slope Plateaus and Valleys region. The nearest town is Carbondale, about 17 miles to the north.
-
7. Bridal Veil Falls
Estes Park, CO · Larimer County · Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 32 reviews. 91% of reviewers give it five stars. Reviews most often mention climbing, scenery, hike, and falls. It is one of 31 named falls in the Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park region. The nearest town is Estes Park, about 4.3 miles to the south.
-
8. Poudre Falls
Estes Park, CO · Larimer County · Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 14 reviews. It is one of 31 named falls in the Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park region. The nearest town is Estes Park, about 24 miles to the southeast.
-
9. Zapata Falls
Alamosa East, CO · Alamosa County · Pikes Peak, Sangre de Cristo and Sawatch
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 2nd most reviewed in the state, with 395 reviews. 86% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "30-ft. waterfall reachable by a brief crevasse hike wading through water & over slippery rocks." It is one of 17 named falls in the Pikes Peak, Sangre de Cristo and Sawatch region. The nearest town is Alamosa East, about 19 miles to the southwest.
-
10. Treasure Falls
Pagosa Springs, CO · Mineral County · San Juan Mountains
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 3rd most reviewed in the state, with 341 reviews. 82% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "National forest waterfall reaching 105-ft. accessed via 2 hiking trails from a parking lot." It is one of 18 named falls in the San Juan Mountains region. The nearest town is Pagosa Springs, about 14 miles to the southwest.
-
11. Adams Falls
Granby, CO · Grand County · Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 6th most reviewed in the state, with 172 reviews. 86% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "55-ft. waterfall in a rocky gorge, accessed by a gentle, scenic trail through pine & aspen woods." Older records also call it Ouzel Falls and Minnehaha Falls. It is one of 31 named falls in the Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park region. Cascade Falls is only 2.9 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Granby, about 13 miles to the southwest.
-
12. North Clear Creek Falls
Creede, CO · Hinsdale County · San Juan Mountains
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 9th most reviewed in the state, with 104 reviews. 86% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 18 named falls in the San Juan Mountains region. South Clear Creek Falls is only 1.7 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Creede, about 12 miles to the east.
-
13. Piedra Falls
Pagosa Springs, CO · Mineral County · San Juan Mountains
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 10th most reviewed in the state, with 80 reviews. 90% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 18 named falls in the San Juan Mountains region. The nearest town is Pagosa Springs, about 16 miles to the south.
-
14. Alberta Falls
Estes Park, CO · Larimer County · Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 73 reviews. 88% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Popular 1.7-mile roundtrip hike with aspen groves to a 30-foot waterfall cascading into a creek." It is one of 31 named falls in the Northern Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park region. Glacier Falls is only 0.8 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Estes Park, about 8.0 miles to the northeast.
-
15. Rifle Falls
Silt, CO · Garfield County · Western Slope Plateaus and Valleys
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 53 reviews. 81% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 16 named falls in the Western Slope Plateaus and Valleys region. The nearest town is Silt, about 9.2 miles to the south.
When to Visit Colorado's Waterfalls
Snowmelt sets the calendar. Lower falls along the foothills, like Helen Hunt Falls, often peak in May, while high-country falls in Rocky Mountain National Park and the San Juans usually run strongest from early June into early July, after the main melt reaches the upper basins. By late August many smaller falls thin noticeably, though larger creeks keep running. July and August also bring an afternoon monsoon pattern, with lightning on exposed ridges and brief downpours, so early starts are the norm. Late September adds golden aspens to the scenery with lower flows. In winter, several falls freeze into ice formations, and some high roads and trailheads are not plowed. Weekends in summer bring heavy crowds to the Front Range and Telluride.
Before You Go
Most Colorado falls are on federal land: Rocky Mountain National Park, plus national forests such as Arapaho-Roosevelt, Pike-San Isabel, San Juan, Rio Grande and White River. Rifle Falls is in a state park, and Helen Hunt Falls is in a city park in Colorado Springs. Rocky Mountain National Park has used timed-entry reservations in busy seasons, so check current requirements before going. Popular trailheads fill early, and some cities and parks run shuttles. Altitude is a real factor: trails often start above 8,000 feet, and visitors from low elevations tire quickly. Snowmelt creeks are icy cold and fast, and spray-coated rock near falls stays slick. Lightning is the most serious summer hazard above treeline, and some high access roads require high-clearance vehicles or open only in summer.
Read our waterfall safety rules and packing list before heading out.
Explore More Colorado Waterfalls
See all 82 waterfalls in the Colorado waterfall guide, or browse by town: Telluride, Steamboat Springs, Estes Park, Carbondale, Alamosa East, Pagosa Springs, Granby, Creede.
More Colorado Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best waterfall in Colorado?
Bridal Veil Falls tops our 2026 list, with a 4.9-star rating from 203 Google reviews. It is near Telluride in San Miguel County.
How was this list made?
We ranked the 38 publicly accessible Colorado waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands.
How many waterfalls are in Colorado?
Our directory lists 82 named waterfalls in Colorado. See them all, sorted by town, in the Colorado waterfall guide.
When is Bridal Veil Falls near Telluride at its best?
It usually runs strongest in late spring and early summer as San Juan snowpack melts. In winter the falls freeze, and the area is known for ice.