Exploring Boulder Falls

Boulder Falls is a breathtaking 70 ft. tall waterfall in close proximity to the town of Boulder, Colorado. It is very easily accessed along a short hike, making this a family-friendly adventure for people of all experience levels.

The falls is a very short distance from the road. The trailhead is on the lefthand side when facing the Boulder Falls Canyon, following alongside large rock slopes as you begin. The trail itself is mostly made up of gravel and large rocks that can be quite slippery, so proceed with caution when walking on this narrow trail. The trail has occasional hand railings along the rock staircases and corners, but there is no need to worry as this is overall a very safe and easy hike.

The trail will curve alongside a creek surrounded by towering pines until you reach the falls. Once at the falls, there is a viewing area where you can relax and listen to the singing of the waterfall. There is a great danger for falling rocks since you are surrounded by rock canyon walls, but otherwise the hike is a pretty carefree adventure!

Note that the waterfall is closed seasonally from November 1st - May 1st for trail maintenance, and is often closed due to flooding, rockfall and trail damage, so be sure to check the trail status report before driving out to this wonderful waterfall. The trail is managed by the Open Space and Mountain Parks, so check out their website for more information.

Boulder Falls is also a dog friendly hike, but a leash is required at all times. Overall, this waterfall provides a relaxing hike to a beautiful location, but it will not be an all-day adventure. You could arrive, hike the trail, relax, take pictures and be back to your car all within an hour, so be sure to plan other local adventures to fill your day!

Getting there: Boulder Falls is a short ~9 mile drive from downtown Boulder. Take the CO-119/Boulder Canyon Dr. West out of Boulder heading towards Nederland and the falls will be on your righthand side. The CO-119/Boulder Canyon Dr. is an extremely curvy road. There will be a sign for Boulder Falls posted alongside the road prior to reaching the falls, so keep your eyes open or you will completely miss the stop.

Parking at the falls is extremely limited, with a small pull off on the opposite side of the road from the waterfall (lefthand side if driving west). This pull-off can only hold a handful of cars. You are also allowed to park anywhere alongside the public road unless otherwise stated, but be careful when opening doors, as parking on a small shoulder can be extremely dangerous. Be sure to use caution when getting out of the car and when crossing the road – vehicles will cruise around the curvy canyon road very quickly.

*The pictures show the approach to the waterfall, the nearest viewing area to the waterfall, and an image of the road (CO-119) just feet from the trailhead with an extended shoulder parking area in the background.