Cascade Falls Trail

Frommer's Review

Stroll the first 1.2 miles of this hike on relatively flat, private ranch lands, where cows and horses graze, before entering park property and reaching Summerland Park, a favorite picnicking and family-camping spot. Continue on the trail as it moves through stands of aspen and lodgepole pines, rising gently into forests of Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir. As you climb, mountain walls draw closer, providing beautiful views of the rock cliffs, and the moss resulting from the more frequent rains on this side of the park. Wildflowers often grace the trail's edges. As you approach the tumultuous falls, the increasing noise level prohibits conversation. The trail separates into two paths below the falls, each climbing around to the top. It's best to take the lower, right fork up and to come down on the other path, thereby avoiding confrontations with equestrians. The falls lie to the right of the right fork. The hike's initial elevation is 8,544 feet, and there is an elevation gain of 300 feet.

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