Cascade Falls
Table of contents
Route Description for Cascade Falls
The hike to Cascade Falls starts at the North Inlet trailhead and heads east. For the first 1.6 km, you’ll be parallel to the border of the park on the north side of the trail and private property on the south. You’ll be following a seldom-used dirt road for a private cabin you’ll pass at 2.4 km. This is where the trail starts to climb, but it’s not that hard at all, and you’ll be following the river.
4.8 km into the hike, the trail gets steeper, but then you can start to hear Cascade Falls ahead.
At 5.6 km, you’ll see a small sign pointing to the right for Cascade Falls. Follow the trail down to the base of Cascade Falls, crossing a river to get there. When you come back to the main trail, you can hike up further to the top of Cascade Falls. This is a great place to take pictures and sit on a rock as the falls cascade around you.
To return to the trailhead, just go back the way you came, there are no intersections to worry about making any turns!
Want to find more amazing hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park? Check out Chasm Lake hike, Lake Haiyaha hike or the Sky Pond and Lake of Glass hike.
Insider Hints for Cascade Falls
- A 1.0mi up the road is the East Inlet trailhead and a well worth the short hike to Adams Falls and a view of Grand Lake.
Getting to the Cascade Falls Trailhead
In the summer, from Estes Park, take highway 34 West over Trail Ridge Road to Grand Lake. This road closes with weather. If Trail Ridge road is closed, from Denver, take I-70 West, exit onto US 40 and head north through Granby and turn right on highway 34 toward Grand Lake. Once in Grand Lake, head east on Street 5 (highway 278) for 1.4mi. Turn left (north) on the dirt road to North Inlet Trailhead. Follow it to up the steep, bumpy road to the parking lot.Route Information
When to do:
Year round
Backcountry Campsites:
Summerland Park campground
Toilets:
In parking lot
Family friendly:
Yes
Route Signage:
Average
Crowd Levels:
Moderate
Route Type:
Out and back
Cascade Falls Elevation Graph
Weather Forecast
Check Area WeatherReviews
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