Ouzel Falls Trail

Tucked into the quieter Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park, the Ouzel Falls Trail rewards hikers with one of the most enchanting waterfall experiences in all of Colorado. The trail follows the roaring North Saint Vrain Creek through a lush riparian corridor, climbing steadily through lodgepole and ponderosa pine forests before opening up near the dramatic Ouzel Falls cascade.

The falls themselves drop nearly 40 feet into a mossy grotto, and the sound of the rushing water is audible from quite a distance away. Along the way, you'll also pass Calypso Cascades — a beautiful series of rapids tumbling over ancient boulders — making this trail a two-for-one treat. The Wild Basin area sees significantly fewer visitors than the Bear Lake corridor, so your chances of enjoying the falls in relative solitude are much higher here.

This section of the park was heavily impacted by the 2020 East Troublesome Fire, but the forest is actively regenerating, and the interplay between burnt snags and fresh green growth gives the landscape a hauntingly beautiful, resilient quality. Keep an eye out for American dippers, a small bird that bobs and plunges into the creek in search of insects.