Cascade Falls Hike in Ouray, Colorado: A Guide
Cascade Falls in Ouray, Colorado, is an excellent hike for anyone who loves waterfalls!
The short trail makes for a quick add-on to your day exploring the cute town of Ouray, and this guide covers everything you’ll need to know before you set out.
Cascade Falls is one of the prettiest—and most easily accessible—waterfall hikes in Colorado, so it’s perfect for families and beginning hikers.
Below, you’ll learn how to find the trailhead, what to expect in terms of trail conditions, what to pack, and where to get the best views of the falls.
This waterfall hike was a highlight for me and my kids on our latest trip to Colorado, and I hope you’ll add it to your next visit to Ouray!
Cascade Falls from the lower viewpoint area
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Cascade Falls Hike: Know Before You Go
Cascade Falls Quick Facts
Trail location: Ouray, Colorado
Trail length: 0.5 miles round trip to upper viewing area
Elevation gain: 110 feet
Difficulty: moderate, due to elevation gain over a short hiking area
Cascade Falls is easily accessible to anyone visiting Ouray, but there are a few things you’ll want to know beforehand.
In this section, you’ll find out all of those important details like where to park, how to find the trailhead and where exactly in Ouray the falls are located.
NOTE: There are several Cascade Falls in the United States, including another one in Colorado inside Rocky Mountain National Park. The one we’re focusing on here is the short, family friendly one in southwest Colorado!
Where is Cascade Falls?
Cascade Falls are in Ouray, Colorado, an adorable historic mining town at the northern end of the Million Dollar Highway.
Ouray is located in the southwestern portion of Colorado, not far from Montrose, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Telluride, and Durango.
[Check out our complete one day in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park itinerary if you’re planning to visit there, too!]
Cascade Falls is one of three waterfalls in Ouray, and I recommend visiting all three if you have time. The other two are Box Cañon Falls, located in the southwestern corner of Ouray, and Bear Creek Falls, located south of the town on Million Dollar Highway.
Cascade Falls, however, is both free and very easy to reach from the downtown area, making it the most accessible of the 3.
Directions to the Cascade Falls Hike
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From Main Street (Colorado 550) in Ouray, look for 8th Avenue.
NOTE: nearly all of the roads in Ouray are in numerical order, with those running east-west being labeled avenues, and those running north-south being labeled streets. Going east-west, you’ll start with 9th Avenue at the northern edge of downtown and go down to 3rd Avenue closest to where Million Dollar Highway starts. Oddly, 1st and 2nd Avenues don’t follow this order and are off-shoots of 4th Avenue and 4th Street, respectively.
The streets are labeled clearly with street signs, but you can also look for a few markers at the intersection of 8th Avenue and Main Street: Goldbelt Bar and Grill is on one corner with a large green Victorian-style building opposite.
You’ll turn between this green Victorian and a privately owned home with a white picket fence to head east up 8th Avenue.
Continue up 8th Avenue for 3 blocks, where it will dead end in the gravel parking lot for Cascade Falls.
While you can walk from Main Street to the trailhead for Cascade Falls, I don’t know if I’d recommend it. There’s a significant elevation gain from Main Street to the parking lot along 8th Avenue, so if you do walk this portion, be prepared for your legs to be tired before you even start the hike!
Parking for Cascade Falls
The younger Camping Kiddo walks through the parking lot for Cascade Falls
You can find parking on either side of the gravel parking lot at the end of 8th Avenue.
While there is space for about 20 cars here, this is a popular hike and those can fill up. If you have the time to wait, those spaces do tend to move over quickly since the hike is short.
Like the rest of 8th Avenue, this parking lot is at an incline, so I suggest using the parking brake.
At the trailhead near the back of the parking lot, you’ll also find a single vault toilet.
Is the Cascade Falls hike good for kids?
Yes, the Cascade Falls hike is great for kids and beginner hikers! The short, 1/4 mile length from the parking lot to the first overlook means that just about anyone can access this waterfall.
In fact, Cascade Falls is one of the reasons why we named Ouray one of the best Colorado family adventures!
There is some elevation gain and a few areas with stone stairs, but my 7- and 11-year old managed them without any issue.
Having a manageable trail and a big pay off is important when hiking with kids, and this trail offers up both.
Do I need a permit or reservation for this hike?
You do not need a permit or reservation for this hike, and it is free to access.
It does get busy on weekends and summer afternoons, so plan to go earlier in the day or in late afternoon on peak days.
It’s also part of the Ouray Perimeter Trail, which is also free to hike in its entirety. (For more information on this longer trail, see below.)
Cascade Falls Hike, Step by Step
Let’s head out onto the trail!
Cascade Creek and Trailhead
As soon as you step out of your car, you’ll hear water rushing past. The source of this water is a large sluice that carries the water of Cascade Creek from the base of the falls down into Ouray past the parking area.
Eventually, this water meets up with the Uncompahgre River onto the other side of Ouray, but it’s not a trip you’d want to take!
Please watch kids around this sluice as the water is moving very quickly and it could be dangerous if someone fell in.
Follow the concrete sluice past the vault toilet at the back of the parking lot, and you’ll see where the trailhead is just behind.
On one of the flatter sections of trail
From here, the trail curves behind the vault toilet and immediately begins to gain elevation. You’re not having to climb rock scrambles, but the trail is noticeably steep (especially for me, who is used to hiking on the flatter East Coast!)
A helpful sign on the trail near the lower view point
It will flatten out for a bit as you come to a wide left turn in the trail, which continues to follow the concrete sluice for Cascade Creek.
You’ll come to a picnic table, which is perfectly located under a tree for shade and on the left of the trail so you can watch the creek flow past as you eat.
If you’re not planning a stop, keep heading up the trail which will climb a bit more and make another long curve to the left.
After a couple hundred feet past the picnic table, you’ll see a wooden sign pointing you in one of two directions:
the Lower Cascade Falls to the left, or
the Amphitheatre Campground picnic area, which is about 0.4 miles from this sign.
You’ll also find a printed map of Ouray, with detailed information on the larger Ouray Perimeter Trail and additional orienting materials on where Cascade Falls is on that map.
The beautiful Cascade Falls from the lower viewing area
Lower Cascade Falls Viewpoint
We’re here for the waterfall, so you’re going to turn to the left and follow the trail further up the hill.
This section of trail has more elevation gain, and you’ll have to make your way up a series of rocky areas.
This rocky incline is fairly normal for a trail in the Rocky Mountains, and it’s manageable for kids—but forewarn them that this is far from a flat trail!
You’ll quickly come to small bench and overhang, where you can get some great photos of the waterfall in its entirety.
The foliage in this area has been pruned back a bit so you can see the waterfall here, even in mid-summer.
If you only have a short time to see the falls or if you’re hiking (slowly) with little ones, this viewpoint is an excellent place to turn around.
Upper Cascade Falls Viewpoint
If you’d like to get closer to the falls, there’s a short trail extension to put you nearly at the base of Cascade Falls.
To get to this trail extension, took to the left of the Lower Falls Viewpoint platform: there will be a clear break in the trees and more rocky trail.
Cascade Creek flowing away from the waterfall
You’ll continue up this short section (only about 300 feet) to the clearing next to the base of Cascade Falls.
Unlike the lower viewing area, the upper viewing area doesn’t have a specific platform. You’re welcome to walk along the rocky bank of Cascade Creek to get a closer look or photo of the falls, but note that the banks are quite steep.
They do get steeper the closer you get to the base of the falls, so go only as far as you feel comfortable with your footing.
Even if you don’t go all the way to the base of the falls, you’ll be able to feel a cooling mist as the creek comes over the cliff above. This feels wonderful on a hot day!
The creek itself isn’t great for splashing in, as it is typically moving fast during those months of snow melt, plus the creek is filled with large rocks which make wading nearly impossible.
Instead, enjoy the beauty of the falls from a safe distance as you listen to the roar of the water as it slowly carves out the cliff.
How to extend your hike
If you’d like to hike further, I highly recommend continuing on the Ouray Perimeter Trail. In total, the Ouray Perimeter Trail is 5.6 miles and it creates a large ring around the downtown area.
It is maintained by the City of Ouray, the Ouray Trail Group, and the US Forest Service, and it is designed to never be more than 1/2 a mile away from the town, so you can easily hop on and off at the different entry points.
The main entry point is next to the Ouray Visitors Center, but there’s also one at Cascade Falls.
Just look for the small sign near the upper falls viewing area that notes where you can continue on the Perimeter Trail.
There’s another access point to the Perimeter Trail near the Cascade Falls parking area.
Keep in mind that the entire Perimeter Trail has about 1600 feet of elevation gain, so it might be tough with little hikers or those who haven’t gotten their mountain hiking legs yet.
Still, it’s well worth your time to hop on a small portion or two while you’re in Ouray.
Explore more in this area of Colorado!
What to Bring on Your Cascade Falls Hike
Walking stick or hiking poles
While you don’t always need to bring a walking stick or hiking poles on a trail, Cascade Falls is one place where they’re going to be a big help.
The uneven trail and rocky sections with elevation gain mean that you have to place your feet carefully. Having a set of hiking poles or a sturdy walking stick will aid in your general comfort on this trail as it will help balance you as you work through those sections.
We have hiked with both sturdy wooden hiking sticks and more lightweight aluminum poles, and both are great. Bring whichever you’re most comfortable with!
Sturdy hiking shoes
Even though it’s a shorter trail, there is terrain here that isn’t the kindest to a regular tennis shoe.
We’ve done this hike in both hiking sandals and hiking boots, and both work. However, if you’re one to accumulate little stones in your shoes while you hike, you’ll want to opt for the boots.
(I didn’t have this issue when hiking in my beloved Keen Newport H2 sandals, but I could see it being more of an issue with a more open sandal like Chacos or Tevas.)
The trail has both small stones and sandy soil in multiple places, so expect to get a bit of dirt and dust in your shoes if you opt for a hiking sandal. I’ve done the trail in both open and closed hiking shoes, and both were okay for me.
Still, opt for whatever’s most comfortable for your needs.
Get more hiking and gear guides here:
Water
No matter how short the hike or how mild the conditions, it’s always a good idea to bring water with you while you’re hiking.
Since Cascade Falls doesn’t have any facilities on the trail—and only the vault toilet at the trailhead—you’ll need to pack your own water with you.
The dry climate in Colorado can quickly dehydrate you, so plan ahead and pack more hydration that you think you’ll need, either in a water bottle sling or in a water bladder in your backpack.
Final Thoughts on the Cascade Falls Hike in Ouray, Colorado
This fun little hike is a great addition to any Ouray visit or Million Dollar Highway road trip.
With an easy to find parking area and easy to follow trail, this hiking experience has a big payoff for little time outlay.
Plus, the short trail length makes this great for kids who don’t have the patience for the longer Ouray Perimeter Trail or other hiking opportunities in this area.
We loved that the trail felt just challenging enough for our kids without wiping them out so much that they didn’t want to do anything else on that same day.
Cascade Falls can be seen from various points in Ouray, and it was fun to then eat lunch at Goldbelt Bar and Grill’s upper patio where we could see the falls from our table.
Since the parking and access to the falls are free, Cascade Falls fits in any budget to this beautiful area of Colorado. It’s a must do for anyone who likes hiking and waterfalls!