Ouzel Falls
Ouzel Falls
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5.0
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George S
Miami Beach, FL1,619 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
We hiked to the Ouzel Falls from the Wild Basin Trailhead in mid-August. It was perhaps our nicest trek. The trail was 2.7 miles one way with an elevation rise of 950 feet — a moderate hike and one not that easy. But through out the hike we were paralleling the creek that ran alongside. The sound of the water, the various mini rapids and the scenery were so lovely and serene. Additionally most of the route was under the tree canopy which kept kept us cool. What an enjoyable trek! The falls itself was very nice, picturesque and we did not regret our effort. We chose not to continue any further to Ouzel Lake (and additional 2.2 miles with another 600 feet rise) — too tough.
Pls note that the trailhead is not that big. Parking was tight even at 10am. When we finished in early afternoon, the lots were full with cars parked on the sides of the road. Do not overlook the Wild Basin Area, especially the Ouzel Falls trek.
Pls note that the trailhead is not that big. Parking was tight even at 10am. When we finished in early afternoon, the lots were full with cars parked on the sides of the road. Do not overlook the Wild Basin Area, especially the Ouzel Falls trek.
Written 5 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveling Joe
Jacksonville Beach, FL42 contributions
Jul 2021
I hiked the Ouzel Falls Trail last month while visiting RMNP. If you are a fan of waterfalls then this is your hike. The trail follows rivers that have several falls and many areas of rapids. The trail gradually ascents up to Ouzel Falls and is not really difficult if you are in reasonable shape (labeled as moderate). There were many families and groups of young people on the trail which was great to see after COVID. The trail is heaviliy trafficked and you need to get there early (or like I did) later in the afternoon or you will likely have a long walk to the trailhead. This is an out and back trail- not a loop. Up all the way there and down on the way back.! Great trail with lots for cool views!
Written 6 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
regina0327
Austin, TX193 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
We arrived at around 7:30 and followed the advice of other travel reviewers. Keep going pass the ranger station until the dirt road ends to get to the trail head. Otherwise you will add another mile on to this hike. This seemed like a long hike for us mainly because we are out of shape. The good news....it's a beautiful hike beside a raging river (North St. Vrain Creek), mostly shaded under the forest tundra, the temps were great low 60's -upper 70's. Bad news.... it nearly up hill ALL the WAY. Half a mile in the first falls you will come to are Copeland Falls, followed by the second falls Calypso Cascades 1.8 miles in. The hike from Calypso Cascades to Ouzel Falls is a mile and a tough one at that. This is the hardest park of the hike steep at times uphill and rocky. In the end this hike was worth it, we hiked 3 days in the park and this was by far my favorite hike. Get there early as the parking lots fills up and pushes you further out to park only adding to your hike.
Written 17 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben G
Dallas, TX203 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
I did this hike last weekend with my 9 year old son and we had a great time. I have done the hike many times over the last few years and my favorite time to go is late May or early June when the snow melt has the rivers and waterfalls roaring and the temperature is not too hot.
It is a 5.6 mile roundtrip hike with out much elevation gain, so it is a good work out but not a killer. You will be treated to multiple waterfalls and cascades along the way to the magnificent Ouzel Falls. When you get to the falls, hike back to the base of the falls and feel the cool mist pounding off of the rocks.
My son enjoyed the adventure and we even ran into a Moose on the trail during the walk back to the car, what a great adventure!
It is a 5.6 mile roundtrip hike with out much elevation gain, so it is a good work out but not a killer. You will be treated to multiple waterfalls and cascades along the way to the magnificent Ouzel Falls. When you get to the falls, hike back to the base of the falls and feel the cool mist pounding off of the rocks.
My son enjoyed the adventure and we even ran into a Moose on the trail during the walk back to the car, what a great adventure!
Written 10 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Whitney S
573 contributions
Sept 2019 • Couples
This is a beautiful hike that starts at the Wild Basin trailhead. We got the last parking spot at 8am so arrive early to avoid having to walk from farther back. The hike is 2.7 miles one way. It took us 1.5 hours to get up and 1 hour to get down. It is moderate difficulty. You pass Copeland falls and Calypso cascade on the way. When you get to Ouzel falls, hike up the left side of the falls before going over the bridge to see the big waterfall at the top.
Written 2 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Crystal S
Overland Park, KS229 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
This was a good length day hike with a lot of things to see along the way. The falls at the top are quite pretty but to be completely honest, for those just wanting views and not necessarily the mileage I think you could stop at the Calypso Cascades which is about 1/2 - 2/3rds of the way up. This hike is less about mountain/valley views and more about water features - which may be your kind of hike! But I prefer something with more stunning views of the surrounding areas. You hike quite a ways up and the vegetation does vary quite a bit, so that's a plus. It's never SUPER steep - some gradual switchbacks once you get up to the top - but most people could handle this hike as long as you can handle the length. This hike is also shaded almost all the way (at least partially) so it would be a good hike on a really hot, sunny day.
Written 23 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cdalton
Boulder, CO314 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
I love this hike.. .it has everything... from woods, to water, to views... to a beautiful falls at the end. But also all along the way. A little crowded in Summer. Parking can be a drag. So you may have to walk in. Not much elevation gain at all. I always see kids here, and last time a young bull moose walked right by us.
Written 22 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lt1208
Lafayette, IN13 contributions
Jul 2016 • Solo
Wild Basin is located on HWY 7, the best hike has three water falls
1. Copeland Falls. 2. Calypso lower and upper falls. 3. Quzel Falls
This hike is easy to moderate hike, with water falls and beautiful scenery. Upper Calypso falls is an excellent rest spot, Quzel Falls is about 1 mile from upper Calypso the grand finale here you can climb up to the water fall and fell the mist coming off of it, have lunch and take in the beauty and stillness mother nature has to offer. It will take you about half a day to hike up and back, start early and bring plenty of water, also this area is a popular stop so arrive early for a good parking spot or you will add another 1/2 to 1 mile to your hike, plenty of wild flowers, birds, deer, marmots and yes cougars. Take your time enjoy your hike and take lots of pictures. Have fun and have a safe hike. You try and post photo later.
1. Copeland Falls. 2. Calypso lower and upper falls. 3. Quzel Falls
This hike is easy to moderate hike, with water falls and beautiful scenery. Upper Calypso falls is an excellent rest spot, Quzel Falls is about 1 mile from upper Calypso the grand finale here you can climb up to the water fall and fell the mist coming off of it, have lunch and take in the beauty and stillness mother nature has to offer. It will take you about half a day to hike up and back, start early and bring plenty of water, also this area is a popular stop so arrive early for a good parking spot or you will add another 1/2 to 1 mile to your hike, plenty of wild flowers, birds, deer, marmots and yes cougars. Take your time enjoy your hike and take lots of pictures. Have fun and have a safe hike. You try and post photo later.
Written 20 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
449mincat
Shawnee, KS31 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
This hike was our first in Colorado. It was well worth the effort to get there. Our 13 and 10 year old made the 5.4 mile hike just fine. One word of advice...we were told of a beautiful valley just above the falls which wasn't marked on the trail guide. We climbed around the falls and up over the peak to find the most beautiful valley with a 360° view of the snow capped peaks all around. It was well worth the extra climb. And we were told to go early as it gets very busy by 9:00 am.
Written 12 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cynthia K
Westville, IN4,520 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
Ouzel Falls is a 5.4 mile there & back trail in Wild Basin. The hike is just wonderful. Though it can be moderately strenuous as it's uphill to get there. You're by the Ouzel Creek & it was a wild, thundering mass of water when we were there. Be careful around the water & make sure you don't fall in . You would surely drown in a raging stream like this one. When we got to the falls, we were able to see them by looking up the creek. As you probably have heard, the flood last fall took out the bridge & the short hike to see the falls close up. You also can't ford the creek to get to the other side of the trail to Ouzel Lake. Don't try it! Very dangerous currents. Although we tried, we were unable to get past the logs & boulders littering the way. It didn't look like any progress whatsoever was done on it. You can still see the falls, just not close up. Unless of course you were more nimble then the 3 young adults we talked to on the trail. They were much more fit than we are & they said they couldn't get any closed either.
We had the falls to ourselves. When we headed back, we started to see more & more people. By the time we got to Copeland Falls, the crowd had begun the trek.
Let's talk about pit toilets. On this trail before you get to Calypso Cascades there's a hitching post area for horses. It also advertises a pit toilet. If you think the pit toilets the NPS uses at all their trailheads are gross, than you're in for a big treat trying to use this rustic potty. A short walk takes you to the hitching posts, then you have to walk about 150 feet through a big wet area to get to the log cabin version of a restroom. I had to go bad enough I braved it. It was actually not bad. There was a commode & seat & they were reasonably clean (though I didn't sit on it!). I carry my own tissues, but there was toilet paper there also. Whenever you use a pit toilet, don't forget - IT"S NOT A TRASH BIN!! Toilet paper & body waste is the only thing that should go in it.
After you're done PUT DOWN THE SEAT!! Of course, if it's an emergency, you can always hide behind a tree or some boulders. Be sure to carry out your tissue (I carry a plastic baggie with me just in case). If you poop, be sure to dig a hole & cover it when you're done. I've seen some hikers carrying little trowels dangling from their packs. Whatever works I guess.
We had the falls to ourselves. When we headed back, we started to see more & more people. By the time we got to Copeland Falls, the crowd had begun the trek.
Let's talk about pit toilets. On this trail before you get to Calypso Cascades there's a hitching post area for horses. It also advertises a pit toilet. If you think the pit toilets the NPS uses at all their trailheads are gross, than you're in for a big treat trying to use this rustic potty. A short walk takes you to the hitching posts, then you have to walk about 150 feet through a big wet area to get to the log cabin version of a restroom. I had to go bad enough I braved it. It was actually not bad. There was a commode & seat & they were reasonably clean (though I didn't sit on it!). I carry my own tissues, but there was toilet paper there also. Whenever you use a pit toilet, don't forget - IT"S NOT A TRASH BIN!! Toilet paper & body waste is the only thing that should go in it.
After you're done PUT DOWN THE SEAT!! Of course, if it's an emergency, you can always hide behind a tree or some boulders. Be sure to carry out your tissue (I carry a plastic baggie with me just in case). If you poop, be sure to dig a hole & cover it when you're done. I've seen some hikers carrying little trowels dangling from their packs. Whatever works I guess.
Written 4 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the trail to the falls accessible with a wheelchair?
Written 29 June 2019
We are staying in Denver and planning to hike at ouzel falls on Friday (2 days from now). Any input on the road conditions? We have a minivan with no 4WD and would hate to drive all the way out only to have to turn around because of mud.
Written 30 May 2018
What are conditions like today? We are considering a hike tomorrow at ouzel.
Written 30 May 2015
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