- Hike Distance: .8 to 4 Miles
- Denver Drive Time: 50
- Difficulty: Medium
- Duration: 45min to 2hr 30min+
- Activities: Picnicking, Hiking Trails
- Dogs: Allowed on Leash
- Directions: Lower Parking Area – Upper Parking Area
- Trail Type: Out & Back and Loop
- Seasons: Spring thru Fall
- Beauty: Waterfall, Overlooks, Creek, Woodlands
Waterfalls close to Denver, Colorado don’t have a lot of wow-factor, but they make great for great destination hikes. There are 3 ways to hike to Maxwell falls. Our favorite is the Cliff Trail loop because it gives you the falls a reward at the end. The falls are more of a series cascades, but are worth the hike.
You have several options for your hike to Maxwell Falls.
1. The Short Version: Less than 1 mile round trip – Begin at the Upper Trailhead and follow the signs to the falls. It’s just under half a mile, one way.
2. The Cliff Trail Loop: 3 Miles – Start at the upper trailhead lot. The trail will split a couple times and you’ll want to bear left, following the signs that point you down the Cliff Trail. You’ll climb a bit to a rock promontory that gives you beautiful views of the valley below. You will begin a descent to the creek bed, then the trail will turn and head upstream. Follow it until you hear the falls. After the falls, follow the trail back up to the upper lot.
3. Lower Maxwell Falls Hike – 4 Miles Round Trip – Begin at the lower parking area and hike up the valley and along Maxwell Creek for about 2 miles. About 1.7 miles along the trail, you’ll cross to the other side of the creek. Shortly after that, you’ll hear the falls. Return the same way you came.
Happy Colorado Hiking
Related Hikes:
- More Colorado Waterfall Hikes Near Denver
- Forsythe Canyon: A Woodland Hike to Waterfall and Lake
- Nearby: Evergreen Lake Loop Hike
- Nearby: Alderefer/Three Sisters Park
The map directions from your site on my iPhone were spot on. Trail directions were so-so. But I don’t blame you…
Unfortunately, this park needs some loving care. The trails split off a lot without signage. We were stopped many times by people asking where the falls were or how to get back to the parking lot. There was a pole that had directions on it in Sharpie writing! We got a little mixed up ourselves and ended up with a pretty crappy view of the falls.
This is a nice hike, but if it’s your first time, be prepared to get a little lost. The park is small, so don’t panic!
Amanda,
Thanks for the comment on the trail signage.
I’d like to invite you and others visiting this page to contact the forest service about it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease
Here is the email contact page for the Arapahoe/Roosevelt forest district http://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/arp/about-forest/contactus
Happy Trails,
Aaron
Very successful short, easy hike. I agree with Amanda, the signage was AWFUL, so I have reported following the link above. We did the loop trail,and like Amanda said, ask people you pass if you are going the right way. Given the low water level this year, it was very difficult to see the falls. We followed what we though were the instructions and hung a left at the first opportunity, taking the trail in clockwise fashion. I think it would have been better go have gone around to counter clockwise, as the clockwise directions meant we passed the “falls” after only a tiny bit of walking, and we weren’t yet ready to stop and take a break.
If someone uses the national geographic maps, this trail shows on map #100. The myriad of trails that go off the main loop are NOT shown, so, like Amanda says… ASK people who are on the trail where to go.
Some friends just hiked to Maxwell Falls on 5/11/13 and the creek and falls are still covered with snow. Because the weather is warming up significantly this week, we are hoping that the snow may melt away by Friday 5/17/13. However, it may not be until the 24th that you’ll really be able to see the waterfall.
Welcoming updates from you all.