Adams Falls

Rocky Mountain National Park / Grand Lake, Colorado, USA

About Adams Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Adams Falls was a very popular waterfall that gave me my waterfall excuse to spend a little more time around Grand Lake in the western side of Rocky Mountain National Park.

It was essentially a tumbling cascade with a cumulative drop of around 50-60ft on the East Inlet, which was one of the major streams feeding the namesake Grand Lake.

Adams_Falls_025_07282020 - Adams Falls
Adams Falls

I suspect that a big reason for this waterfall’s popularity was that it only required a short hike (just under a half-mile; or under a mile round-trip) to reach.

The hike started from the spacious East Inlet Trailhead Parking Lot (see directions below), where I then followed a fence-lined trail as it climbed gently.

The trail then passed ditched the fences and passed between trees and rocks defining the path as it continued its gentle climb.

After about 0.3 miles, I reached a signed trail junction where I kept right to go straight to the busy overlook of Adams Falls in another 250ft or so.

Adams_Falls_005_07282020 - Following along the East Inlet Trail, which began as this wide path flanked by tall fencing
Following along the East Inlet Trail, which began as this wide path flanked by tall fencing

From the sanctioned lookout, I was able to peer directly at the tumbling cascade as it then twisted and tumbled some more to the right.

I noticed that it was possible to scramble in that direction around the end of the fencing of the official lookout to get a more angled and comprehensive look at the twisted part of the cascade.

After having my fill of these vantage points, I then continued on the short loop that followed the East Inlet further upstream before veering left and rejoining the main East Inlet Trail.

From that junction, I then headed back to the East Inlet Trailhead Parking Lot to complete this nearly one-mile round-trip hike.

Adams_Falls_036_07282020 - Looking back at the context of the lookout area for Adams Falls, including the unsanctioned viewing area to the left of it
Looking back at the context of the lookout area for Adams Falls, including the unsanctioned viewing area to the left of it

Overall, it took me about 30 minutes to complete this hike, but my pace was hastened due to the onset of some pretty heavy rain when I was at the overlook.

One thing to note about this part of Rocky Mountain National Park was that there was no entrance booth before this trailhead.

So technically, the COVID-19 reservation system didn’t apply to this trail as of my late July 2020 visit.

Authorities

Adams Falls resides in the Rocky Mountain National Park near the city of Grand Lake in Grand County, Colorado. It is administered by the National Park Service. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: grand lake, colorado, rocky mountain national park, grand county



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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
Read More About Johnny | A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls.