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Boulder Falls

Boulder, Colorado, USA

About Boulder Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Boulder Falls was a pretty convenient waterfall within Boulder Canyon just west of the charming college town of Boulder.

We found that accessing this waterfall was pretty straightforward as we merely had to walk about a quarter-mile round-trip to reach the waterfall’s plunge pool.

Boulder_Falls_028_07272020 - Boulder Falls with scenic cliffs around it as well as lots of people keeping cool in its waters on a hot Summer day
Boulder Falls with scenic cliffs around it as well as lots of people keeping cool in its waters on a hot Summer day

The waterfall itself was said to be about 70ft high on one of the feeding branches of Boulder Creek.

While the falls’ size was impressive, I found the surrounding cliffs that closed in at the waterfall to be very photogenic.

At the same time, the majority of the other visitors here simply enjoyed playing within the cold water at the waterfall’s base as well as further downstream.

On-and-Off Accessibility To Boulder Falls

Ever since I first became aware of Boulder Falls back in the 2017 time frame, I noticed that its access would go long stretches of being closed.

Boulder_Falls_012_07272020 - Julie and Tahia on the improved trail leading barely 100 yards from the bridge over this branch of Boulder Creek to Boulder Falls
Julie and Tahia on the improved trail leading barely 100 yards from the bridge over this branch of Boulder Creek to Boulder Falls

In fact, I avoided visiting this waterfall back then despite visiting Colorado Springs and Denver on that trip as a result of this waterfall’s closure at the time.

According to the signs here, the waterfall would typically be open only between May 1st and November 1st as well as between sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset.

However, one of the big reasons for its extended closure was trail work that was being done to widen and stabiilze the footpath to handle its heavy visitation.

Even after the trail’s re-opening in 2018, there were still other episodes of access closures, which became apparent to me once we saw the amount of road construction and delays that would occur on Boulder Canyon Road (State Highway 119).

Boulder_Falls_087_07272020 - Looking towards the confluence of the branch responsible for Boulder Falls and the main branch of Boulder Creek itself. Note that this was one of the wider sections of Boulder Canyon, which gives you an idea of why road maintenance and closures seem to be a recurring theme in the canyon's narrower spots
Looking towards the confluence of the branch responsible for Boulder Falls and the main branch of Boulder Creek itself. Note that this was one of the wider sections of Boulder Canyon, which gives you an idea of why road maintenance and closures seem to be a recurring theme in the canyon’s narrower spots

Indeed, Boulder Canyon was narrow and flanked by steep cliffs so it was clear that this place was prone to rock slides and avalanches given its rugged terrain.

Therefore, it’s wise to check the trail status on the City of Boulder page before seeking out this waterfall.

Authorities

Boulder Falls resides in Boulder Canyon just west of the city of Boulder in Boulder County, Colorado. It is administered by the City of Boulder. 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: boulder, colorado, boulder canyon, boulder 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.