Lower Fish Creek Falls (7,420′), Park Range
Lower Fish Creek Falls (7,420′), Park Range
Lower Fish Creek Falls is a 283′ waterfall located about 5 miles to the east of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. There are two trails which provide great views of the falls. First is the Overlook, a 1/4 mile handicapped-friendly accessible trail, which is relatively flat. The second trail, a National Recreation Trail , is also 1/4 mile long but drops 100′ down to a foot bridge at the base of the falls.
Another destination worth exploring is a 1/2 hour south of Steamboat Springs. Outside the town of Yampa, lies the eastern end of the Flat Top Scenic Byway. The Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway (County Road 8), runs through the northern portion of the Flat Tops Wilderness.
Trail Pictures
View from the overlook trail of the National Recreation Area
View from the overlook trail of the National Recreation Area
The Overlook trail is flat and paved the whole way
The Overlook trail is flat and paved the whole way
The Overlook trail is handicap accessible
The Overlook trail is handicap accessible
The falls from the Overlook trail
The falls from the Overlook trail
283′ falls view from the overlook
283′ falls view from the overlook
Designated a National Recreation Trail
Designated a National Recreation Trail
A picnic area near the trailhead
A picnic area near the trailhead
The trail winds through aspen and evergreen forests
The trail winds through aspen and evergreen forests
The National Recreation Trail nearing the falls
The National Recreation Trail nearing the falls
May morning at the base of the falls
May morning at the base of the falls
View from the foot bridge
View from the foot bridge
Spring snow melt has the falls roaring
Spring snow melt has the falls roaring
GPS Route with Elevation
Video Tour
Trail Directions
There are two hiking trails from the parking lot at the end of Fish Creek Fall Road.
Fish Creek Falls Overlook: 1/4 of a mile (400 m) of paved trail which is handicap accesible and relatively flat. It ends at a viewing station where the entirety of the falls can be seen.
Base of the Falls: the 1/4 mile trail goes down into the U-shaped valley formed by glaciers. At the bottom of the valley is a foot bridge over Fish Creek with a close up view of the falls. The trail continues on to Upper Fish Creek Falls and then to the Wyoming Trail, a long trail running the northwestern mountains of Colorado to Wyoming.
Trailhead Directions