Updated July 2026
Cascade Falls (Ouray)
Cascade Falls is a roughly 270-foot ribbon of spray plunging down a cliff face at the east end of 8th Avenue in Ouray, and is the lowest of a series of waterfalls on Cascade Creek. A short but moderately steep quarter-mile walk from the parking lot reaches the base.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check City of Ouray / Uncompahgre National Forest for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cascade Falls (Ouray) drops about 270 feet. That makes it the 54th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 92% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Lower Cascade Falls Trail reaches it about 0.5 miles (out-and-back), rated easy. The nearest town is Ouray. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with City of Ouray / Uncompahgre National Forest for closures and current conditions.
Late spring through summer (May-Sep). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More Colorado waterfalls
- Adams Falls · 55 ft
- Alberta Falls · 30 ft
- Bear Creek Falls
- Booth Falls · 60 ft
- Box Canyon Falls · 285 ft
- Bridal Veil Falls · 365 ft
- Bridal Veil Falls (Hanging Lake)
- Chasm Falls · 25 ft
Sources
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