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LakeQuality

Updated July 2026

Fish Creek Falls

Routt County, Colorado — about 283 ft, among the tallest.

A 283-foot plunge waterfall on Fish Creek just east of Steamboat Springs, reached by a short quarter-mile path to a lower overlook, with a longer trail continuing to the Upper Falls.

Height
283 ft
Type
Plunge
Access
Short Hike
Trail
0.5 mi out-and-back
Elevation gain
100 ft
Best season
Spring snowmelt (May-Jun)
Land manager
Routt National Forest (USFS)
Watercourse
Fish Creek

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 Routt National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

Graded lakes within 25 miles

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Frequently Asked Questions

Fish Creek Falls drops about 283 feet. That makes it the 51st-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 93% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Fish Creek Falls Overlook Trail reaches it about 0.5 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 100 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Steamboat Springs. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Routt National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions.

Spring snowmelt (May-Jun). 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

Sources

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