Calypso Cascades

From Hiking

Calypso Cascades
Location:	Allenspark
Maintained By:	National Park Service
Starting Elevation:	8600'
Elevation Gain:	1100'
Length:	6.0 or 3.6 miles
Difficulty:	Strenuous
Last Hiked:

[edit] Finding the Trail Head

From Golden, take CO-93 to Boulder and turn left on CO-119 (on Canyon St.). At the round about in Nederland, take CO-72, and turn left onto CO-7. There are two entrances to the trail, one from Allenspark and one from the ranger station inside the Park.

For the first, turn left into Allenspark, angle onto CR-90 at the post office. Loop around on CR-90 about 2 miles, bearing left at forks to the trail head.

Alternatively, turn left onto the second entrance to CR-84W, then right onto CR-115 (Wild Basin Road) and follow it to the ranger station.

[edit] Description

The Allenspark trail enters the Rocky Mountain National Park almost immediately. The trail is beautiful, but very rocky and steep for about 1.5 miles, with several long series of steps. The trail then drops about 600' to the Cascades, sweeping through a large burn area.

Note that the elevation gain above is from the lowest to the highest point of the hike. Counting the elevation gain in both directions makes it more than 1700'!

The trail from the ranger station is shorter, flatter, and much prettier, following the North St. Vrain Creek past cascades and small water falls through thick pine forest. The last half mile to the cascades bridge is quite steep, following the lower part of the cascades along Cony Creek. From the bridge, Ouzel Falls (on Ouzel Creek) is only another 0.9 miles (1.8 miles round trip) and well worth the effort. There isn't really a side trail up to the base of the falls, but it is possible to scramble up. Unfortunately, the downside of this beautiful hike is that day use in the Park is $20!

[edit] Experience

The steepness of the Allenspark trail on the way in and having to climb out from the Cascades makes it a tough hike. The hike from the ranger station is better in every way except for the steep day use fee.

The Cascades are spectacular and Ouzel Falls is worth the visit. Although we haven't attempted it yet, Ouzel Lake is another 1.8 miles. In fact, just above Ouzel Falls, the trail fans out towards Ouzel and Bluebird Lakes, Thunder Lake, and Lion Lake.