Boulder Falls
Boulder Falls is a roadside waterfall in Boulder Canyon, about 11 miles west of Boulder, Colorado, reached by a short, easy walk from a pullout on State Highway 119, and it's currently closed after a 2024 rockslide.
Outdoor Boulder › Hiking in Boulder › Boulder Falls
The City of Boulder closed the Boulder Falls area after a 2024 rockslide damaged the trail. It's still closed, and the canyon walls there are an active rockfall hazard. Please respect the closure until the city reopens the site with its planned viewing platform.
Boulder Falls quick facts
| Status | CLOSED. The City of Boulder closed the Boulder Falls area after a 2024 rockslide damaged the trail. It stays closed while the city designs a new viewing platform. |
|---|---|
| Distance | A short, easy walk from the roadside parking area across the highway. (The city calls it a quick stop and a short and easy walk; it does not publish an exact length.) |
| Elevation gain | Minimal. It's a nearly level walk to the base of the falls. |
| Difficulty | Easy, when open. |
| Dog policy | Dogs must be on a leash. (Standard rule for this City of Boulder site.) |
| Fee | Free. Roadside parking, no entry fee. |
| Parking | A parking area on the north side of Boulder Canyon Drive (SR 119), across the highway from the falls. It's small, and reaching the falls means crossing a fast two-lane canyon road. |
| Best season | Late spring (May and June) for the strongest snowmelt flow. (Note the current closure.) |
Boulder Falls at a glance
Boulder Falls is the quickest waterfall stop near Boulder: a short walk off the canyon road to a small but forceful cascade tumbling over dark rock. The city calls it a quick stop and a short, easy walk, and for a century it was a popular picnic spot, sometimes called the "Yosemite of Boulder Canyon." The five acres of land were donated to the City of Boulder in 1914. When it's open, it's more of a scenic pull-off than a hike.
How to get to Boulder Falls
The falls sit 11 miles west of Boulder on the north side of Boulder Canyon Drive (State Highway 119), on the way up toward Nederland. You reach them by driving up the canyon from Boulder; there's no formal trailhead, just a pullout across the road from the falls.
Boulder Falls parking and the road crossing
Parking is a small area on the north side of the highway, across from the falls. Even when the site is open, the honest catch is the road: Highway 119 is a fast, curving two-lane canyon route, and reaching the falls has always meant crossing it on foot. Take that seriously with kids, and never park or stand where you'd block the travel lanes.
Is Boulder Falls open?
Not right now. The City of Boulder closed the area after a rockslide damaged the trail in 2024, and it remains closed. The city has said it will move forward with a new viewing platform so visitors can admire the falls from a safe distance, protected from future rockfall in the narrow canyon. Until then, the existing trail is a genuine hazard, and the closure is worth honoring. We'll update this page when it reopens.
Dogs and rules
When the site is open, dogs are welcome on a leash, and you pack out waste as usual. Given the roadside setting and the canyon traffic, a leash here is about safety as much as courtesy.
Best time to visit
The falls run hardest during late-spring snowmelt, roughly May into June, when the flow is loud and full. By late summer it slims down, and winter can glaze the rock and roadside with ice. All of that assumes the site has reopened; check the city's closure status first.
Nearby trails and guides
- All hikes in Boulder: the full hiking hub, sorted by difficulty.
- Mount Sanitas: an open, in-town climb if you want a real hike instead.
- Walker Ranch: a rugged foothills loop farther up in the hills.
Recommended nearby
A few local spots we'd point a canyon day-tripper toward.
[CLIENT SLOT: featured restaurant near Boulder Canyon / Nederland]
[One honest line: a canyon or Nederland stop on the drive up.]
[CLIENT SLOT: featured cafe near Boulder Canyon / Nederland]
[One honest line: coffee before heading up the canyon.]
[CLIENT SLOT: featured gear shop or gateway-town business]
[One honest line: what a canyon day-tripper might need.]
Boulder Falls FAQ
Is Boulder Falls open right now?
No. The City of Boulder closed the Boulder Falls area after a rockslide damaged the trail in 2024, and it remains closed. The city is moving forward with a new viewing platform that would let visitors see the falls safely from a distance. Respect the closure; the canyon walls there are an active rockfall hazard.
How do you get to Boulder Falls?
Boulder Falls sits 11 miles west of Boulder on the north side of Boulder Canyon Drive (State Highway 119), between Boulder and Nederland. There's a small parking area across the highway from the falls. There's no formal trailhead.
How long is the walk to Boulder Falls?
It's a short, easy walk from the roadside pullout to the base of the falls, one of the quickest waterfall stops near Boulder. The city describes it as a quick stop and a short, easy walk rather than a hike.
Is there a fee to visit Boulder Falls?
No. Parking along the canyon road is free and there's no entry fee. (The site is currently closed for rockfall repairs.)
When is Boulder Falls at its best?
The falls run hardest during late-spring snowmelt, roughly May into June, and slow through the drier summer. Winter can leave the rocks and roadside icy. This all assumes the site has reopened.
Sources
Facts on this page are drawn from these authoritative sources: