Browns Creek Falls
Chaffee County, Colorado
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Chaffee County, Colorado
- Access status
- Published trail route and trailhead documented
- The walk
- About 2.9 to 3 miles each way; about 5.8 to 6 miles round trip
- Ground & access
- About 900 feet of climbing, mostly in the first mile. Rocky trail with a log bridge crossing.
From the trailhead, pass a gate at about 0.2 miles and climb steeply for the first mile. At the Colorado Trail junction, go left a short distance, then right on the signed Browns Creek Trail. Cross a meadow near 2.5 miles, then a log bridge and a horse hitch rack. At the signed junction, turn left on the short spur to the falls; the main trail goes right to Browns Lake. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Browns Creek Trailhead west of Nathrop by the Browns Creek Trail and falls spur
Denver7 gives six miles round trip; Hiking Project and Colorado United give about 5.8 miles round trip. One-way figures are half of those.
About 900 feet of climbing, mostly in the first mile. Rocky trail with a log bridge crossing.
Where to start
Browns Creek Trailhead lot with toilets, reached from US 285 south of Nathrop by County Road 270 (becoming 272), staying on 272 south for about 1.6 miles to the trailhead. The lot can fill on weekends.
Timing & water
The falls flow year round per Hiking Project; strongest in late spring and early summer. Snow covers the trail in winter.
Before you go
Colorado United says the hike is free. Not confirmed with the Forest Service.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.