Grace Falls
Larimer County, Colorado
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Larimer County, Colorado
- Access status
- Published trail viewpoint documented; base of falls not recommended
- The walk
- About 12 miles return
- Ground & access
- Long mountain trail with about 2,355 feet of gain. The route to the base of the falls is unmaintained, hard to follow and prone to avalanches. No pets on RMNP trails.
From Fern Lake Trailhead, hike past Fern Falls and Fern Lake to the Odessa Lake junction. Continue about 0.8 mile as the trail climbs toward Lake Helene and view Grace Falls across Odessa Gorge below Notchtop Mountain. The source advises viewing from the trail rather than going to the base. Return the same way, or continue past Lake Helene to Bear Lake Trailhead for about 9.6 miles total and use the park shuttle.
Plan your visit
Fern Lake Trailhead past Fern Lake and the Odessa Lake junction to the Grace Falls viewpoint on the trail toward Lake Helene
Day Hikes Near Denver puts the viewpoint about 0.8 mile beyond the Odessa Lake junction, about 6 miles from Fern Lake Trailhead, 12 miles round trip.
Long mountain trail with about 2,355 feet of gain. The route to the base of the falls is unmaintained, hard to follow and prone to avalanches. No pets on RMNP trails.
Where to start
Fern Lake Trailhead has limited parking; the Fern Lake bus stop lot is also very limited. Day Hikes Near Denver advises using the Park & Ride shuttle if the lot is full and not parking along Fern Lake Road.
Timing & water
Flow depends on snowmelt; best in spring and early summer. The falls freezes in winter.
Before you go
RMNP entrance pass required. NPS lists Moraine Park and Bear Lake inside the Bear Lake Road Corridor, which needed a Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservation from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 22 to October 18, 2026.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
Marguerite FallsPartial guide: final section is an unmaintained social trail beside the creekLarimer County, CO1.6 miNE
Fern FallsPublished trail distance, trailhead and park entry rules documentedLarimer County, CO2.2 miNE
Timberline FallsPark trail route documented; Bear Lake Road reservations in seasonLarimer County, CO2.9 miSE
Glacier FallsPublished trail route with unmarked final spur; Bear Lake Road reservation season appliesLarimer County, CO2.9 miSE
Alberta FallsPublished trail distance, trailhead and park entry rules documentedLarimer County, CO3.0 miSE- War Dance FallsGrand County, CO3.1 miSW
- North Inlet FallsPark trail route documented; long distance with conflicting mileageGrand County, CO3.3 miSW
- Windy Gulch CascadesPublished visitor route documented; final section is an unmaintained social pathLarimer County, CO3.6 miNE
- Granite FallsOfficial trailhead and campsite distance documented; distances differ by sourceGrand County, CO4.3 miW