Lower Copeland Falls
Boulder County, Colorado
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Boulder County, Colorado
- Access status
- Published trail route and trailhead parking documented; park entry rules apply
- The walk
- About 0.33 miles each way, about 0.7 miles return
- Ground & access
- Easy, nearly level forest trail. The source lists about 75 feet of total climbing for the Copeland Falls walk.
Lower Copeland Falls is a low, roughly three-foot drop on North St. Vrain Creek in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park. Walk the main Wild Basin trail from the trailhead. A side trail parallel to the main trail visits the lower falls and then Upper Copeland Falls. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Wild Basin Trailhead to Lower Copeland Falls
Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails gives one-third of a mile from the trailhead to Lower Copeland Falls. The return figure is derived by doubling it. The same page lists 0.9 miles round trip for a visit that includes Upper Copeland Falls.
Easy, nearly level forest trail. The source lists about 75 feet of total climbing for the Copeland Falls walk.
Where to start
Wild Basin Trailhead parking lot at the end of the Wild Basin Road, about 2.2 miles from the park turn-off on a narrow gravel road. The source gives parking coordinates 40.20883, -105.56614. From Estes Park, drive 12.6 miles south on Colorado Highway 7, turn right on Wild Basin Road, then right into the park after 0.4 miles.
Timing & water
The source does not state seasonal road closures. Current road and trail conditions were not checked for a specific date.
Before you go
A park entrance pass is required at all times. In 2026 a timed entry reservation was also required to enter between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. from May 22 to October 12. Check the park site for the current season.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Upper Copeland FallsPublished trail route and trailhead parking documented; park entry rules applyBoulder County, CO0.1 miSW
- Copeland FallsPublished trail distance and park entry rules documentedBoulder County, CO0.2 miNE
- Hidden FallsPartial guide: winter climbing approach only; exact distance and summer route unknownBoulder County, CO0.3 miSW
Calypso CascadesOfficial trail distance and park entry rules documentedBoulder County, CO1.3 miSW- Ouzel FallsPublished trail route and trailhead parking documented; park entry rules applyBoulder County, CO1.6 miW
- Lyric FallsPartial guide: last 0.75 mile is an unmaintained social trail with no markerBoulder County, CO1.9 miNW
- Mertensia FallsBoulder County, CO3.7 miW
- Thunder FallsBoulder County, CO3.9 miNW
- Columbine FallsPark trail with falls views documented; entrance pass requiredLarimer County, CO4.2 miN