Lyric Falls
Boulder County, Colorado
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Boulder County, Colorado
- Access status
- Partial guide: last 0.75 mile is an unmaintained social trail with no marker
- The walk
- About 8 miles return
- Ground & access
- Maintained trail with about 1,730 feet of gain, then an unmaintained, indistinct social trail. Land navigation skills needed.
Follow the Sandbeach Lake Trail about 3.2 miles to the footbridge over Hunters Creek. Near the bridge, an indistinct social trail on the east side of the creek follows Hunters Creek northwest and uphill about 0.75 mile. The falls are not marked; listen for the cascades to find them. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Sandbeach Lake Trailhead via the Sandbeach Lake Trail and an unmaintained social trail up Hunters Creek to Lyric Falls
Dayhikes Near Denver gives about 8 miles round trip: about 3.2 miles on the Sandbeach Lake Trail to the Hunters Creek footbridge, then 0.75 mile on a social trail. Not measured here.
Maintained trail with about 1,730 feet of gain, then an unmaintained, indistinct social trail. Land navigation skills needed.
Where to start
Sandbeach Lake Trailhead on County Road 84 about half a mile west of Highway 7, across from Wild Basin Lodge; parking for about 25 cars.
Timing & water
Spring through fall per the source.
Before you go
A park entrance pass is required at all hours; the standard pass is $15 to $35. In 2026, timed entry reservations were needed to enter between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. from May 22 to October 12. Dates for 2027 not yet verified.
Visitor informationVisit sources
- Dayhikes Near Denver: Lyric Falls Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park
- Dayhikes Near Denver: Lyric Falls Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park
- Dayhikes Near Denver: Lyric Falls Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park: Fees and Passes
- Rocky Mountain National Park: Timed Entry Permit System
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Ouzel FallsPublished trail route and trailhead parking documented; park entry rules applyBoulder County, CO1.8 miS
- Upper Copeland FallsPublished trail route and trailhead parking documented; park entry rules applyBoulder County, CO1.9 miSE
- Lower Copeland FallsPublished trail route and trailhead parking documented; park entry rules applyBoulder County, CO1.9 miSE
- Hidden FallsPartial guide: winter climbing approach only; exact distance and summer route unknownBoulder County, CO1.9 miSE
- Copeland FallsPublished trail distance and park entry rules documentedBoulder County, CO1.9 miSE
Calypso CascadesOfficial trail distance and park entry rules documentedBoulder County, CO2.1 miS- Thunder FallsBoulder County, CO2.2 miW
- Mertensia FallsBoulder County, CO2.5 miW
- Trio FallsBoulder County, CO2.5 miW