Upper 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 0.45 miles each way; 0.9 miles round trip
- Ground & access
- Easy forest trail with little climbing. The source lists about 75 feet of total climbing.
Upper Copeland Falls is the second small drop on North St. Vrain Creek, a short distance above Lower Copeland Falls. Walk from the Wild Basin Trailhead on the main trail and take the side trail that follows the creek past the lower falls to the upper falls. You can return the same way or rejoin the main trail and turn right back to the trailhead.
Plan your visit
Wild Basin Trailhead to Upper Copeland Falls
Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails lists 0.9 miles round trip for the Copeland Falls walk and places the upper falls about one-tenth mile beyond the lower falls, which are one-third mile from the trailhead.
Easy forest trail with little climbing. The source lists about 75 feet of total climbing.
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.
- Lower Copeland FallsPublished trail route and trailhead parking documented; park entry rules applyBoulder County, CO0.1 miNE
- Hidden FallsPartial guide: winter climbing approach only; exact distance and summer route unknownBoulder County, CO0.2 miSW
- Copeland FallsPublished trail distance and park entry rules documentedBoulder County, CO0.3 miNE
Calypso CascadesOfficial trail distance and park entry rules documentedBoulder County, CO1.1 miSW- Ouzel FallsPublished trail route and trailhead parking documented; park entry rules applyBoulder County, CO1.5 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, CO3.8 miNW
- Columbine FallsPark trail with falls views documented; entrance pass requiredLarimer County, CO4.2 miN