Windy Gulch Cascades
Larimer County, Colorado
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Larimer County, Colorado
- Access status
- Published visitor route documented; final section is an unmaintained social path
- The walk
- About 1 mile round trip from Fern Lake Trailhead
- Ground & access
- The final tenth of a mile is off the main trail on an unmaintained path and boulder field with some scrambling. The source says the terrain beyond the viewpoint is steep, slick and unstable.
Walk about 0.4 miles up the Fern Lake Trail to where it bears left just after a small footbridge. On the right, a small unmaintained social path leads into the woods and up a boulder field on the west side of the creek to the lower cascades. The upper cascades and a 15 to 20 foot fall are visible further up the gulch. The source advises not going beyond that point. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Fern Lake Trailhead to Windy Gulch Cascades by a short unmaintained side path
Dayhikes Near Denver gives 1 mile round trip from the Fern Lake Trailhead. Starting at the Fern Lake bus stop adds about 0.8 miles each way.
The final tenth of a mile is off the main trail on an unmaintained path and boulder field with some scrambling. The source says the terrain beyond the viewpoint is steep, slick and unstable.
Where to start
Fern Lake Trailhead has limited parking. The source says you will likely need to park at the Park and Ride and take the park shuttle in season, and warns that cars parked along Fern Lake road will be ticketed.
Timing & water
Spring through fall. Shuttle service runs only in the summer season. Current 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 plus Bear Lake Road reservation was required to enter the Bear Lake Road corridor between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. from May 22 to October 18. 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.
Fern FallsPublished trail distance, trailhead and park entry rules documentedLarimer County, CO1.6 miW
Marguerite FallsPartial guide: final section is an unmaintained social trail beside the creekLarimer County, CO2.2 miSW
Alberta FallsPublished trail distance, trailhead and park entry rules documentedLarimer County, CO3.6 miS- Grace FallsPublished trail viewpoint documented; base of falls not recommendedLarimer County, CO3.6 miSW
Horseshoe FallsOfficial accessible trail with falls view; entrance pass requiredLarimer County, CO3.9 miN- Thousand FallsLarimer County, CO4.1 miN
Glacier FallsPublished trail route with unmarked final spur; Bear Lake Road reservation season appliesLarimer County, CO4.2 miS
Chasm FallsPublished road parking and short path to viewing platform documented; road is seasonalLarimer County, CO4.6 miNW
Timberline FallsPark trail route documented; Bear Lake Road reservations in seasonLarimer County, CO5.2 miS