Rocky Mountain National Park: Wild Basin Trail to Ouzel Falls (Blog Hike #814)

Trail: Wild Basin Trail
Hike Location: Rocky Mountain National Park, Wild Basin Trailhead
Geographic Location: south of Estes Park, CO (40.20934,-105.56480)
Length: 5.6 miles
Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate/Difficult)
Date Hiked: July 2020
Overview: An out-and-back passing three fantastic but different waterfalls.
Park Information: https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=823970
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From Estes Park, take SR 7 south 12.8 miles to CR 84 and turn right on CR 84.  Drive CR 84 west 0.4 miles to the Wild Basin entrance for Rocky Mountain National Park.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and drive the narrow, winding dirt/gravel park road to the Wild Basin Trailhead at its end.  Park as close to the Wild Basin Trailhead as you can.

The hike: When you think of Colorado's Rocky Mountains, most likely images of stark snow-capped peaks, perfect cone-shaped pines, and placid reflective lakes come to mind.  Not all of Colorado fits those images, but the scenery at Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park may very well be their origin.  Known to locals simply as "Rocky," the park was established by an act of Congress in 1915 at the insistence of Mary King Sherman, an influential Estes Park resident.  For over 100 years visitors have come from far and wide to get their eyes full of the scenery and feet full of the outdoor recreation that Colorado is famous for.

            Like many national parks, Rocky is divided into two distinct parts by a major ridge, in Rocky's case the Continental Divide.  Rocky's eastern part is more congested and touristy, and it is accessed by the tourist-driven town of Estes Park.  Rocky's western part is more remote, and the closest town providing services for visitors is Grand Lake.  Grand Lake has more of a rustic and wild west feel despite its tourism base.  I spent nights in both gateway towns, and I enjoyed the contrasting experiences they offered.

            The next 5 hikes are my fruits from the 4 days I spent hiking in Rocky during my July 2020 hiking trip to Colorado.  The hike described here explores the creeks and waterfalls of Rocky's Wild Basin area, which is tucked in the park's southeast corner.  More specifically, this hike takes you past three very different waterfalls, each of which has its own appeal.  While Wild Basin does not see the volume of visitors that areas close to Estes Park do, it also does not have the parking areas and other services.  Thus, I recommend arriving early in the morning or mid-afternoon to reduce crowds, and I would not come here on a weekend or a holiday.  I came here on a Monday morning and had a warm but nice hike with only a short road walk from my parking spot to the Wild Basin Trailhead.

Wild Basin Trailhead

            From the Wild Basin Trailhead, pick up the Wild Basin Trail as it heads southwest across a pair of bridges over small creeks with the main watercourse, North St. Vrain Creek, to your left.  The sound of rushing water will be your near-constant companion on this hike, and the audio is one of this hike's main attractions.  The trail climbs gradually through the usual subalpine mixture of aspen and pines.

            At 0.3 miles, the side trail that passes Copeland Falls exits left.  Turn left to descend slightly and reach the bank of North St. Vrain Creek near the base of the falls.  Copeland Falls consists of several drops, and the most impressive parts are located a couple hundred feet further up the side trail.  The creek provides plenty of water to fall, so Copeland Falls makes up for in power what it lacks in intricacy.

Lower Copeland Falls

Upper Copeland Falls

            Past the upper-most drop, the waterfall side trail rejoins the main route and continues upstream.  A few rocky areas need to be negotiated, but for the most part the wide dirt trail makes for easy going.  A large number of chipmunks seem to live in this area, and I heard some woodpeckers drilling for a meal in the dense forest.

Hiking up the Wild Basin Trail

            At 1.4 miles, the Thunder Lake Trail exits right just before you cross North St. Vrain Creek on a wide wooden footbridge.  The grade increases and the trail surface becomes rockier as the trail curves left to head up a side ravine.  1.8 miles into the hike, you reach a signed trail intersection with the Finch Lake Trail, which exits left.  Turn right and immediately cross a bridge that crosses the creek in the middle of Calypso Cascades.  Calypso Cascades are tall, slender, and rocky, and several aquatic channels come tumbling down through the trees and rocks.  Many people think Calypso Cascades is the best waterfall in Wild Basin, so take some time to enjoy the watery action.

Calypso Cascades

            If you are getting tired or running out of daylight, you should turn around here having seen this hike's most famous site.  To squeeze in one more waterfall, keep following the Wild Basin Trail as it heads for Ouzel Falls.  The trail maintains a somewhat level grade at first, and some small streams will need to be crossed via stepping stones.  Partially obstructed views across North St. Vrain Creek's valley emerge to the right.  Those views include the tip top of 11,724-foot Mount Orton to the northwest.

View across the valley

            At 2.3 miles, you begin the final ascent to Ouzel Falls, which is accomplished by a series of switchbacks and stone steps.  You reach Ouzel Falls at 2.7 miles.  Ouzel Falls features a tall single drop above a series of smaller rocky cascades.  Although many people prefer Calypso Cascades, Ouzel Falls is my favorite of the waterfall trio passed on this hike.

Ouzel Falls

            I chose to end my hike here and retrace my steps to the Wild Basin Trailhead, but a few longer options are also possible.  The Wild Basin Trail continues climbing past Ouzel Falls, and it reaches Ouzel Lake in another 2.2 miles and Bluebird Lake in another 3.6 miles.  As a second option, you could form an additional 2.1 mile loop by continuing upstream another 0.4 miles, hiking a connector trail down to the Thunder Lake Trail, and turning right on the Thunder Lake Trail.  Finally, you could hike the Finch Lake Trail down from Calypso Cascades, which would add 1.8 miles to this hike.  Choose your own adventure but mind your daylight and stamina when completing this hike.