Horseshoe Falls Hike
Waterfall | Colorado
0.4 mi round trip
130 ft
Easy
Horseshoe Falls Hike at a Glance
The Horseshoe Falls hike via the Alluvial Fan Trail is 0.4 mi round trip with 130 ft of elevation gain.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 9,020 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Alluvial Fan Trail |
| Distance | 0.4 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 130 ft |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Your time: about 10 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 15 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 110 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 0.4 mi distance and 130 ft of gain for this hike are verified (dayhikesneardenver.com), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Horseshoe Falls
Horseshoe Falls is a waterfall in Colorado, on land managed by Rocky Mountain National Park.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Alluvial Fan Trail: 0.4 miles round trip with about 130 feet of elevation gain, from East Alluvial Fan Trailhead. Distance from dayhikesneardenver.com. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Easy.
Before You Go
- A park pass is required. (dayhikesneardenver.com)
- Dogs are prohibited in RMNP. (dayhikesneardenver.com)
- The trail to the Alluvial Fan was designed to be fully accessible. (nps.gov)
- Timed entry reservations are needed to enter Rocky Mountain National Park during its reservation season; check the park for current dates. (nps.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Rocky Mountain National Park for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Horseshoe Falls?
The Alluvial Fan Trail to Horseshoe Falls is 0.4 miles round trip with about 130 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Horseshoe Falls hike start?
It starts from East Alluvial Fan Trailhead.
Is there a fee to hike to Horseshoe Falls?
A park pass is required.
Are dogs allowed on the Horseshoe Falls trail?
Dogs are prohibited in RMNP.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
1:00 PM (2:00 PM summer)
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Horseshoe Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- dayhikesneardenver.com
- Distance
- dayhikesneardenver.com
- Falls location
- en.wikipedia.org
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Horseshoe Falls.