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Timberline Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 100 ft high | Colorado
8.1 mi round trip
1,510 ft
Strenuous
Timberline Falls Hike at a Glance
The Timberline Falls hike via the Loch Vale Trail is 8.1 mi round trip with 1,510 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 100 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Loch Vale Trail |
| Distance | 8.1 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 1,510 ft |
| Difficulty | Strenuous |
Your time: about 3 h 25 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 4 h 20 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 1,960 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 8.1 mi distance and 1,510 ft of gain for this hike are verified (rockymountainhikingtrails.com), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Timberline Falls
Timberline Falls is a waterfall in Colorado, about 100 feet high, on land managed by Rocky Mountain National Park. Its height is from rockymountainhikingtrails.com.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Loch Vale Trail: 8.1 miles round trip with about 1,510 feet of elevation gain, from Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Distance from rockymountainhikingtrails.com. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Strenuous.
Before You Go
- Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road reservations are needed to enter the Bear Lake Road Corridor during the park's 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 Timberline Falls?
The Loch Vale Trail to Timberline Falls is 8.1 miles round trip with about 1,510 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Timberline Falls hike start?
It starts from Glacier Gorge Trailhead.
How tall is Timberline Falls?
Timberline Falls is about 100 feet high.
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 Timberline Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- rockymountainhikingtrails.com
- Distance
- rockymountainhikingtrails.com
- Falls height
- rockymountainhikingtrails.com
- Falls location
- en.wikipedia.org
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Timberline Falls.