Thursday, December 10, 2009

Telluride Waterfall Hikes

The hiking in the Telluride, Colorado area features several waterfalls as destinations. The mountain views are spectacular. There are also mining ruins and ghost towns to find and the forests are thick and lush.

The Bridal Veil Falls is probably the most famous of the Telluride Waterfalls. The steep switchback road starts at the east end of town at the end of the Idarado Legacy Trail. At the top of Bridal Veil Falls is an historic power plant that has been refurbished and is operating.
Further up the switchback road to Black Bear Pass in Ingram Falls. The 4WD route starts at about 9000 feet of elevation and climbs to over 10,000 feet. The view here is from the Tomboy Road Trail leading to one of the mining ruins sites.

Visiting Cornet Falls is the shortest hike, only 0.25 miles. The trail head is the same as the west arm of the Jed Wiebe Trail at the north end of Aspen Street. There is a series of two falls here, with the further one the most interesting.
The Bear Creek Falls Trail is a popular 2.2 mile hike on the south side of Telluride at the south end of Pine Street. This hike is so locally popular that it draws joggers not bothering to carry water bottles, just a morning workout.

Another waterfall in the area is the Bilk Creek Falls in the nearby Lizard Head Wilderness. The long way to this falls is to start at the Cross Mountain Trail Head, about two miles south of Lizard Head Pass, south of Telluride. Taking this route will pass by the top of the falls, but it is a long hike. The shorter hike is to follow the Sunshine Mesa Road to the Wilson Mesa Trail, then follow the Lizard Head Trail to the base of the falls.




18407_$5 Shipping on Orders of $99 or More! 528669_Russell Womens Fleece Hoodie Banner