Copeland Falls

The National Park Service describes Rocky Mountain National Park:

This part of the series concentrates on the waterfalls accessible from the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park. Wild Basin is reached by taking CO-7 south out of Estes Park. On your way south, CO-7 passes by the Long Peak and Twin Sisters trailheads. Before reaching Allenspark, turn right into the Wild Basin area. There is a entrance fee station although sometimes it is unmanned. Copeland Falls Ratings : Power - StarStarStarHalf-star Beauty - StarStarStarStar Ease of Access - StarStarStarStarHalf-star Height : 12 feet in two cascades, River/Stream : North St. Vrain Creek, Water Levels : moderate, Safety Considerations : none, Hike : .6 miles round trip, easy terrain Calypso Cascades Ratings : Power - StarStarStar Beauty - StarStarStarStar Ease of Access - StarStarStarHalf-star Height : 90 feet of cascades, River/Stream : Cony Creek, Water Levels : moderate-low, Safety Considerations : none, Hike : 3.6 miles round trip, moderately sloped terrain Ouzel Falls Ratings : Power - StarStarStarStar Beauty - StarStarStarStarStar Ease of Access - StarStarStarHalf-star Height : 60 feet, River/Stream : Ouzel Creek, Water Levels : moderate, Safety Considerations : none, Hike : 5.4 miles round trip, moderately sloped terrain This trio of falls makes a wonderful day trip. The hike is not easy but, at the same time, it is much easier than some of the other day trip waterfall hikes in the area. It starts at the Wild Basin Ranger Station, which is at the end of the road leading from the Wild Basin entrance station. Parking can be difficult during the summer so arrive early. The trail leads away from the parking area into a relatively flat and heavily forested area. Chipmunks and squirrels will be often visible as you walk through the quiet forest. On your left, North St. Vrain Creek will be in sight at all times. After .3 miles, a side trail leads off to Copeland Falls. The falls are in two levels, each falling over a wide ledge into shady pools. The upper of the two levels is the more dramatic of the two because the ledge is somewhat narrower and thus the water rushes through with more agitation. In general, though, Copeland Falls is a very peaceful area. Because it is slightly off the main path, many people will skip it on their way to the destinations further up the path so it is often less crowded than the other two falls. The side trail continues past both levels of the falls and rejoins the main trail soon after. The main trail continues to follow North St. Vrain Creek for quite a ways, crossing Sandbeach Creek shortly after Copeland Falls and then crossing North St. Vrain Creek itself about a mile later. The path then follows Cony Creek up to Calypso Cascades. The hike between Copeland Falls and Calypso Cascades is steeper in slope but not exhaustingly so. At Calypso Cascades, the path reaches a T-intersection. Turn right and walk on to the bridge over Cony Creek. Upstream of the bridge are the myriad of tumbling streams and rivulets of water that make up Calypso Cascades.