Ouzel Falls

Ouzel Falls drops 40 feet in a twisting cascade through fire-scarred forest in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park. The water corkscrews through a narrow granite chute before fanning out across a wider rock face, creating an unusually dynamic pattern that changes character with flow levels. The surrounding forest — partially burned in a 1978 wildfire — has regenerated into a mosaic of young aspens and standing snags that gives the landscape a raw, wild beauty.

The trail to Ouzel Falls is 5.4 miles round trip from the Wild Basin Trailhead, gaining about 950 feet along the North St. Vrain Creek. The route passes Copeland Falls and Calypso Cascades along the way, making for a three-waterfall day. The path is well-maintained and mostly shaded, winding through subalpine forest with occasional views of the surrounding peaks.

Visit from late June through August for the best combination of access and flow. The Wild Basin area is less crowded than the Bear Lake corridor, making it one of the quieter waterfall hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. A park entrance fee of $30 per vehicle applies. Water dippers — small gray birds — can often be spotted bobbing on rocks in the creek.