St. Mary's Falls

St. Mary's Falls slides 120 feet down a smooth granite slab into a clear alpine pool surrounded by towering ponderosa pines and Douglas firs in the St. Mary's Glacier area west of Idaho Springs. The falls flow in a graceful horsetail pattern, hugging the rock face as the water descends, with the granite worn smooth and dark from centuries of flow. The pool at the base invites wading on hot summer days, though the water stays bracingly cold from snowmelt.

The hike is a moderate 3-mile round trip following the South Clear Creek Trail, gaining about 700 feet through a shaded canyon. The trail crosses the creek several times on log bridges and rocks, keeping hikers close to the water the entire way. Wildflowers carpet the canyon floor from June through August, and the forest canopy provides welcome shade on hot days.

June and July deliver the best combination of strong water flow and comfortable hiking weather. The nearby St. Mary's Glacier — actually a permanent snowfield — makes a popular add-on destination. Parking at the trailhead along Fall River Road can fill up by mid-morning on weekends.