Crib

Maxwell Falls Hike

Maxwell Falls

(Maxwell Falls Upper Trailhead) Evergreen, CO

• Difficulty level:  Moderate
• Distance/Time: 4.0 miles / 1.5 hours
• Type:  Loop
• Elev. Gain:  794 ft
• Season:  March to November
• Usage:  Medium Animals: Dogs on leash, Horses
• Features:  Waterfall

Summary:
Maxwell Falls Trail is a 4 mile loop trail located near Evergreen, Colorado that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible from March until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.


Directions:
Directions from Evergreen: Take Highway 74 to the center of Evergreen. Turn right at the stoplight onto Highway 73. Go to Brook Forest Rd. and turn right. The lower trailhead is encountered first. To access the upper trailhead go past the lower trailhead to Black Mountain Road. On Black Mountain Road turn left and go 1.25 miles to the upper trailhead.

To see Maxwell Falls Upper Trailhead on a map click Here.

Maxwell Falls Upper Trail Head - Geo Loc: 39.562323408383634,-105.37657856941223

Resource(s):
http://trailparkreviews.blogspot.com/2012/10/upper-maxwell-falls-hiking-in-evergreen.html http://alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/maxwell-falls-trail

For us the GPS measured only a 2 mile hike.  The falls has to be viewed from split off of the lower trail (past the falls).  There is a sign for Maxwell Falls, but it is at the top of the falls and you cannot see the falls from the sign or even a small hike down to the top of the falls.   Most the hike is through forest which has pine and aspen trees.  The lower loop of the hike follows the water. 

Top of the upper loop, 'The Cliffs loop'.  There is a better view on top of the cliff, but it was being used by some people sitting and talking, so we could not get a view from that spot. 

The stream that hiked beside on the lower part of the loop, 'Maxwell Falls loop' via upper Maxwell Falls trailhead. 

In front of me is the top of the falls.  You have to hike down the rocks to get a view of the falls or go further down the trail and hike back towards the falls at an unmarked location. 

We found a few trees that were setup as a balance beam, we took it as a challenge and crossed it.

View from the top upper part of the loop (The Cliffs loop), there are not many look out points as most the hike through thick wooded areas that block the views.

Bierdstadt Trail, Pike National Park

June 17, 2012 -  Pike National Forest - Bierstadt Trail / Mountain

The first mile of the trail is fairly flat.  The Trail descends about 200 feet into a marsh area where you walk on a narrow "board walk" through the marsh.  The pond in the foreground marks the middle of the marshy area.  There is a small stream crossing and then it ascends slightly to the base of the mountain.  From their the next 2.6 miles are a gradually increasing slop to the top of the mountain. The first 1/2 mile is through willow bushes and after crossing the tree line it becomes more rocky and steeper. There are several clearing in the 1/2 mile to rest and have lunch. 

Guanella Pass Trailhead looking up at Bierdstadt Mountain.

A view from close to 12,000 ft up the mountain, just before the real climb up the mountain

We made it up to 12,177 ft. Top of the mountain is 14,060.

The yellow specs are gold in the little creek we had to cross. 

More information about Bierstadt Trail / Bierstadt Mountain

http://www.protrails.com/trails/view/185/summit_county_eagle_county_clear_creek_county/mt_bierstadt

June 2, 2012  - It was to be a rainy Saturday, but we decided to go out hiking anyway.  We went out to Elk Meadow to do an easy hike that was relatively close to Denver.  Elk Meadow ( 39.668548,-105.369201 )  is at the base of Bergen Peak in Evergreen CO.  After about a mile in we noticed that the weather was coming in over the mountain and started running back to the car.  We just made it before the rain really started to come down. 

After Elk Meadow we drove around in the area exploring different areas of the Evergreen, where we stumbled upon Elk and Turkeys.  As we made out way back to Denver we stopped off and explored the Valley area of Denver and did a little more hiking were we saw 3 deer (they were a lot closer than it looks, iPhone is not the best at capturing actual distance).

Turkey on the road near Evergreen, CO

Elk in a valley near a creek

Deer in the foreground, just starting our hike in the Valley

View from our hike in the Valley

View from our hike in the Valley

Map of the Valley were we did a little hiking

Garden of the gods

May 5, 2012 - Stephanie, Cooper and I went exploring the Garden of the gods.

Red rocks

April 29, 2012 - Stephanie, Cooper and I took trip over to check out Red Rocks Amphitheater. Here are some pics from our time/hike around the park.

View from the Visitor's Center

Walking up the Ramp...lookup up along the wall

Red Rocks Amphitheater - City of Denver in the background

From the Amphitheater Stage

View from the hike around Red Rocks Park

View from the theater ramp

Dead Tree with Red Rocks as the background

View from one of Red Rocks, found out later it was 999.99 fine for climbing on the rocks.

Ceran St. Vrain Trail - First Colorado Hike.

April 21, 2012 - Thanks to Jenny, we went on our first CO hike. Jenny took us to Ceran St. Vrain Trail (Easy - Moderate), where is near Left Hand Canyon.  Us beginners could only last about 1.5 miles (3 miles round trip) of the 3.85 mile trail.

Ceran St., Vrain Trail

Just a peak through the trees....

At the start of the hike - fresh looking faces.

Penny and Cooper just hanging out

Walk through the pine forest

Jenny, Jason - Penny and cooper

Jenny leading the way - very thankful that she took the Saturday to show us around.