These are the Colorado waterfalls that draw the biggest crowds, measured by Google review volume and led by Helen Hunt Falls. Popular does not have to mean packed if you time it right.
For every waterfall we track nearby, see the full list of waterfalls in Colorado, or browse by town: Manitou Springs, Alamosa East, Pagosa Springs, Nederland, Telluride. You can also compare our best waterfalls in Colorado and most beautiful waterfalls in Colorado.
How we picked: Ranked purely by the number of Google reviews, the best public signal of how many people visit. Together these five account for 61% of all Google reviews of Colorado waterfalls.
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1. Helen Hunt Falls
Helen Hunt Falls near Manitou Springs takes the top spot, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 750 reviews.
El Paso County, CO 80906 (GPS 38.7886, -104.9030)
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750 Google reviews make it the most visited waterfall in Colorado, about 23% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. That is 1.9 times as many as Zapata Falls in second place. Visitors have shared 1,949 photos of it. It averages 4.7 stars, with 83% five-star reviews. "Small waterfall on Cheyenne Creek, accessible from the parking lot, with a hiking trail beyond." Expect company: arrive early on weekends and holidays, when parking fills first. The nearest town is Manitou Springs, about 5.0 miles to the north.
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2. Zapata Falls
Zapata Falls, near Alamosa East, is next up, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 395 reviews.
Alamosa County, CO 81146 (GPS 37.6190, -105.5532)
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395 Google reviews make it number 2 in Colorado, about 12% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. Visitors have shared 1,114 photos of it. It averages 4.8 stars, with 86% five-star reviews. "30-ft. waterfall reachable by a brief crevasse hike wading through water & over slippery rocks." The nearest town is Alamosa East, about 19 miles to the southwest.
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3. Treasure Falls
Treasure Falls, near Pagosa Springs, is next up, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 341 reviews.
Mineral County, CO 81147 (GPS 37.4431, -106.8739)
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341 Google reviews make it number 3 in Colorado, about 11% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. Visitors have shared 1,037 photos of it. It averages 4.8 stars, with 82% five-star reviews. "National forest waterfall reaching 105-ft. accessed via 2 hiking trails from a parking lot." The nearest town is Pagosa Springs, about 14 miles to the southwest.
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4. Boulder Falls
Boulder Falls near Nederland is worth the drive, rated 4.6 out of 5 from 268 reviews.
Boulder County, CO 80466 (GPS 40.0069, -105.4058)
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268 Google reviews make it number 4 in Colorado, about 8% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. Visitors have shared 722 photos of it. It averages 4.6 stars, with 80% five-star reviews. The nearest town is Nederland, about 6.4 miles to the southwest.
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5. Bridal Veil Falls
Head to Bridal Veil Falls near Telluride, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 203 reviews. Visitors come here for rocky trail, muddy trail, and black bear pass.
San Miguel County, CO 81426 (GPS 37.9192, -107.7700)
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203 Google reviews make it number 5 in Colorado, about 6% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. Visitors have shared 881 photos of it. It averages 4.9 stars, with 89% five-star reviews. "365-ft.-high waterfall plunging over dramatic cliffs forming the head of Telluride's box canyon." Reviews most often mention rocky trail, muddy trail, and black bear pass. The nearest town is Telluride, about 2.6 miles to the northwest.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most visited waterfall in Colorado?
Helen Hunt Falls tops our 2026 list, with a 4.7-star rating from 750 Google reviews. It is near Manitou Springs in El Paso County.
How was this list made?
Ranked purely by the number of Google reviews, the best public signal of how many people visit. Together these five account for 61% of all Google reviews of Colorado waterfalls.
How many waterfalls are in Colorado?
Our directory lists 82 waterfalls in Colorado. See every one, with filters and a map, on the Colorado waterfalls page.
Which part of Colorado has the most waterfalls?
The northern Front Range, especially Larimer and Boulder counties around Rocky Mountain National Park, holds the largest share in our directory. The San Juan Mountains in the southwest hold many of the tallest drops.
Summary
Helen Hunt Falls near Manitou Springs is our top pick for most visited waterfalls in Colorado, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 750 reviews. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access, water levels and road conditions vary through the year, so confirm current conditions before you drive out.
Snowmelt sets the calendar. Lower falls along the foothills, like Helen Hunt Falls, often peak in May, while high-country falls in Rocky Mountain National Park and the San Juans usually run strongest from early June into early July, after the main melt reaches the upper basins. By late August many smaller falls thin noticeably, though larger creeks keep running. July and August also bring an afternoon monsoon pattern, with lightning on exposed ridges and brief downpours, so early starts are the norm. Late September adds golden aspens to the scenery with lower flows. In winter, several falls freeze into ice formations, and some high roads and trailheads are not plowed. Weekends in summer bring heavy crowds to the Front Range and Telluride.
For more options, see every waterfall on the Colorado waterfalls page, read 15 Best Waterfalls in Colorado, or check our waterfall safety tips before you go.