The best hidden gem waterfalls in Colorado are Timberline Falls, Chasm Falls, Hayes Creek Falls and 7 more. Highly rated falls that few people review: 4.6 stars or better from 75 or fewer Google reviews.
See every waterfall on the Colorado waterfalls page or the Colorado waterfall map, or browse by town: Estes Park, Carbondale, Silt, Ouray, Manitou Springs.
How we picked: We took the 19 publicly accessible Colorado waterfalls rated 4.6 stars or higher on Google by between 5 and 75 reviewers, then ranked them by a weighted rating that gives more credit to ratings backed by more reviews.
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1. Timberline Falls
Timberline Falls near Estes Park takes the top spot, rated 5.0 out of 5 from 21 reviews.
Larimer County, CO 80517 (GPS 40.2849, -105.6645)
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Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 21 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 177 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Estes Park, about 9.9 miles to the northeast. The nearest other named waterfall is Glacier Falls, about 1.2 miles to the northeast.
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2. Chasm Falls
Chasm Falls, near Estes Park, is next up, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 40 reviews. Visitors come here for hiking, drive, and waterfall.
Larimer County, CO 80517 (GPS 40.4168, -105.6726)
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Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 40 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 166 photos of it on Google Maps. Reviewers mention "hiking", "drive", and "waterfall". Older records also call it Horseshoe Falls. The nearest town is Estes Park, about 8.4 miles to the east. The nearest other named waterfall is Thousand Falls, about 0.6 miles to the southeast.
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3. Hayes Creek Falls
Hayes Creek Falls, near Carbondale, is next up, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 33 reviews. Visitors come here for roadside access, easy access, and accessibility.
Pitkin County, CO 81623 (GPS 39.1592, -107.2521)
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Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 33 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 147 photos of it on Google Maps. Reviewers mention "roadside access", "easy access", and "accessibility". The nearest town is Carbondale, about 17 miles to the north. The nearest other named waterfall is Whitnach Falls, about 19.7 miles to the northeast.
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4. Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls near Estes Park is worth the drive, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 32 reviews. Visitors come here for climbing, scenery, and hike.
Larimer County, CO 80517 (GPS 40.4359, -105.5510)
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Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 32 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 95 photos of it on Google Maps. Reviewers mention "climbing", "scenery", and "hike". The nearest town is Estes Park, about 4.3 miles to the south. The nearest other named waterfall is Horseshoe Falls, about 4.6 miles to the west.
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5. Poudre Falls
Poudre Falls near Estes Park rounds out this stretch of the list, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 14 reviews.
Larimer County, CO 80512 (GPS 40.6483, -105.8133)
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Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 14 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 81 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Estes Park, about 24 miles to the southeast. The nearest other named waterfall is Lost Falls, about 16.4 miles to the southeast.
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6. Alberta Falls
Alberta Falls near Estes Park is worth the drive, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 73 reviews.
Larimer County, CO 80517 (GPS 40.3035, -105.6380)
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Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 73 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 353 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Estes Park, about 8.0 miles to the northeast. The nearest other named waterfall is Glacier Falls, about 0.8 miles to the southwest.
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7. Rifle Falls
Rifle Falls near Silt rounds out this stretch of the list, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 53 reviews.
Garfield County, CO 81650 (GPS 39.6778, -107.6987)
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Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 53 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 244 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Silt, about 9.2 miles to the south. The nearest other named waterfall is East Fork Falls, about 18.6 miles to the southwest.
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8. Bear Creek Falls
Bear Creek Falls near Ouray is another strong option, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 49 reviews.
Ouray County, CO 81427 (GPS 37.9999, -107.6602)
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Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 49 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 204 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Ouray, about 1.7 miles to the north. The nearest other named waterfall is Cascade Falls, about 1.8 miles to the north.
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9. Silver Cascade Falls
Silver Cascade Falls near Manitou Springs rounds out this stretch of the list, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 25 reviews. Visitors come here for views, hike, and waterfall.
El Paso County, CO 80906 (GPS 38.7867, -104.9063)
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Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 25 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 71 photos of it on Google Maps. Reviewers mention "views", "hike", and "waterfall". The nearest town is Manitou Springs, about 5.1 miles to the north. The nearest other named waterfall is Helen Hunt Falls, about 0.2 miles to the northeast.
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10. Cascade Falls
Cascade Falls in Ouray rounds out this stretch of the list, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 18 reviews.
Ouray County, CO 81427 (GPS 38.0262, -107.6644)
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Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 18 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 59 photos of it on Google Maps. It is right in Ouray. The nearest other named waterfall is Bear Creek Falls, about 1.8 miles to the south.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best hidden gem waterfall in Colorado?
Timberline Falls tops our 2026 list. Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 21 Google reviews. It is near Estes Park in Larimer County.
How many hidden gem waterfalls are in Colorado?
19 of the 82 waterfalls we track in Colorado qualify. This page ranks the top 10; every waterfall in the state is on the Colorado waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We took the 19 publicly accessible Colorado waterfalls rated 4.6 stars or higher on Google by between 5 and 75 reviewers, then ranked them by a weighted rating that gives more credit to ratings backed by more reviews.
Which counties are they in?
The 10 on this list are in Larimer County, Pitkin County, Garfield County, Ouray County, and El Paso County.
More Colorado Waterfalls by Type
- 9 Best Historic Waterfalls in Colorado 2026
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- 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Colorado
- 5 Most Visited Waterfalls in Colorado
- 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Colorado
Or browse every type on the hidden gem waterfalls by state page and the waterfall types hub.