"Adventures": St Mary’s Falls

St Mary’s Falls is one of the longer and more beautiful waterfalls in the Front Range area of Colorado. (Hiking directions here) Its not a terribly long hike 5-6 miles round trip to the top of falls and back, but it can be a difficult hike. Its steep in spots and requires some scrambling over loose rocks and terrain. It is worth the difficulties though.

Our hike was going to be with some friends of ours Dean and Danny. We have hiked with them frequently. (See out Pikes Peak Adventure). The trail starts in North Cheyenne Canyon and for the most part follows Cheyenne Canyon Creek that makes up the Falls up the mountainside. If you fallow it far enough you will end up in Deep Park and ultimately the top and Almagre mountain.

You can drive to the top of North Cheyenne canyon and park in the lot next to the old section of Gold Camp road or as we did you can park at the Helen Hunt falls lower down in the canyon and hike up past Helen Hunt to St Mary’s Falls. It is said that the creek contains over 33 separate falls over three feet high along its length. I didn’t count to make sure though.

Pictured here is an interesting part of Helen Hunt falls. I think they call it Dead mans falls because so many people go out on the rocks and slip and fall.

From St Marys

Part of the climb from Helen Hunt to Gold Camp road can get a bit steep and treacherous.

From St Marys

Once up to Gold Camp road ( you can see it in the distance across the valley)

From St Marys

You follow the road along to one of told cave-ins that blocked the road years ago.

From St Marys

From this point you have to climb up the side of the cave and off into the woods, following the water ever higher.

All along the way are beautiful little water falls that you can stop by and enjoy.

From St Marys

We stopped and refilled out drinking water by filtering water from the creek into our canteens. The water here is the coldest and best tasting water you are likely to find in the anywhere world.