Ouzel Falls

Ouzel Falls

There may not be a better hike along rushing water in Colorado than this one during the annual spring run-off. There may be better hikes along rushing water than this hike to Ouzel Falls, but I don't know of one! With heavy spring run-off, this hike shows a riot of rampaging water. It is an ideal outing for families since it is neither too long nor too steep. Watch for the falls’ namesake, the water ouzel or dipper, an unusual bird that nests behind the falls and hunts its food underwater. Week 23 is a perfect time for this outing, with wildflowers exploding in a colorful display throughout the Ouzel Burn area. Look especially for fireweed, a strong colonizer after a fire. It has now been nearly a quarter century since the lightning-triggered blaze at Ouzel Lake burned for nearly six weeks over a large area of Wild Basin. Out of the destruction have come fascinating lessons in how forests regenerate themselves.

See all Hiking in Colorado