What makes North Clear Creek Falls special
North Clear Creek Falls is a waterfall in Hinsdale County, Colorado, in the Rio Grande National Forest. North Clear Creek is a tributary of the Rio Grande, and the fall drops over a deck of Nelson Mountain tuff: solidified ash from a volcano in the San Juan volcanic field that erupted about 27 million years ago. The rock under the water is the story here, as much as the water itself.
The setting is high San Juan country, where the creek runs through volcanic rock laid down in a single ancient eruption. The fall is a window into that eruption: the tuff deck is the cooled ash of a volcano that blew apart millions of years before the creek ever ran over it.
Its neighbours are close. South Clear Creek Falls is 1.7 miles away, Argenta Falls 12.4 miles away and Crooke Falls 14.4 miles away, so the Clear Creek valley holds more than one fall within a short drive.
Source: Wikipedia
Geology and background
The fall flows over Nelson Mountain tuff, solidified ash from a volcano in the San Juan volcanic field that erupted about 27 million years ago. Tuff is ash that fell hot and welded itself into solid rock, and the deck it forms here is the floor the creek runs over before it drops. The fall is, in effect, water running over the remains of an ancient eruption.
Plan your visit
Getting there and parking
- GPS: 37.8494833, -107.1504554 — Get directions
Navigate by coordinates rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream. Download an offline map before you lose signal: this is high mountain country, and signal is not guaranteed.
Best time and crowds
No stream gauge is linked to North Clear Creek Falls, so recent rain is your best guide. Expect the most water in spring and early summer, when the mountain snow is melting, and after heavy rain. In a dry spell, especially late summer and early fall, the same fall can look half the size.
This is a quieter fall than the famous ones in Colorado, and it is unlikely to be crowded. Even so, an early start is the best way to have the viewpoint to yourself.
Safety
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury. Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle. Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs. Mountain weather changes fast: leave if a storm builds.
What to bring
- Shoes with real grip
- A rain shell for the spray
- Water and a snack
- An offline map or screenshot
- A dry bag for your phone
- A bag to pack out trash
Practical tips
- Pair it with South Clear Creek Falls, 1.7 miles away.
- Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town: signal is thin out here.
- Look at the rock under the water: the tuff deck is 27-million-year-old volcanic ash.
- Go in spring or early summer, when the snowmelt is running.
Keep exploring
- More waterfalls in Colorado
- Explore Colorado waterfalls
- South Clear Creek Falls (1.7 mi away)
- Argenta Falls (12.4 mi away)
- Crooke Falls (14.4 mi away)
- Explore the map
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