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Maxwell Falls

Friends of Maxwell Falls · Evergreen, CO

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Maxwell Falls

A tiered waterfall on Maxwell Creek in the Arapaho National Forest, a few miles south of Evergreen, Colorado, and about 45 minutes from Denver.

Open.

Day use only. No entry between sunset and sunrise. No camping, no campfires.
Fire: Stage 1 fire restrictions in effect through December 31, 2026. No charcoal grills; gas or liquid-fuel stoves are OK.
Shooting: Recreational shooting is prohibited under Forest Service Order 02-10-00-25-02, in effect until rescinded.

Rules last checked September 2026. Current conditions

Maxwell Falls in spring runoff, white water cascading over tiered granite ledges among fresh green willows
Maxwell Falls in early June, near peak spring flow.

A waterfall hike in the forest above Evergreen

Maxwell Falls is a tiered waterfall on Maxwell Creek, in a canyon of lodgepole and ponderosa pine a few miles south of downtown Evergreen. It sits on National Forest land, costs nothing to visit, and is about 45–50 minutes from Denver. You can reach it two ways. The upper trailhead gets you there in a short walk; the lower one is a longer, hillier hike.

We’re the Friends of Maxwell Falls, a few neighbors who live down the road, and we keep this guide current. When a rule matters, we link to the Forest Service page it comes from.

Know before you go

Distance

1.1 or 3.4 mi

Round trip to the falls from the upper or lower trailhead. Compare routes

Climb

~260 or ~850 ft

Upper: all of it on the walk back. Lower: up, down, then up again. Route details

Time

30–45 min or 1.5–2 h

Moving time plus a short stop; allow more with kids. Plan your hike

Parking

Free, small lots

About 15 cars each, plus a lower overflow lot. They fill fast on summer weekends. Road parking only where legal, fully past the white line. Trailheads

Dogs

Hand-held leash

Forest Service rule and county law (fines up to $1,000). Pack out every bag; never leave one at the trailhead. Rules

Facilities

None

No restrooms, no water and no trash service at any trailhead. Pack out everything, dog bags included. Safety

Choose your route

The short walk from the upper lot

About 0.6 miles each way from the upper trailhead. The trail drops gently through the trees to the falls, which means the easy half comes first and the climb (about 260 ft) waits for the walk back to the car. Most families and first-timers start here.

Upper Maxwell Falls

The longer hike from the lower lot

About 1.7 miles each way from the lower trailhead, with roughly 850 ft of total climbing round trip. The trail climbs to a saddle, drops to a footbridge over Maxwell Creek, then follows the creek up to the falls.

Lower Maxwell Falls

The Cliff Loop

This side loop climbs past rock outcrops and an overlook before dropping back to the creek near the falls. About 2.4 miles from the upper trailhead, or about 4.5 miles as a loop from the lower trailhead.

Cliff Loop
Route Distance Climb Est. time Difficulty Start
Upper trail to the falls (out and back) 0.6 mi one way / 1.1 mi RT ~260 ft, all on the return 30–45 min Easy, with a steady climb back out Upper trailhead
Lower trail to the falls (out and back) 1.7 mi one way / 3.4 mi RT ~850 ft RT 1.5–2 h Moderate Lower trailhead
Lower trailhead loop with the Cliff Loop 4.5 mi loop ~1,150 ft 2–2.5 h Moderate, short steep pitches Lower trailhead
Cliff Loop from the upper trailhead 2.4 mi loop ~580 ft 1–1.5 h Moderate, short steep pitches Upper trailhead
Full trail, one way (two-car shuttle) 2.25 mi one way Uphill direction ~890 ft; downhill direction ~240 ft 1–1.5 h Moderate Either trailhead, car at the other
Road between the lots (not recommended on foot) 2.8 mi one way ~710 ft walking up from the lower lot About 1 h, in traffic Not a hiking route See the road warning

Distances follow OpenStreetMap trail lines (© OpenStreetMap contributors); climb comes from USGS 3DEP 1 m lidar and is good to about 10–15%. Times are moving time plus a short stop at the falls. How we measured

Two trailheads, two small lots

Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Trail signs are few: photograph the trailhead map before you start.

The lower trailhead is on South Brook Forest Road, about 3.6 miles from Highway 73. The upper trailhead is off Black Mountain Drive, about 2.8 miles farther by car. Both lots are small and free (about 15 cars each), with no restrooms and no water, and there’s no trash service at any trailhead. They fill fast on busy summer days, especially weekends and holidays. The lower trailhead has an overflow lot, and you can park along Brook Forest Road where it’s legal and safe, with the car completely past the white edge line (Colorado law). Parking details.

Directions to both trailheads

Please don't walk the road between trailheads.

It’s 2.8 miles on Brook Forest Road and the connecting roads, with no sidewalk or shoulder along much of it, 25–30 mph traffic on blind curves, and spotty cell data. Hike out and back, set up a two-car shuttle, or pick a loop that returns to your own car. Why this matters

What to expect by season

Late spring and early summer bring the best water. Snowmelt peaks and the falls run at their fullest.

Summer weekends are busy. Flow drops as the season goes on, and afternoon thunderstorms are routine.

By fall the falls are down to a trickle, but the trails are quieter and the aspens along the Cliff Loop turn in late September.

In winter the falls often freeze, and the trail is usually snowy or icy from December into spring. Bring microspikes.

When to visit

The four notes that matter most

These have been on the site since 2018. Nothing we’ve learned since has knocked them off the top of the list.

Dogs on the trail

The Forest Service requires dogs to be on a hand-held leash here. Bring water for your dog and carry every waste bag back out. A bag left at the trailhead “for later” is still there a week later, and the neighbors notice. Dog rules

Pack it out

There is no trash service at any Maxwell Falls trailhead: no cans and no pickup. Everything you bring in, including dog bags, orange peels and wet wipes, goes home with you.

Stay on the trail

Social trails braid through the canyon, and off-trail ground near the falls and the cliffs is steep, with loose rock and soil. Stick to the signed trail. It’s safer, and the hillsides stay put.

Be prepared

Mountain weather turns fast, and a sunny start can end in hail or snow. Wear layers. Carry water and a snack, even on the short walk.

All rules

Day use only

The Forest Service order for Maxwell Falls and nearby Cub Creek Trail makes this a day-use area: no camping, no campfires, and no one in the area between sunset and sunrise. Stage 1 fire restrictions also apply through December 31, 2026 (no charcoal grills; gas or liquid-fuel stoves are OK), and recreational shooting is prohibited under a permanent Forest Service order. Read the rules and the reasons behind them.

If the lot is full

Both trailheads have small, free lots that fill fast on busy summer days, especially weekends and holidays. The lower main lot holds fewer than 18 vehicles and its overflow lot beside the road about 15 to 20. The upper lot holds about 15, with a little roadside parking on Black Mountain Drive below it. If there’s no space:

  • Park on the road only where it’s legal and safe. Parking along Brook Forest Road is allowed where it’s sensible, safe and not signed “No Parking.” Those signs mark the stretches where the shoulder is too narrow. Both tires on the road side must be completely off the road, past the white painted edge line: Colorado law bars parking on the main-traveled part of a highway, and the “roadway” doesn’t include the shoulder. Never block a travel lane or a driveway (Jefferson County parking rules).
  • Expect tickets on busy days. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office enforces parking here, and neighbors see cars ticketed most crowded weekends.
  • Try the other trailhead, about 2.8 miles away by car. See Trailheads and parking.
  • Come back before 8 a.m. or on a weekday. Either one makes a big difference.
  • Hike somewhere else. Evergreen has good alternatives, and Jefferson County Open Space posts live parking levels for its parks. See Hikes near Evergreen.

Questions visitors ask

How long is the hike to Maxwell Falls?

From the upper trailhead it's about 1.1 miles round trip; from the lower trailhead it's about 3.4 miles round trip. See the route comparison for climb and time.

Which trailhead is better?

The upper trailhead is shorter and easier for kids, but you climb back out at the end. The lower trailhead is a real hike with more variety. Compare them.

Is there a fee or a permit?

No. Parking and the trail are free, and no reservation is needed. Trailhead details.

Are dogs allowed?

Yes, on a hand-held leash, per the Forest Service. Dog rules.

Can I camp or have a fire?

No. Maxwell Falls is day use only, with no camping and no campfires. Under the Stage 1 fire restrictions that run through December 31, 2026, a gas or liquid-fuel stove is OK and a charcoal grill is not. Rules.

All questions

Make a day of it

Who made this guide

Friends of Maxwell Falls is a partnership of AlphaPixel, Wild Iris Marketing and Evergroove Studio, neighbors who first put this site up in 2017 so visitors could find the falls and leave them as they found them. For updates and photos between visits, follow us on Facebook. About us and our sources.

Sources