Adams Falls

The hike to Adams Falls is one of a handful of hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park that is accessible outside of the entrances and does not require a national parks pass. This short out-and-back loop comes in just under a mile round trip and is a quick detour to take the family for a lunch break.

The trail starts at the East Inlet Trailhead parking lot, which offers free public parking. From the parking lot, you'll head up the East Inlet Trail 0.3 miles before the Adams Falls loop begins. There is an immediate stone-built viewing platform looking up the river at the falls.

As you continue up the loop trail, you gain slight elevation as you enter into a wooded area. Here the river wraps around a calm bend. There are areas where you can walk right up to where you'll get more views looking down the river. This is a great spot to relax in the shade before heading back to the parking lot.

The rest of the hike is a slight uphill before a straight shot back to the trailhead that should take no more than 10 minutes. A quick detour from the main road combined with an even shorter hike to a waterfall viewpoint makes this a perfect option for anyone looking for a brief getaway.