soldier canyon falls lory state park header

Soldier Canyon Falls Hike in Lory State Park

Soldier Canyon Falls in Lory State Park is a seasonal waterfall located just a few minutes from the trailhead. Just 25 minutes from Fort Collins, this makes for a pleasant afternoon hike and because Lory State Park has over 20 miles of hiking trails, hikers can easily add additional hikes to their day trip. Explore the full Soldier Canyon Falls hike profile below for trail map, driving directions, and more tips and details to help you enjoy this adventure in Lory State Park.

Trail Snapshot: Soldier Canyon Falls Trail in Lory State Park

Parking & Trailhead Information for Soldier Canyon Falls Hike

Lory State Park is located about 10 miles West of Downtown Fort Collins, Colorado. To get to the Lory State Park follow the US 287 (from either I-25 or from Northern Ft. Collins to Laporte. Continue west and then turn left onto Rist Canyon Road, and another left onto County Road 23. Drive a little further to take a right onto County Road 25G. County Road 25G leads to the entrance of Lory State Park. The trailhead for the waterfall trail is found at the Timber Group Picnic area where there are both restrooms and parking. This is just past the entrance off of Lodgepole road (follow park signage). As always, be sure to check current road conditions and alerts before traveling.

The Hike: Soldier Canyon Falls Hike

Soldier Canyon occupies most of the northern part of Lory State Park and is just a tenth of a mile from the trailhead. Hikers can pick up the Waterfall Trail behind the picnic shelter. The trail to Soldier Canyon Falls enters a riparian zone covered by massive cottonwood trees. It then crosses a total of three bridges that criss-cross over a Soldier Canyon Creek, then climbs a few steps to arrive at the waterfall's pool. There is also a quaint cascade viewable from the second bridge. Because this is a seasonal drainage, the best time to view the waterfall is in the Spring and early Summer when the meltwater is flowing.

waterfall in canyon with bridge in foreground fish creek falls waterfall in colorado

Tips & Resources for Hiking Soldier Canyon Falls Hike

Weather

Map & Driving Directions


Click for Driving Directions

baby mountain goat on mount evans colorado more easy hikes

above bear lake in rmnp looking to glacier gorge colorado hike finder