Shelf Creek Falls is a waterfall hidden within the races of Shelf Creek in Rocky Mountain National Park. This waterfall is not marked on maps, but can be found along the hike up to Shelf Lake, a demanding hike on an unmaintained trail in Glacier Gorge. Because this hike is off-the-beaten-path, it is recommended only for those who have a familiarity with Rocky Mountain National Park and who have honed their skills in backcountry travel. See the full trail profile for Shelf Lake for details.
Note: Rocky Mountain National Park now requires timed entry permits from May 27th through October 10th. See the RMNP permits page for more information.
Trail Snapshot: Shelf Creek Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park
Hike Distance | Approx 9 miles Round Trip |
---|---|
Difficulty | Difficult |
Trail Type | Out and Back |
Seasons | Summer-September |
Dogs | Prohibited in RMNP |
Hike Trail Map | National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map |
Denver Drive Time | 2 hr |
Driving Directions | Click for Google Map |
Town Nearest Hike | Estes Park, Colorado |
Beauty | Waterfalls, wildlife: elk, deer, marmots; meadows, lakes, streams, wildflowers |
Activities | Hiking, photography, fishing |
Fee | Park Pass Required |
Shelf Creek Falls can be seen in the distance from the trail along Glacier Creek, after leaving Jewel Lake, at approximately 1/4 mile past the Glacier Gorge Campsite/Black Lake signpost. Different segments of the falls, like on the one pictured below, can be seen along the unmaintained trail that leads up to Shelf Lake and Shelf Falls. For a more detailed description of the hike to this area, see the trail profile for Shelf Lake.
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Map & Driving Directions
Click for Driving Directions
Aaron Johnson has been hiking in Colorado for over 20 years. The owner and editor of Dayhikes Near Denver, Aaron writes every trail profile as a local guide who has hiked hundreds of miles of trails along the Front Range and deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.