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Horsetooth Falls

📍 Fort Collins, CO🥾 2.2 mi round trip · easy🎟 Larimer County park entrance/parking permit required

Easy 2.2-mile round-trip waterfall hike requiring a Larimer County park permit, with seasonal flow that may dry by late summer.

DirectionsOfficial site

Getting there

easy2.2 mi round tripDog-friendly

Larimer County park entrance/parking permit required

Conditions

Loading current conditions…

Based on this listing's approximate location — see the note on coordinates below.

Flow / best time to visit (official)

Flow is seasonal and snowmelt-dependent; the falls run most reliably in spring and can dry to a trickle or stop by late summer (per Larimer County / Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) trail description).

Our take

Horsetooth Falls is an easy 2.2-mile round-trip hike in Fort Collins’ Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, accessed via Larimer County Natural Resources. The trail climbs through ponderosa pine forest to a moderate waterfall fed by snowmelt.

A Larimer County park entrance permit is required. Flow is highly seasonal and snowmelt-dependent, running most reliably in spring and potentially drying to nothing by late summer. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed.

Best visited April through June when spring snowmelt feeds the most reliable flow.

Planning your visit

Best time to go

Best visited April through June when snowmelt feeds reliable flow; the falls run most reliably in spring and can dry to a trickle or stop entirely by late summer.

How long to budget

1 to 2 hours

What to bring

  • Larimer County park entrance/parking permit (check larimer.gov for pricing and options)
  • Water (high-country exposure in places)

Who it suits

Good for

  • Front Range day hikers
  • Fort Collins area residents
  • Spring waterfall viewing

Skip it if

Flow is seasonal and snowmelt-dependent; late-summer visits may find minimal or no water flowing.

Common questions

Is there a fee to visit Horsetooth Falls?

Larimer County park entrance/parking permit required

How do I get to Horsetooth Falls?

Via a 2.2-mile round-trip trail rated easy by the managing agency.

Can I bring my dog to Horsetooth Falls?

Yes, per the managing agency's own page — but check current leash rules before you go.

Other waterfalls near Fort Collins

There are 3 other waterfalls we track in Larimer County. All Colorado Front Range waterfalls →

Quick facts

HeightNot published
Trail2.2 mi round trip
Difficultyeasy
Fee / permitLarimer County park entrance/parking permit required
Managing agencyLarimer County Natural Resources — Horsetooth Mountain Open Space
DogsAllowed
SwimmingNot published
ADA accessNot published
CountyLarimer County
RegionColorado Front Range
Official pageView source ↗

Directions

Open in Google Maps ↗

Source

larimer.gov

Larimer.gov official Horsetooth Mountain Open Space page confirms location, leashed-dogs rule, and entrance-permit requirement. COTREX — the state of Colorado's official trail database (trails.colorado.gov), trail manager listed as Larimer County Natural Resources — records the Horsetooth Falls Trail itself at 1.2 mi (182 ft gain); the commonly used out-and-back figure to the falls and back is used here. Checked Sept 2026.

Checked September 2026.