I had an awesome time visiting box canyon waterfall while in Ouray! I came with my husband and toddler children. They absolutely loved it! Great for all ages. The waterfall was a lot bigger than I thought it would be. It was super loud inside of the canon which made it all the more exciting. Check out both the lower and upper box canon falls trails. The lower falls trail gets very close to the waterfall, we were getting wet from the spray we were so close. The upper trail has a great view of Ouray and a fun bridge to cross that leads into a tunnel. It is $7 for each adult, but super seniors, military, and children under 4 are free! No dogs allowed in the park. I don't think the dogs would want to come anyway with the metal bridges and aggressively loud waterfall. If you are in Ouray in the summertime this needs to be on your itinerary! read more

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Truly magnificent. The lower trail is easy for all levels, it has stable footing and minimal elevation changes, yet still offers beautiful views of the creek, and waterfalls along steel walkways and short trail. There are also stairs to near bottom of the waterfall. The high bridge trail is much more challenging, although one can opt to only climb the stair portion for a better view of Ouray and a little cardio. At the top of the stairs there is a small shelter, if you're feeling the altitude at this point it's a good idea not to continue further, as the trail continues to climb and there are no stairs/structure. There is a cable above the trail in sections for stability, and cables below some sections for safety. I'd guess the top of the stairs is a little less than half way to the high bridge. The bridge is a very sturdy structure, over a steep narrow gorge, the views of Box Cañon, the creek, waterfall, and town below are breathtaking. There is a hallway-like tunnel on the far side of the bridge, which is part of the perimeter trail. It's low in some spots but walkable, and offers some shade and cooling after the climb. The trail was drub when we went, it would be significantly more challenging/difficult with any moisture or icy conditions. read more

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This was absolutely amazing! A must see! Just a short walk up to them. Parking can be limited. read more

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Awesome place and well worth the cheap entrance fee. The waterfall is pretty amazing . The experience of walking through the and getting up close to it is truly amazing. read more

Wear the right shoes, be prepared to climb steps, over steep rocks and back down them. Worth it though! I do recommend bringing water to stay hydrated and have a first aid kit in case you fall like I did. I'm good just remember rocks bite. The cost is low to visit and there is a small gift shop. Restrooms located inside. This is not a place you can bring your dogs and it might be kind of dangerous. read more

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An amazing visit was had by my entire family (Mom, Dad and two boys (16 and 12)). The hike is minimal, but the views are outstanding. Start with the lower section and make sure you go down the stairs to explore the bottom of the Falls. Then... take the additional hike up to the overlook and stare down the canyon. Quite the view (I am told this, as the wife and I sat on a picnic bench and let the boys have that adventure as brothers). There is also a tunnel across the top overlook that is a remnant of a failed town water project. Not sure if you can go through the tunnel, but interesting none the less. read more

Very interesting waterfall and park. Easy to access and a clean environment. We enjoyed the view from the platform. Great level of area and site history in the lobby. read more

The falls were great and I recommend seeing the, but the man selling the tickets was the absolute worst!

Great experience to hike and see a waterfall. The initial hike to the waterfall is very short and easy. They have another trail that I strongly recommend taking that starts with stairs and leads to a bunch of nice views and even a tunnel. In the beginning, there are several friendly chipmunks that aren't afraid of humans. The waterfalls was very loud due to the echo of the canyon. Only thing I was shocked to see was them charging $7 per person that wanted to see it! read more

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Definitely worth the $7 per person. Really pretty waterfall in a cave. We came at the beginning of June and the water falling was super aggressive!! A short steep hike up to the bridge and small cave as well. Very pretty! read more

Bottom Line: A $5 entrance fee allows visitors to see the Box Canyon Waterfall up close and to climb up to the high bridge to get views of the canyon and Ouray. My husband and I visited the Box Canyon in early October. Box Canyon, or Box Canon with a tilde over the first n, is a park offering a few short trails. The most popular trail is a paved path that leads into the box canyon and from there you can even take a stair case down to the bottom of the canyon to get an alternate view of the falls. The second most popular trail is the High Bridge Trail. The High Bridge Trail is only about 1/4 mile but you climb the entire way first via stairs and then via rocky terrain. The high bridge is 8,100 feet above sea level and offers wonderful views of the box canyon and the town or Ouray. We also enjoyed being able to see Cascade Falls on the other side of town. My husband and I also walked the short, flat native plant loop trail. Overall, I think we were at the park about 45 minutes. The high bridge and the adjacent tunnel, both part of the Ouray Perimeter Trail, were originally built about 100 years ago to carry a water pipeline. The tunnel has some remnants of the water pipeline in it. We briefly stopped in the Nature Center. The staff was friendly and helpful. I don't think its advertised, but if you are hiking the Perimeter Trail you will be hiking over the high bridge so essentially you could hike in and not pay the entrance fee. Of course it's hard work to hike to the canyon on the Perimeter Trail so the $5 for easy access and to generally support the park is well worth it. read more

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Worth the detour to see this powerful waterfall. I have been to some great waterfalls in glens, ravines and canyons but this one really roars. For $5 you can take a short walk to get pretty close to this natural wonder. If you are up for it, usually I am but not today, you can climb about 200' to view the falls from above. That would have been cool. You can drive a short way on a gravel road to get here or walk about a 1/4 mile on a gravel road from the backside of town. The visitor center has a nice display about the history of the waterfall park. read more

Box Canyon Waterfall and Park - Into the abyss - Parks Near Me

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10/10 great time. We did the higher hike and the one straight to the falls. The one straight to it was amazing you definitely need to do that route. read more

Box Canyon Waterfall and Park - Parks Near Me

Box Canyon awesome waterfall pictures of walkway and going down to bottom. $5 dollars to enter, nice hike to bridge at the top read more

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This was a short walk to the beginning entry. There is a small entry fee. The waterfall roars. read more

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I've seen a lot of waterfalls, but this one is quite unique, powering down inside a canyon. And the access via metal walkways gets you close. The town makes a lot of money on the $7 per person fee to access, but they're awfully friendly people charging it. The trail that connects to the perimeter trail is straight up, but does give a good view of town. And the bridge ends in a trail that goes through a tunnel, which is unusual. read more

We have been going to Ray since I was a baby and I am now almost 50. I take my kids every summer and every spring break. This is my absolute favorite place on earth. When other people travel to Ure and ask me for recommendations about where to go box Canyon is always at the top of my list! read more

This trail is the one we were most excited for. Heads up if you're visiting in November. The construction is frustrating around Ouray. We went up and down and all around the mountain and town to figure out entrances and how to get to certain trail points because of the detours. We weren't able to get to box canyon road off million dollar highway. The locals said to try the 3rd ave area by foot near box canyon resort so we're going to try that this week. The museums, bars, food, & stores are all 90% closed as well during the week. The couple that are open are open later in the evening for dinner and then everything is closed just about at 8-9 pm. The tourists center advised that this time of the year is dead and only thing open is basically pools. Another store owner advised that they're short staffed / slow season so they're all closed a decent amount of the week. read more

Box Canyon Waterfall and Park - Box canyon road, construction, closed, detours - Parks Near Me

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Cute little spot here in Ouray, you gotta come see if you're in town. Short hike that takes you up and down to see this unique prehistoric geology and hidden water fall. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. The entrance has a small store and bathroom. This short hike does involve some ascension and descending, safe guard rails most of the time. You can observe a special bird species that is almost extinct that flies here and nests in the canyons by the falls. read more

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This place is breathtaking! My review is rather delayed because we visited Box Canyon Falls last year around July. The fall was running swiftly with much more water passing through per minute than normal according to the local host whom we purchased the tickets from. There is a nice hike you can take as well that provides stunning views around the canyon. If you like nature and appreciate the natural beauty of the world, I highly recommend you drop into see this waterfall and it's surroundings. You might just see a few small critters along the hike too!! read more

Super cool park and stunning views of the waterfall and city of Ouray. Take the time to visit! $7 charge for adults but well worth the money. The roar of the falls, the blue skyline over the canyon and the breathtaking views. 5 stars..... read more

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What a fun trip this has been this is our 4th trip to the beautiful town of Ouray Colorado and this was my first time being able to make the hike through Box Canyon since being out of my cast and fully recovered. It was a beautiful experience from the cute baby chipmunks to the spectacular waterfall and the view of the town of Ouray. It was kind of a rough hike for me since I was out of shape but well worth it and the guy that was inside the visitor center was very kind and hospitable so for anyone visiting Ouray this is a must do hike the views are wonderful but make sure and take lots of water. read more

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You pay $5 entry fee and let me tell you it's worth it!!! We started with the main path which takes you on a fun little walk to death...hahaha I mean a bridge that had me shaking in my boots. Did I mention I was scared of heights and didn't look at reviews before going here. It was so worth the clinging to everything like I was a dang cat. I heard many giggles behind me, sooooo I'm sure there was a free show for some. The view though, my goodness I would do it again. You walk to a waterfall that just takes your breath away. We did each trail and all of them were gorgeous. read more

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NO Dogs Allowed It is a nature reserve and habitat for endangered species. Hike is great read more

If there is one hike you had to do in Ouray, CO, I would recommend this hike mainly because it is short and sweet. The hike to box canyon is designated with a huge "BOX CANYON" sign providing a visual gauge of how much farther to the destination. A view of the whole city surrounded by rocks is quite a sight. Considering the pandemic is still active, there were only a hand full of people on the trail, which I was very grateful to experience. If limited on time I would recommend this hike. Overall, it should be no more than 45 min to an hour round trip. read more

Box Canyon Waterfall and Park - undefined - Parks Near Me

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This was an easy little hike for the family. It was nice to be able to walk right up to the water at the base of the falls. There are awesome panoramic views of Ouray from the upper observation area if you don't mind the 101 stair climb to the top. The stairs and walkways are well maintained - well worth the $5 a person entry fee. There were quite a few people since it's the town's main waterfall attraction but most of them were wearing masks and keeping their distance. read more

Box Canyon Waterfall and Park - Parks Near Me

We parked at the end of 3rd street and walked up the road. Great trails and scenery. Nice lady working. Clean bathrooms. Drinks for purchase as well as small souvenirs. read more

Box Canyon Waterfall and Park - Parks Near Me

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If you haven't been to Box Canyon and checked out the Box Canyon falls, this is something you absolutely Must Do if you are visiting Ouray, CO. The fun for both kids and the adults begins at the entrance when you see the chipmunks that scurry for food and cover in that location. You can't help but want to put one in your pocket to take home! The view of the Lower Falls (from the park's newly upgraded stairs and walkways) is both close up and personal = spectacular indeed!! If you feel like a moderately difficult hike, then you should take the Upper Box Canyon Falls trail. For this trail, I'd recommend good shoes and not flip flops for safe footing, particularly on your young ones. The views from the high bridge are dramatic of both the falls as well as Ouray itself. Very, very cool. When taking the upper trail, this is where the park's wear and lack of maintenance becomes obvious. Missing steps, broken railings and fencing all need to be their next maintenance priority. I didn't feel unsafe, but the Upper Trail needs the love the rest of the park has seen over last few years. Highly recommended! read more

The grounds could be a bit better maintained and I find the ubiquitous chainlink fence and the tired red walkaway and staircase very unsightly. However, the waterfall and canyon itself, once one make the way to the water level, are nothing short of astonishing! The roar of the water, the sheer strength and power of it, the beautiful and colorful river rocks, everything makes the experience wonderful. We were lucky not to have much visitors competition during our post COVID visit, so we had the canyon almost to ourselves most of the visit. We spent quite a bit of time at water's edge, enjoying the cool and moist air, the sounds and sights. We did not see any birds, just an abandoned nest on the canyon side. Maybe we did not know where to look? Overall, despite this being a bit run down, I do think this is worth the entry ticket if you can visit on a slow day. As a bonus they feed small wildlife here so you may see a super fat chipmunk and small migratory birds at the feeder stations. Much fun! read more

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They need to advertise more! A great day trip to Ouray! Amazing views right up to the waterfalls! Beware taking the trail up to the bridge, rocky and not for the faint of heart! read more

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We thoroughly enjoyed the Box Canyon Waterfall and Park! It was just amazing. Far exceeded expectations!! Views were amazing

Box Canyon Falls, STAT! Let me just say, we were in sheer awe of this magnificent raging waterfall tucked nice and tight within the box canyon! It's just a short walk (0.2 miles) from the nature center so mark your hiking box as easy! Once you're there, be sure you go down the stairs to get up close and personal with the falls and feel the cool misty sprays! If you're lucky enough you might spot a Black Swift or two! These rare birds like to call this their summer home and nest along the canyon walls - thunderous water and all! Ok, now make your way up to the bridge (0.4 miles) to the Upper Box Canyon Falls! There's a steep stairway (rated as moderate). Once you're up there be sure to take in all the views! Across the valley you can see the Cascade Falls to the northeast side of Ouray. That semi-circle of cliffs to the right is called the Amphitheater. Way above the Cascade Falls you should be able to spot the tin rooftops of the Ouray Mine! There's also a cool little tunnel at the end of the bridge that pops you out onto the Perimeter trail...which eventually leads you back into town the town of Ouray on Pincrest Street. Overall, this was such an incredibly awesome experience...so what are you waiting for? Get out there! read more

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This was a must stop. $7 for adults. Nice 500 foot walk with about 10-20 step with a railing. This is not a bad hike for someone who is out of shape. This would not be good for someone unable to take the stairs. The views are amazing. I have never seen a waterfall cut thru the mountain like this. Amazing! There is also a loop you take too with mild hills with a nature area. Then there is a look over amphitheater. This is a step stairs with 85 steps up a metal grate stairs - then you walk several more hundred feet with little incline to the over look bride. The bridge is a metal grate. Scary if you have issues with heights. read more

Box Canyon Waterfall and Park - Not the waterfall but the stairs to the amphitheater. The waterfall is a easy walk. Not this bad boy. - Parks Near Me

Nice short hike uphill with wire rails to hold onto in certain places and walk through a tunnel in the mountain to see wildlife and the waterfall. read more

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Super cute park! A must do in ouray. A small park but has an amazing canyon waterfall. It's a quick tour around the park. You can get it done in an hour or less. Definitely check out the bridge up top, sick views of downtown Ouray. A great place for kids as well. read more

Box Canyon Waterfall and Park - Views from the bridge at the top - Parks Near Me

The hike is minimal and literally anyone could do it. The waterfall is amazing! It's so powerful and the temperature change was awesome!

Such a pretty hike up and the falls and canyon are amazing. Tough walking for someone with asthma but worth it!

For me, Box Canyon Falls had some nice features to it and just some okay aspects. It's a real simple place to find located on the outer skirts of the magnificently beautiful town of Ouray, Colorado. It also can be found situated right at the end of amazing "Million Dollar Highway" if you're headed into Ouray. Daily rates are as cheap as they come....$4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $2 for children....a bargain!!! Peak hours and especially during summer times are 8am - 8pm, plenty of opportunities to visit...and the falls and park are easy to reach. I visited in early May of this year and needed 1 hour or so to walk around and explore. There are 2 main sections to Box Canyon Falls. The High Bridge Trail was my favorite area to see. You simply hike up 200 feet, or 1/4 mile one way to a hanging bridge that overlooks all of Ouray! It was beautiful scenery from up there and affords outstanding photo opportunities. For me being afraid of heights....standing on the bridge looking down below was an adventure...but for mostly everyone, it's a great spot to soak up the sights!!! From here crossing the bridge...you can walk through a unique looking tunnel that leads you on a path to the Ouray Perimeter Trail headed in 2 directions. Either route you choose, this trail circulates around the perimeter of Box Canyon Falls and guides you through a quaint walk viewing the natural beauty of surrounding Ouray. After passing through the tunnel, you can decide to turn around and head back towards the bridge retracing your steps back down towards the entrance. The other main section to visit is The Falls Trail. This was pretty unsatisfactory in my opinion. It's a mostly level, easy 500 foot walk on a metal passageway and steps leading into the canyon and the waterfalls. My issue with this was the falls being real average....nothing special or picturesque to see. After exiting the stairway, you can climb on the rocks to try and get unimpeded views of the falls, but ultimately the waterfalls were too dull to make for any type of special moment. Also, the area here by the falls is surrounded and clouded by rocks and limits the amount of visible light. Photographs here were disappointing and I never received the pics I was hoping to achieve. Finally, there is a Native Plant Loop you can walk through. It's just a short stroll through the forest, maybe lasting a 1/2 mile in distance. Like I mentioned earlier, you don't need much time out of your day to discover Box Canyon Falls. Mostly...it is a worthwhile place to visit considering how small of a mountain town Ouray is. The sights atop High Bridge Trail makes this place recommendable. Also, don't forget to spend some time at Ouray Hot Springs on the other side of town....with more wonderful sights to behold. And...strolling around and window shopping downtown Ouray was highlightable. read more

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BREATHTAKINGLY GORGEOUS!!!! A Winter wonderland!! This place was a hidden gem. The weather was gorgeous and there wasn't anybody on the trail. Great trail to hike, wasn't hard at all. So glad I had the opportunity to visit this place!! Highly recommend this spot! Was like Heaven on earth! read more

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Very popular place to visit in Ouray, CO. It is a short drive from the visitor's center up a dirt road and into a parking lot. There is a ticket center at the parking lot with bathrooms, gift shop and canyon info. It is $5 for adults. There a couple different trails to hike from the bottom. -The most popular is the Falls Trail- a short 500 ft mostly level hike into the canyon to see the bottom of the waterfall. You can take stairs from their to the very bottom of the waterfall, but you cannot get into the water, it just takes you into a cave-like area and you have to climb back up the stairs to get out. -The High Bridge Trail- a steep 1/4 mile climb up to the top of the waterfall. It is what I would call strenuous with steep inclines, climbing over rocky areas and narrow paths. If you have heart problems, probably not a good idea. The first part of the trail is climbing a bunch of stairs. To me, the view was disappointing as I thought I would get to see the water falling down the canyon. It is basically a view from on top of the canyon looking at the stream of water. -The Perimeter Trail, which runs into the High Bridge Trail at the top of the canyon by going through a short little cave on the other side of the bridge. -The Native Plant Loop is a short, easy stroll with plant markers to help identify local flora. This is the only trail that does not have steps. It's worth the $5 admission, but come prepared for a workout if you're going to the top. There is a colony of chipmunks that hang out right at the start of the trails for the little kids to enjoy, so even if you don't take the trails, check out the wildlife. There is a board at the ticket office that lists the wildlife seen in the area. read more

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