Name: Lower Cataract Loop Trail
Rating: 4.0

Toolbox

Save to Apple Watch
Plan in onX Backcountry

Driving directions
Download GPX File

Know This Trail?

Upload a photo

Dogs Leashed

Need to Know

Stream wading is not encouraged in the Eagles Nest Wilderness.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Office - Clear Creek Ranger District

Shared By:

R W with improvements by Kelley Dearing

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.0 from 7 votes

#1

in Heeney

#11371

Overall

4.0 from 7 votes

5 Star		43%
4 Star		29%
3 Star		14%
2 Star		14%
1 Star		0%

Trail Rankings

#1

in Heeney

#964

in Colorado

#11,371

Overall

4 Views Last Month

727 Since May 21, 2018

		13%
		13%
		75%
		0%
		0%
		0%

Add a Photo

Photos

Waterfalls were so loud, even a 1/2 mile away!

Jun 15, 2022 near Vail, CO

Jul 27, 2019 near Vail, CO

1 Comment

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 69 days ago

Update Conditions See History

Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Jul 5, 2024

Brooks Tellekamp

Rocky singletrack on north side of lake 2.1mi

Jul 4, 2024

Dmitry S

Aug 13, 2022

Kristy Slibsager

Jun 15, 2022

Paul Gallaher

Trail is in good shape. A few stretches of mud that are easy to get past. Some small stretches could use a machete just to whack back the vegetation. 2.5mi — 1h 15m

Sep 17, 2020

Tracey Ziniel

Aug 28, 2020

Joe Harrington

Aug 5, 2020

Darcy L

Great for families and beautiful.

Jun 27, 2020

Bill Felsher

May 21, 2020

Rich Mirabella

climb a waterfall

Sep 14, 2019

Tim L

2.4mi — 1h 25m

Jul 3, 2019

Travis Lent

Easy stroll around a beautiful lake with large waterfall and cascades. 3mi — 1h 22m

Jun 1, 2019

Mark Stratton

Flowers are not out yet and still a little muddy in parts 2.2mi — 10h 00m

Aug 2, 2018

Atc20

Nearby Recommended Routes

Final descent to Upper Cataract Lake with Eagles Nest looming in the distance.

Long Eaglesmere - Upper Cateract - Surprise Lake Loop

25.3 mi 40.8 km • 4,232' Up 1289.84 m Up • 4,424' Down 1348.56 m Down

Vail, CO

Deluge Lake

9.2 mi 14.8 km • 3,390' Up 1033.27 m Up • 3,391' Down 1033.53 m Down

Vail, CO

Gore Creek Day Hike

3.6 mi 5.8 km • 735' Up 224.1 m Up • 735' Down 224.06 m Down

Vail, CO

Two Elk Trail

10.0 mi 16.0 km • 1,825' Up 556.19 m Up • 2,927' Down 892.21 m Down

Vail, CO

270 degree view from Ptarmigan Point (so named here). A real must see!

Top of Vail Tour

3.8 mi 6.1 km • 744' Up 226.92 m Up • 731' Down 222.66 m Down

Vail, CO

Meadow Mountain Loop

10.3 mi 16.7 km • 2,076' Up 632.85 m Up • 2,076' Down 632.64 m Down

Minturn, CO

Your Rating:
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites:	Add To-Do · Your List

Lower Cataract Loop Trail

“Hike through old growth to view Cataract Falls. ”

2.1

3.4

Point to Point

8,755' 2,669 m

8,642' 2,634 m

169' 52 m

103' 32 m

2%

6%

Toolbox

Know This Trail?

Dogs Leashed

Need to Know

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#1

#11371

#1

#964

#11,371

Photos

1 Comment

Comment Type:

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Long Eaglesmere - Upper Cateract - Surprise Lake Loop

Deluge Lake

Gore Creek Day Hike

Two Elk Trail

Top of Vail Tour

Meadow Mountain Loop

Join the Community! It's FREE