Anne-Marie Falls is a 3.2 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Cripple Creek, Colorado that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
This trail starts at the very end of the Crags road. Park in the parking lot at the end. The falls may either be accessed via the ring the peak trail or following the old roads on the former private property. The trail goes up and over a small ridge and drops down into a valley on the other side. After three creek crossings the ring the peak trail begins to ascend again. There is a nice camp site between the first and second creek crossings. At the first right hand switchback leave the ring the peak trail and follow an old road bed. There is a forest service sign labeled 704. A short ways after leaving the trail you will reach the creek again at the base of the falls. If you want to explore higher the terrain on the far (climber's left) side of the falls is easier. The falls are quite a bit more interesting in the spring. In fall the flow is much lower but still worth the visit.
January 4, 2021
January 2, 2021This was a much more challenging hike than expected. We followed the trail up to the rocks at the top, about 1 mile then back down. I’m not sure where the loop is at. It is kind of confusing. Stunning views at the top of the trail. It was a steady climb the whole way up. Spikes would be nice as it is snow packed. But the trail is easy to follow. We did see others take off down an old road as well. That direction was much more heavily trafficked.
November 26, 202011/26/2020- Love this little hike.. definitely more challenging with snow and not having microspikes yet. Poles and gaiters would have been nice to have too. Still acquiring all our gear. We had the place to ourselves on Thanksgiving morning! Set out at 9am and got back at 11. Still were no other cars at trailhead upon return.
November 7, 2020October 14, 2020October 7, 2020Tried to hike to Anne-Marie Falls Oct 2nd. Started at the end of Crags Road. The trail is to the right by the meadow. DO NOT go up the road to the left...private property. There were several switchbacks, thought trail was more moderate than easy. Found the 704 sign at the bottom and again up the trail. No sign for Anne-Marie Falls. The trail spilt to the right at the second 704 sign. Found out later Anne-Marie Falls went left, but the wide trail was covered with logs. it looked like it was closed. Continued up hill and a hiker told us we were heading towards horsethief trail and Hwy 67. Turned around. A 3.2 mile hike turned into 7.7 miles. Beautiful trail. Will hike it again now that we know where we are going.
October 5, 2020Easy trail, beautiful vistas, great for dogs, tons of wildlife. You can get the trail done in about 3 hours but we were taking our time. The only reason we didn’t give a full 5 stars is there are no markings for this trail. For Non-Pro Members, you follow the Ring the Peak trail for quite a ways (following the loop counter-clockwise) until you get to the sign labeled 704. Go left and you’re very close to the falls. Then, DON’T FORGET to backtrack to the big valley to get back on the main trail. When you get to the big dirt road with multiple “No Trespassing” signs, go downhill (right) and you’ll eventually come to a metal gate with a sign reading “Carters” on a tree. Go left back up the main road to the parking lot. Hope this helps! :)
October 4, 2020Nice, easy trail...needed All Trails map for guidance related to loop.
October 4, 2020September 22, 2020Nice easy trail. Can get confusing if you don’t follow the directions stated above.
September 20, 2020September 20, 2020September 12, 2020September 7, 2020August 29, 2020Gorgeous
August 16, 2020July 29, 2020do not follow the loop as it puts you on a private property road. which we did not know until we were almost done
July 25, 2020Terrific hike. Not too hard. Got there early - 7:30am’ish not too busy but as we were on the way out around 9 is was getting busy. The road into the trailhead is a skinny dirt road that you follow all the way to the end.
July 23, 2020google maps doesnt actually take you far enough. when you get on the dirt road take it until it dead ends in a "lot". its circular. you'll pass crags and a further down a private drive on the left. keep right and go around the corner maybe an eighth of a mile. that's the trailhead parking
July 12, 2020If you drive all the way to the end of Crags Rd you will see a little parking area with a 704 sign to your right. If you follow the directions listed above you will stumble upon the falls with no issues. It was a great hike.. especially for an east coaster trying to get used to the elevation differences. Would love to do it again!
April 26, 2020September 26, 2019Loved this hike! We took our 3 and 5 year olds and they did great as well. Follow the Ring the Peak signs carefully and you’ll get to the right spot. Once you see the sign for 704, follow the wide trial behind the sign and it takes you right to the falls. We brought extra shoes for the kids to play in the stream crossings. One of our favorite longer family hikes!
September 22, 2019Nice gentle hike. You access the trailhead from the Crags road. Bumpy but any 2 wheel drive car can make it. The falls were really pretty. Just a note the falls are named Harvey T Carter Falls in the Colorado Waterfalls book.
September 11, 2019I would give this at least a four possible a five if the map was correct. You CANNOT go the way it says. It’s all private property. You need to take the Forrest service trail at the parking spot to the right. It takes you off course according to all trails but it gets you there. Beautiful trail down into it. Had this been a bit better map I wouldn’t have brought my senior dog. It’s steep and rough for awhile. Please fix the map to reflect the proper trail.
August 5, 2019The button that provided directions using Apple Maps took us to a trailhead but no signs showed a path to the Falls. It was more moderate than easy as there are long inclined and often small trails. The biggest disappointment was about a mile in where we hit a privacy fence. There were no signs about trespassing or that is was park land and to continue so out 2.8 mile hike to Ann Falls ended at the creek. Nice shade most of the walk.
July 13, 2019Beautiful trail! We did RTP up and the forest road down.
February 11, 2019Decent amount of people out on this trail snowshoeing. Add an additional 2 or so miles to this hike (both directions) in the winter as the trail is gated off. Pregnant wife and a 18 month old and 3 dogs — we only made it back about 3 miles before turning back. Well be back in the summer for sure!
July 30, 2018Take Cragg’s Trail Rd to its end. At the end of the road, start at the trail head in the right (part of the Ring the Peaks trail system). It will wind around and join into the Anne Marie Falls Trail (making it essentially a reverse-lollipop Trail). When it joins the AMF trail, turn right to go to the falls. To return, retrace your steps back down to where the trails joined. Take the right (AMF trail). You will walk on an old roadway and go by the remnants of the old cabin. You will also cross a downed fence across the road. You will eventually end up back at the road where you started.
July 27, 2018Directions are great, but it is about 4.8 miles total. One of our favorite hikes! I would rate it as easy-moderate. We did not encounter the barbwire fence mentioned previously. Watch the trail carefully so that you don't get off track. Make sure you watch for the trail to curve first to the left, then about a third of the way up, it goes off to the right.
July 20, 2018The trail map is inaccurate and there is barbwire fence at the trail head. You have to take Ring the Peak trail (not shown on All Trails) which connects to this one, but as you complete the loop you end up on the wrong side of a barbwire fence with Keep Out signs.
