Walking through the verdant valley, with wildflowers and the aspens towering was incredible, Multiple environments like meadows, swampy areas, rock faces, groves of aspens, and ultimately, the rocky waterfall made the ups & downs in the second half worth it, although the flies were a bit extreme (don’t stop for more than 30 seconds once you’ve hit halfway, or they start biting!). The falls are beautiful, yet very busy. Are drones going to become the Colorado State Bird?

Pro tip: do not attempt the drive to the trailhead in anything less than an SUV, else your suspension and undercarriage are going to be pushed to their limits. Very, very rocky road for 11 miles from highway to trailhead.