Cornet Falls, also known as Cornet Creek Falls, is a popular hike in Telluride, CO (about one hour away from Ouray) due to its proximity to town, length of hike, and natural beauty. It is very short but steep and conveniently located in the heart of Telluride. If you’re looking for a quick outing on your visit, this one is perfect.
HIKE TO: Cornet Creek Falls
TRAIL: Unnamed trail
TRAILHEAD: N Aspen St/ W Daktota Ave
MILES: 0.5 miles out and back
TIME: 16 mins
DATE I WENT: 8/1/24
DIFFICULTY: moderate
ELEVATION GAIN: 290 ft
ELEVATION: 9,237 ft
HIKE PERMIT: no
PARKING: street
LOCATION: San Juan Mountains, Colorado
Cornet Falls Trailhead and Parking
The trailhead is on Google Maps but it’s an unmarked trail. It shares the same trailhead as Jud Wiebe Trail and starts at the end of a residential neighborhood. You can find street parking on North Aspen Street near Dakota Ave. Click here for Google Maps trailhead.
Hike to Cornet Creek Falls
Starting at the end of North Aspen Street, head in towards the mountains and you will quickly see a trailhead sign for Jud Wiebe Trail. Ignore the bridge for that trail and continue straight to go to Cornet Falls.
We started this hike at 5:06 pm on a Wednesday in the summer and had the waterfall completely to ourselves, with plenty of light to make it enjoyable. It was a really hot day and even in the early evening, it was still hot for a hike.
The trail follows Cornet Creek the entire way until you reach the red rocks at the end where the waterfall is.
The dirt trail is narrow and I thought it would be slipperier coming down but it wasn’t bad at all. However, I’d still recommend hiking shoes with good traction.
The hike to Cornet Falls reminds me a bit of hiking in a sandstone canyon, even a little like the hike to Hanging Lake in Glenwood Springs — short and uphill through tight and tall walls. Except this hike is much shorter and much more red.
In just 8 mins from the beginning, we arrived at Cornet Falls. It was more beautiful than I imagined. The rock glowed a vibrant red-orange and while the waterfall wasn’t too big, it gave a nice misty splash at the base.
Once you are done enjoying this beautiful waterfall, head out the way you came.
Where to Eat in Telluride
If you are looking to grab a bite in the town of Telluride, I’ve recently explored and have two favorites:
- Bakery goods: Chocolate croissants, homemade pop tart, and cookies.
- Skip the blueberry scone and avocado toast
- Dinner: Esperanza has a delicious carne asada dish. Be warned—the price matches the town ($29) but the portion is huge.
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