HIKE TO: Mystic Falls
MILES: 1.4 mi out-and-back
TIME: 1 hr
DATE I WENT: 6/15/2025
BEST TIME: Spring through Fall
DIFFICULTY: moderately difficult
ELEVATION GAIN/ LOSS: 171 ft
HIKE PERMIT: no
PARKING FEE: no
LOCATION: San Juan Mountains near Telluride, Colorado
What Is Mystic Falls?
Mystic Falls is one of those elusive, off-the-radar waterfalls hidden in the San Juan Mountains just outside of Telluride. You won’t find it on most trail maps, and there’s definitely no flashy sign pointing the way—but if you love a good hidden gem, this one’s for you.
Framed by dramatic canyon walls and dense greenery, the cascading Mystic Falls feels like something out of a dream. But heads up—it’s not an official trail, and it is steep and scrambly.
I’ve included a downloadable GPX track to help guide the way—but please hike at your own risk. The route is unmaintained and can be dangerous.
Where Is Mystic Falls, Colorado?
Mystic Falls is located off Highway 145 in San Miguel County, about 20 minutes from downtown Telluride. You’ll be hiking through a narrow canyon near the Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant, but reaching the trailhead requires a little effort.
🚗 Getting There: To reach the parking area, you’ll need to drive about 10 minutes on a rough 4WD dirt road with large potholes (it was pretty gnarly when I went but my Bronco Sport Badlands did just fine). The parking lot only fits a few cars.
🚶♀️ No 4WD? No problem—you can park down by Ames and hike up the dirt road to reach the trailhead. Just tack on a little extra distance, about 0.4 miles one way. Just be mindful not to park on private property.
📍 Want the exact route? [Download my GPX file here] to follow the road access from Ames plus the trail GPS to both the top and bottom of Mystic Falls.
How to Find the Trail to Mystic Falls
The trail is unofficial, unmarked, and—depending on the season—can be overgrown. But it’s not long, and it is gorgeous.
🗺️Directions from Telluride:
- Drive south on CO-145 toward Ophir/Placerville.
- At about 11 miles from downtown, look for a large pullout on the right side of the highway near the bend and take that sharp u-turn down the dirt road. There’s no signs.
- Continue following the gravel road down towards Ames, and make sure you don’t miss the left turn instead of continuing straight down that road.
- Once you reach Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant, you’re close. Make a left just beyond the plant and continue up the dirt road pass two buildings. When you reach a junction, stay straight/ right—this is where the big rutted potholes are but the parking lot is just around the corner from it.
Mystic Falls Trail Report
You’ll see a waterfall right from the parking lot—but spoiler: that’s not Mystic Falls.
The actual trail starts on a clear dirt path and quickly veers to the right through a brushy section that can be muddy in spring and early summer. You’ll need to cross the small creek early on—there were logs and rocks during our visit, and we found a few possible crossing points. We ended up hiking in and out from different spots. After crossing the creek, head right.
We started our hike at 5:50 pm on a hot June day and reached the viewpoint of the top of Mystic Falls within five minutes. It’s an easy walk to this overlook and a great place to snap a few photos. If you’re not up for a steep, unmaintained adventure down a canyon, this is where you’ll stop and head back to the car. This view is very much worth it still but I’d love to hear your thoughts below.
If you want to reach the bottom of Mystic Falls—continue reading.
From here, keep heading back in the direction you drove in from on Hwy 145 and follow an unmaintained trail through thick greenery. The path starts relatively flat, but you’ll soon hit a steep descent. The trail becomes more defined as you go—just stick to what looks like the most traveled route, trending left toward the canyon’s edge.
Eventually, you’ll reach a section with a rope in place to help you descend to the canyon floor. Take your time here—it’s steep and loose.
Once you reach the bottom, the trail meets the creek and turns back toward the waterfall. From there, follow the water upstream, scrambling over rocks and dirt until you reach as close to the base as you can get (it won’t be all the way to the actual base)
It’s about a half-mile in total to the bottom of the falls—misty, dramatic, and seriously worth it. The creek was raging during our visit, and I would not recommend trying to dip in—you could easily get swept away. Once you’ve soaked in the views, retrace your steps the way you came.
Trail Tips:
- Wear sturdy shoes with good grip. I recommend Danner Mountain 600 hiking boots
- Trekking poles help on steep descents & to clear out the webs
- Bring GPS or pre-load your map—there’s little to no service
- Be cautious near cliffs and loose rock as the drop-offs would be fatal
- It’s a short hike but be prepared—bring a small daypack. Pingora’s Lucid packs give you convenient access to check your phone GPS or snap pics!
Is Mystic Falls Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. If you love chasing waterfalls and don’t mind a little route-finding and exploring off the beaten, unmaintained path, Mystic Falls delivers in a big way. It’s one of those spots that still feels like a local secret, especially compared to Telluride’s more popular hikes like Bridal Veil Falls or Bear Creek.
It’s also short enough to squeeze in before lunch or pair with another nearby adventure for a full day of outdoor adventures (scroll down for some ideas).
Nearby Hikes in Telluride You’ll Love
Add these to your San Juan Mountains hit list:
- 👉Cornet Creek Falls—Easy waterfall hike in town but will make you feel like you’re in the red rock desert
- 👉 South Mineral Creek Falls—Technically closer to Silverton, but this one has dreamy turquoise water and super easy access.
- 👉 Blue Lakes—Possibly the best alpine lake hike in the area—but heads up: the standard trail is closed for Summer 2025.
Final Thoughts
Mystic Falls might not be the easiest waterfall to track down—but that’s part of what makes it so rewarding. If you’re craving something off the beaten path near Telluride (literally), this one’s for you. Just be prepared for a little route finding, and a lot of magic.
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Tiff, the owner and author of Follow Tiff’s Journey, is a California/ Colorado-based adventurer and outdoor connoisseur who divides her heart between the Eastern Sierra Mountains and the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Despite her fear of heights, she’s become a seasoned mountaineer, ultralight hiking and backcountry camping enthusiast, expert road trip planner, and a fervent explorer of alpine lakes, natural hot springs, and sandstone canyons.
With 10 years of experience exploring the outdoors, her blog is your go-to source for all things wilderness, offering invaluable insights and pro tips, essential gear recommendations, and awe-inspiring stories from her adventures.
Join Tiff on her quest to share the wonders of nature and inspire others to follow their own path in the great outdoors.