Judd Falls Crested Butte Colorado Hike Guide
Judd Falls is a short out and bike hike located just outside of Crested Butte in Central Colorado. This 166ft waterfall flows almost year round and is a great option for spring, summer or even later fall hikes before the snow moves in. During winter this hike is not open due to trailhead access from snow levels. This is a great short family friendly and dog friendly hike that can be done on its own or as a stopping point for a larger hike.
Judd Falls Quick Facts
Judd Falls Hike Rating: ★★★★ (4/5 Stars)
Distance: 2.0 Miles RT (Shave off about 1 mile if parking at the upper TH)
Elevation Start: 9,590ft
High Point: 9,780ft
Total Elevation Gain: 450ft
Estimated Time to Complete: 1 Hour RT
Difficulty: Easy- What does this mean?
Class: Class 1- What does this mean?
Season: June – October (Expect road closure and no TH access outside of this period)
Directions to Judd Falls
Trailhead: Judd Falls/Copper Creek
Getting Here: From Mt Crested Butte, head out of town on Winterset Drive towards Gold Link Dr. Take Gothic Road which will eventually turn into CO Rd 317 for 4.7 miles until you reach another dirt road and the small parking area on the left. If you have a moderate clearance AWD car, you can continue up another ¾ of a mile or so for a much smaller parking area.
Parking: There are two main parking areas for Judd Falls. The main area off CO Rd 317 has a non-plumbing bathroom and room for 20 or so cars. The upper TH is much smaller (room for only 3-5 cars) with no restrooms.
Fee: None
Summary
Dogs: This hike is dog friendly but with lots of other dogs.
Camping: The best spot to camp on this hike would be further along CO Rd 317 as there are no legal camping areas near the TH or along the upper TH road.
Hike Tip(s): When planning a trip to Judd Falls, be sure to keep the time of year at the top of your mind. A summer trip will offer beautiful wildflowers. Colorful leaves will coat the valley in the fall. Late fall has far less crowds and still a raging waterfall. In winter and early spring months, getting to the hike is next to impossible due to snow coating the county road which is not maintained throughout the year. You could always snowshoe from the road closure, but that would be a much longer than 2 mile day.
Best Views: This hike is beautiful with the best views of Gothic Mountain on the way to the waterfall or at Judd Falls itself.
Judd Falls Hike Route
Gear Needed
- Hiking Shoes
- OR Hiking Boots
- Garmin inReach
- Optional: Hiking Poles
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Our Trip to Judd Falls: October 2021
October 2021 was a busy month for Jackie and I – we needed a weekend to reconnect and recharge so we decided to take a trip to Crested Butte. On our first day, after a long drive, we were looking for a short hike and Judd Falls fit the bill. The hike to the falls was very straightforward and offered beautiful views of one of the best waterfalls we have seen in Colorado. This was a great spot and certainly one I think we will revisit.
