Tails and Trails: Brown Creek Falls Nathrop, Colorado

Introduction

Are you a dog lover and an outdoor enthusiast? Do you live in Colorado or are traveling to Colorado? If so, check out this week’s Trails and Tails. You’ll be thrilled to learn about an incredible adventure that awaits you and your furry friends at Browns Creek Falls trail in Colorado near Nathrop. Take a trip down 285 and avoid the bumper to bumper traffic on I70.

Location and Accessibility

Located in the heart of Colorado’s stunning San Isabel National Forest, Browns Creek Falls trail is a fantastic gem that promises breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences. The trail is known for its well-maintained paths, making it easy to navigate even for those with less hiking experience. With its easy to moderate difficulty level, the 6-mile out and back hike strikes the perfect balance between adventure and accessibility.

An Easy to Moderate Dog-Friendly Hike

We stayed in Salida for a short staycation this fall and found this delightful trail with a waterfall that is dog friendly. The trail offers the perfect blend of natural beauty and easy to moderate hiking challenges, making it an ideal destination for both you and your canine companion.

We started our fall hike at 8 am and were the only people on the trail. We always text family the trails that we hike, especially when there does not seem to be many people for safety. This is also bear and mountain lion country, so Jon and I played the band game and made sure we were making some noise as we hiked up. There were only two other cars in the big lot, but there is also a longer hike that takes you up to an alpine lake. When we came down, the trail had gotten crowded with lots of friendly people and doggos. Even with a reactive dog, the trail is big enough to skirt around each other. There are horse rides on this trail, so beware of the poop and if your dogs are nervous with the horseeees.

And the Colorado Rocky Mountain High

 

John Denver

Mountain Delights

This trail takes you to an impressive Colorado waterfall at about 9,934 feet. As Colorado natives, this was our first time doing this trail. We plan to get back and hike to the alpine lake next year in a backpacking trip. 

The first 1.5 miles of this out and back trail can be a decent incline and can be a bit more moderate for some, but after that, the trail levels off more. There are LOADS of stunning views along the way if you need to stop and take a breather, though.  

The total elevation gain is about 927 feet and most is that initial climb. The climb is worth it with spectacular views of Mt. Antero and Shavano to the West and stunning panoramas of Salida and Buenva Vista to the East. Along the way, you hike through aspen groves, pine forest, and open meadows. This is a great half day trip or early morning hike to get in before other activities for the day. It took us about 6 hours to complete and enjoy some downtime at the falls and a small pond that the dogs could enjoy.

Reaching Brown Creek Falls Trailhead from Chaffee County

If the thought of a beautiful dog-friendly hike with ridiculously beautiful views of 14ers and a waterfall is your jam, get to Nathrop with your boots and doggos. From Denver, the trailhead is about a 2.5 hour drive on 285. Here’s a guide to help you reach this trail:

1. 1. Route: Located in Chaffee County between downtown Buena Vista and Salida, the trailhead is a few miles off US Highway 285 down County Road 272, which turns into a short a dirt road past campgrounds.

1. Parking: They have a big lot with tons of parking.