Search routes & places
Grace Falls


Log in and send us updates, images and resources

Grace Falls

This is a moderately difficult winter snowshoe route of 7.5 miles with a gain of 1,600'. The objective is the enormous blue-ice wall of the ephemeral Grace Falls. Though it can be seen from Lake Helene, this hike will go to the base of the falls.

Please view this document with everything you need to know about Rocky Mountain National Park 

Take the winter route to Lake Helene from the Bear Lake Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park.  The winter route varies from the summer route in that it heads up a drainage, crosses Two Rivers Lake, and continues through deep snow to Lake Helene.  If you are not familiar with the route, take a GPS.  To the south of Lake Helene is a rock overlook.  Below is the Odessa Gorge and in front of you, below Notchtop Mountain, will be Grace Falls.  In a bad year, or too early in the winter season, it'll be nothing more than a brown icicle.  In a good year, it'll be a wall of blue ice 100 yards across and 100' high.  Our objective on this hike is to get to its base.

Lake Helene has a drainage that drops over the cliff and into Odessa Gorge.  It's to the right of the "lunch rock" as you are facing Odessa Gorge.  There is a waterfall here and, in the summer, an actual trail descending into the gorge.  The slope here is steep.  A hike leader may consider taking a 30m, or better, 50m rope to aid in both the descent and ascent through the deep, powdery snow.  It's a two-part descent with an easy part in between.

Once down, just hike towards Grace Falls.  You'll end up in the flats below it and have to hike up to it.  The slope is steep enough for a fun butt-glissade upon the descent.  Return to Lake Helene the way you came.  For more adventure, take off towards Lakes Odessa and Fern and make this a point-to-point route.

  • Suitable Activities: Hiking, Snowshoeing
  • Snowshoeing Category: Intermediate
  • Seasons: January, February, March, April
  • Weather: View weather forecast
  • Difficulty: Diff B
  • Length: 7.5 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 1,600 ft
  • 10,580 ft
Map
Activities
Trip Reports
Resources

There are no resources for this route/place. Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.