Tips on University Falls

July 29, 2009 11:24 PM

I am planning a trip to University Falls for my girlfriend's birthday. Does anyone have any tips/ things to watch out for? A more solid set of directions or map link would be much appreciated.
posted by ishmael to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (5 answers total)

Best answer: I was just there early this month. It can get a little confusing. The reason, I was told, that they prefer it that way is because, to get to the falls, you have to cross private property.

But we went to the Ranger's Office on Wentworth Spring and she gave us a map. Follow the map, but when it gets a little confusing, look for blue arrows. There will be a blue arrow that points you to Pilot Creek - take that route. It is a beautiful place - go early because it gets crowded. Along the way, we bumped in groups including a couple carrying 2 deck chairs. But it's big enough that when we got to the falls, we only saw a group of boys playing nearby who wandered away soon after.

Here is a link to the ranger's office:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/contact/address/

And a link to some pictures of the falls:
http://highoverhappy.blogspot.com/2009/07/where-sky-and-lake-are-same-color.html

Hope this helps.
posted by serunding at 7:11 AM on July 30, 2009

Best answer: Oh, I forgot to add - tell the ranger that you want to go to University Falls - she will give you a topographical map to the falls. And watch careful for the yellow gate - it's easy to miss when you are driving.
posted by serunding at 7:21 AM on July 30, 2009

Best answer: My parents live about 10 minutes away from the trailhead, and we go every time we visit during the summer.

I've never been down there using a map, so if you can get one per serunding's instructions, go for that, but the directions in your link are pretty accurate. If I remember after work I'll see if I can draw up a decent map.

Additional tips:
- The yellow fence is easy to pass if you are not looking for it, but the higher-than-normal concentration of parked cars should tip you off. If you reach the lake you have gone too far.
- The bend also has logs along the outer radius to help indicate you should turn right.
- After following the creek, the side trail to the left is marked with blue paint and the words "FALLS". After this, the first fork to the right should have blue paint, and usually there is some sort of rock/stick arrow on the ground as well. You should have to duck under a fallen tree at this point.

The waterslides are really great, and I bet the water is a bit warmer now than the last time we went. The rocks are pretty slippery though, so I would not recommend going down the fourth waterfall. People usually use a rope to climb back up out of the fourth pool but as of a couple weeks ago the rope was missing.

Have a good time! The falls are amazing.
posted by Zaximus at 11:28 AM on July 30, 2009

Best answer: Here's the map.
posted by Zaximus at 6:51 PM on July 30, 2009

Response by poster: Thank you both so much! We're really looking forward to this.
posted by ishmael at 12:51 AM on July 31, 2009