What a gem in the park--a trivial approach by RMNP standards (about 45min), a nice setting, and fat ice. This WI4 fall is about 75ft in length and several trees up top provide good TR anchors for a good forearm burning session. Some other flows to the right are thinner, but look equally interesting.
Getting There
Take CO 7 from Lyons (like you were going to the Long's Peak trailhead) and head up the canyon. The entrance to the Wild Basin area is about 5mi. South of the Long's entrance and about 12mi. South of Estes Park. The entrance is marked with a huge sign--stay on the road and take a right at the sign to Copeland Lake. Continue on this road as far as possible--the gate to the ranger's cabin is closed in winter. Park and hike about 0.5 mi to the ranger cabin then take the trailhead to the west for another 0.5mi or so. When you see the sign for Upper and Lower Copeland Falls, continue on until you can see the falls to the left through the trees. Then, hike a little bit further and cross the stream right up the base.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Hidden Falls:
It's really hard to see the climb from the trail. Best is to stop and listen (screams, clanking screws, etc.) or keep you eyes open for a spot where the trail dips down almost to the creek. It's within a few hundred yard of passing the Falls sign and the first place the trail goes right next to the creek. Cross over there and wind you way up to the falls. Good luck
The left flow is in, the center flow is nice and fat up the middle, but VERY chopped out, the right flow needs some more time. A few challenging mixed starts on the left and right of the main flow got us pumped early.
Had a great day here on the 01/07, but the main flow has seen a lot of traffic. A solid WI4 with a reasonable lead but solid screw placements are becoming scarce between all the steps and pockets.
There is a horse trail that starts from the left side of the road about 100 yards before the ranger's station. There is a small sign for the trail, and it takes you very close to the climb, so you won't have to keep peering through the trees from the main trail. Also, it has a bridge early on, which makes it so you don't have to break trail and cross the creek on ice.
Great intermediate climb! Easy hike route up left side to set a top rope. We used the cornice tree for an anchor point. 60m rope was too short to use trees farther back which are more secure and can give redundant anchor points. Lots of great ice left.
Due to the heavy snow and winds from the past few days, the road to parking lot was closed at the Sandbeach Trailhead Parking Lot yesterday, January 9. If you are going to go climbing at Hidden Falls, it is going to be a much longer hike in until the Park Service can plow the road open.
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