Entry No. 46 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: outdoor
Horsethief Falls Trail
Almost everyone driving Hwy 67 toward the Cripple Creek casinos blows right past the old railroad tunnel that marks this trailhead. Their loss. A wide, forest-shaded path climbs steadily up into Horsethief Park, a quiet aspen-and-pine valley the maps mostly ignore, and delivers you to a slim cascade tumbling over granite. It is shorter and far less mobbed than the Pikes Peak-area falls everyone Instagrams, and the valley carries Old West lore: long told as a hideout for rustlers and horse thieves, with Butch Cassidy among the names that drift up. A real payoff with a story attached, minus the crowd.
The move: Make the walk itself the date. Drive up together with a thermos and no real agenda, find the unmarked pullout by the tunnel, and take the slow climb into the valley trading the legend back and forth: who hid here, what they were running from. Sit by the falls long enough that it stops feeling like a destination and starts feeling like your spot, then drive down before the light goes.
📍 Before you go About 2.8 miles round trip (roughly 1.4 each way); trail apps list anywhere from 2.6 to 2.9. Elevation gain is around 640 ft by most measures, up to ~750 ft by some. Rated easy by a few sources, but the steady grade starting near 9,500 ft of altitude earns a cautious moderate, especially if you are coming from lower elevation, so pace yourself and bring water. Trailhead: from Colorado Springs take Hwy 24 to Divide, south on Hwy 67 about 8-9 miles to the small pullout just past the old closed railroad tunnel. Best late spring through early fall (roughly May-October), when the forest road and trail are dry; snow lingers and microspikes help near the falls after the first freeze, and afternoon mountain thunderstorms build fast in summer, so start early. National Forest land, generally free with no permit. The history is local legend, not documented fact, so enjoy it as lore. Verify current road and trail conditions before you go.
- 📍 Pike National Forest, between Divide and Cripple Creek (Pikes Peak west side)
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Horsethief Falls trailhead, Hwy 67. From Colorado Springs take Hwy 24 west through Woodland Park to Divide, then turn south on Hwy 67 and drive roughly 8-9 miles. The pullout parking is on the left, just past an old closed railroad tunnel that the road bends around. The lot is small, so go early.
Hours: Day-use, free. Best season: Late spring through early fall (roughly May-October). Confirm trail & road conditions before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3
last checked: 2026-06-10