 Early morning on the North Inlet Trail Story and photos by Jason Miller Cascade Falls Trail Location: North Inlet Trailhead Roundtrip Length: 6.8 Miles Trailhead Elevation: 8,510 Feet Total Elevation Gain: 430 Feet Highest Elevation: 8,811Feet Trail Difficulty: Moderate When I was asked to do Cascade Falls for a late-June hike, I was excited to say the least. The last time I had seen the falls was six years ago. My wife and had I hiked from Bear Lake Trailhead up and over Flattop Mountain then down into Grand Lake: 17.5 Miles and 3,050 ft elevation gain. We had camped overnight and had a wild bear experience. This turned out to be a “Grand” adventure of its own, but that story is for another day. We had been so exhausted by the time we went by Cascade Falls that we didn't take the time to enjoy these awesome falls.  This time, I am going to enjoy it! In order to beat the crowds, I left my house in Glen Haven at 4:20 a.m. This hike starts at the North Inlet Trailhead located in Grand Lake, CO. It's 48 miles from Estes Park to Grand Lake, but you are lucky enough to traverse Trail Ridge Road. This road was built in 1931 and gets to an elevation of 12,183 ft above sea level. The views of Rocky Mountain National Park are spectacular. It is a beautiful, clear morning with a temperature of 34 degrees at the Alpine Visitor Center. After driving down the mountain towards Grand Lake for a few miles, I was fortunate enough to see five moose and multiple elk alongside the road.  A bull moose grazes along Trail Ridge Road. I was a little surprised when arriving at the North Inlet Trail: the road access to the trailhead parking was washed out from a previous rain. This added an extra one-mile walk with slightly more of an incline than one likes to endure. Getting to the trailhead sign was a joy because the land ahead looked flatter. Through the large valley littered with pine trees I could see no one. Yes! Not a soul in sight.  Road access to the North Inlet Trail had been washed out by a previous rain storm. This hike begins with a very gentle uphill slope for the first mile or so along an old, dirt service road. You will cross private land all along this section of the trail.  Be sure to stay on the trail; it often borders or winds into private land. Please stay on the designated route. The trail eventually narrows into a single-track trail through the burnt conifers and along rocky cliffs. There are remnants of the fire everywhere to be seen: thousands of acres burnt to a crisp and large standing trees with the scars of previous fire battles are all around. The smell is horrifying.  The East Troublesome Fire (2020) created large swaths of burn area along the North Inlet Trail. The sun glare was so intense that I kept my hat down over my eyes with sunglasses on, looking down at my feet. Please don't do this. I walked right past 3 moose. This could have been tragic. I noticed a couple more moose up ahead and continued walking slowly while trying to capture this epic event.  Moose along the North Inlet Trail I was able to snap a couple good pictures and a video. Traversing a little farther up the trail turned out to be more of the same. More moose and thousands of beautiful wildflowers peppered the landscape. Now we are getting to the point of the hike that takes a turn. No, not a bad turn. It just gets a little tougher. There is a slight incline for the remainder of the hike to Cascade Falls. Be prepared for an increase in heart rate.  Wildflowers are plentiful among the burn scar along the North Inlet Trail. As I climbed deeper into the forest, the sounds of the river were growing louder. Was I getting closer to the river? It's getting bigger. I am at the falls! Arriving at Cascade Falls was amazing. The sound coming from the rushing water was lovely and overwhelming at the same time. I scrambled down to the lower falls and snapped a few pics. Next, I climbed back up to the trail to get to the upper falls. The vantage point from here is crazy. I love Rocky Mountain National Park.   This seemed like a great spot to rest and have something to eat and drink. I am over 4 miles into this day of hiking and have yet to see any other people. It’s so peaceful. I re-energized and got on my way back. Going downhill tends to be where most of the sprained ankles happen, so go slow and steady when descending. As I was walking back through the charred forest, the smell seemed like it was burning through my nose every step of the way. Through the fire will come lots of new growth. The wildflowers and lush green grass are coming back already. Pine trees take an average of five to ten years to rejuvenate. I will put this hike on my list of "Must Do Every Year" hikes.  The rare Red Columbine along the North Inlet Trail. The changes in the years to come will be nature inspiring. Rocky Mountain National Park has a reservation system again this year. If you do not have a reservation to come through the gates after 9:00 a.m. you will be turned away. “Insider Hack” – Get through the gates before 9 a.m. Take your time hiking and spend the day in Grand Lake. Go back through the gates after 3pm. No reservation needed that way.  Remember to stop and smell the wild roses! I love hiking early so I can avoid the crowds and have a better chance to see wildlife. By the time I made it back to my truck it was 9:45 a.m. I had seen at least 15 elk, 12 moose, and 6 people. Not bad in my eyes. Overall, this hike is relatively easy, but the difficulty lies in the distance. The roundtrip is over 7 miles from the actual trailhead. Get outside and go see this magnificent water feature! PRO TIPS
- If ya can't beat 'em ... join 'em: recreation.gov for reservations  Jason Miller, 49, is a resident of Glen Haven and is married with two children. Before moving to the area, he used to work as broker for Nestle USA and H.P. Hood milk company. Today, he is the co-owner of Lightbrush Productions, LLC The publication of this piece of local and independent journalism was made possible by Images of RMNP and Snowy Peaks Winery, both located in Estes Park.  
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