MacGregor Falls Hike

The MacGregor Falls Hike is a great excursion that families and novice hikers can enjoy. The path is level up until the final push to the falls, where adventurers will have to navigate fallen trees and scramble up the rocky terrain. This hike is a hidden gem, and it is one of the Rocky Mountain National Parks (RMNP) few secluded hikes, so if you are lucky, you may just get the trail to yourself. The isolation may be a result of the path’s primitive nature, but we love a good off the beaten path experience. Use the trail GPS to help navigate the tricky terrain and don’t forget to purchase a park pass to access the trails.

Begin your hike along the MacGregor Falls Trail from the Gem Lake Trailhead. From here, track northwest along the Lumpy Ridge Trail, past the Twin Owls and beneath tree shade. The route will guide you to an intersection, veer left, and you will be diverted onto the Black Canyon Trail. Hike this path west through a meadow, ignoring off shooting paths. Eventually you will near the Black Canyon Creek and meet a junction with a Private Trail. Keep left onto the Private Trail which will merge onto the MacGregor Falls Trail. This section of the path will become increasingly steep and rocky.

Hike along the Black Canyon Creek and navigate the technical terrain up to the MacGregor Falls. Enjoy the ambiance of the cascading water and notice sights of MacGregor Mountain looming above through the tree breaks. Appreciate the secluded falls and rest alongside the cascades on one of the many boulders. When you are ready to return, retrace your footing along the path back to the trailhead.