Helen Hunt Falls
Helen Hunt Falls pours through a granite notch in North Cheyenne Cañon Park, a free city park on the edge of Colorado Springs. You can see it from the roadside parking area, walk a short path to the footbridge above the falls and keep climbing to Silver Cascade Falls for a sweeping view down the canyon.
Helen Hunt Falls in Colorado Springs, CO
The falls are named for Helen Hunt Jackson, the writer who moved to Colorado Springs in the 1870s and loved to explore Cheyenne Cañon. She became one of the nation’s best-known advocates for Native American rights with her books A Century of Dishonor and Ramona. People have come to see the falls for well over a century. In 1881, the Bruin Inn was built at their base, and a small outbuilding became a visitor center and curio shop that was nicknamed “The Cub.” The Cub outlasted the fire that destroyed the inn, and the waterfall was officially designated Helen Hunt Falls in 1966. By the 2000s the old building had badly deteriorated, so the city replaced it with a new Cub of similar design that opened on Sept. 8, 2012.
Helen Hunt Falls sits about 2.5 miles up North Cheyenne Cañon Road from the park entrance, and the base of the falls is just steps from the parking area. A short, steep trail with stairs climbs to the bridge that crosses the top of the falls, and from there the trail continues up to Silver Cascade Falls, where water slides down a long granite slab. North Cheyenne Cañon Park has about 26 miles of trails for hiking, biking and running, plus picnic areas and rock climbing by permit. On the way up, stop at the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center at the park entrance for maps and exhibits. In summer, the Helen Hunt Falls Visitor Center has interpretive exhibits, scheduled hikes, drinking water and portable toilets.
Photo Gallery
Photo credits: Helen Hunt Falls, Colorado by Ahodges7 (CC BY-SA 3.0); Helen Hunt Falls by Beverlytaz (Public domain); Helen Hunt Falls in Colorado Springs, Colorado (48079801203) by PEO ACWA (CC BY 2.0); Helen Hunt Falls 2 by Fredlyfish4 (CC BY-SA 3.0); Helen Hunt Falls in Cheyenne Mountain. Colorado Springs, CO (14269187071) by Mike Sinko (CC BY-SA 2.0). Images via Wikimedia Commons.
News & Events
Check the Helen Hunt Falls page and the North Cheyenne Cañon Park page for alerts before you go. Park hours change on Nov. 1, 2026, when the gates begin closing at 9 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. The Helen Hunt Falls Visitor Center is closed for the season and reopens on Memorial Day; the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center stays open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in fall and winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do at Helen Hunt Falls?
- See the falls: View the waterfall from its base right by the parking area.
- Walk to the bridge: Climb the short trail to the footbridge above the falls.
- Silver Cascade Falls: Continue uphill to a second waterfall and canyon views.
- Hike and bike: Explore about 26 miles of trails in North Cheyenne Cañon Park.
- Visitor centers: Learn about the canyon at Starsmore and, in summer, at the Helen Hunt Falls Visitor Center.
What is nearby Helen Hunt Falls?
- The Broadmoor Seven Falls: A series of seven waterfalls in neighboring South Cheyenne Cañon.
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: Feed giraffes on the side of Cheyenne Mountain.
- Manitou Incline: One of Colorado’s toughest stair-step hikes in Manitou Springs.
- Garden of the Gods: Towering red rock formations on the west side of town.
How much does it cost to visit Helen Hunt Falls?
It’s free. There is no entrance or parking fee at Helen Hunt Falls or anywhere in North Cheyenne Cañon Park.
When is Helen Hunt Falls open?
North Cheyenne Cañon Park is open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. from May 1 to Oct. 31 and 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Nov. 1 to April 30, and the gates are locked at closing. The Helen Hunt Falls Visitor Center is open Memorial Day to Labor Day, daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Are there any tips for visiting Helen Hunt Falls?
Buses, RVs and oversized vehicles aren’t allowed on North Cheyenne Cañon Road, and there’s no cell service at the falls, so don’t plan on calling a rideshare for the trip back. The small lot fills fast on summer weekends, so arrive early. Wear shoes with good grip, since the rocks and stairs around the falls can be wet or icy. Dogs are welcome on leash.
Helen Hunt Falls is located at 3440 N. Cheyenne Cañon Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80906, in North Cheyenne Cañon Park. Call 719-385-6086 or visit coloradosprings.gov to plan your visit.