Thank goodness for those who helped and gave advice on the way. Eldorado Springs Swimming Pool (Eldorado Springs) Eldorado Artesian Springs, Inc. Amazing natural water slide. The trail stretches along the creek, which provides a soothing soundtrack. Did this a few years back, really fun! Had a blast. There are great views of Chair Peak and Bryant Peak as well as plenty of places to sun and/or swim. Beautiful trail and well worth traversing rocks to get to the slide. Lots of either climbing up & down or wading through the water. Located just outside of Silverton, Molas Lake Park & Campground is a colorful 137-acre campground that sits beside the infamously gorgeous Million Dollar Highway and was named the "Most Scenic Campground in Colorado" by AAA! I hadnt spotted anyone about 30 minutes into my hike. Climb the steep walls and brave a huge plunge on the Zoomerang. Great trail but very overgrown and impossible to continue past a half mile. Trailhead is 2550 ft. High point is 3050 ft. at Keekwulee Falls. Thought to have once been home to Native Americans some 9,000 years ago, the Paint Mines Archeological District is an incredible area chock full of "a unique blending of geological, archaeological, historical and ecological resources.". At mile marker 19, look for the parking lot to the left of the Lake San Isabel dam. From road it was very steep. This was a challenge, water half way to knees. Featuring waters fed from an artisan spring, Eldorado Springs Swimming Pool boasts both all-natural (and stunning) blue waters AND a comfortable temperature of 76 degrees (which is warmed to 80 by the pools heating system). I went in mid august and water was a little low but plenty to slide! Children and adults alike will enjoy the sprayground complete with a ton of interactive features. That water was so cold the first time down. This is more than a hike. If you are wondering which of our many attractions are a must-visit, take our advice and visit all 12 of these incredible places in Colorado: Please note, Eldorado Springs Swimming Pool is temporarily closed for renovations. challenging and beautiful. At 1.3 miles and 2690 ft, a side trail and steps lead down to the creek and slides. The Denny Creek trailhead is at 2550 ft elevation. When it comes to the most awe-inspiring natural attractions all in one place, there is no topping Colorful Colorado. San Isabel Natural Water Slide, Colorado Integrity Auto Care If you are looking for a somewhat leisurely hike and a smaller water slide adventure, we recommend this epic spot near Rye, Colorado. our children ranging from 6 to 14 loved it. If you want to learn how to take to the rushing waters, there are lessons offered at the indoor pool. A natural waterslide, two good sized waterfalls, lots of old growth forest mixed in with open areas with great views, and beautiful Alpine Lakes. Does it still exist? While a beautiful spot, consider the risks before trying it. This was a fun adventure for us and our youngest kiddos. Home Travel Guides United States Colorado (CO) 10 Best Water Parks in Colorado. Amazing time. Rocks are basketball to car sized. Unlimited rides can be added on to the cost of admission. If you arent a water fan, theres a huge deck area with chairs for lounging. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Adrenaline seekers will have a blast at the park. The trail has tons of downed trees and the trail is hard to follow at times but if you follow the river you will get to the falls. Chair Peak Lake is just down from the pass so you could include a visit there on this excursion. Bring your favorite furry canine out for the Doggie Paddle Day, usually held right before the park closes for the season. These NATURAL WATER. Get ready to have a splashing good time at H2OBrien Park. Source: imfromdenver. Lost the trail at times but easy to find it again- had to cross the river a few times. We just got back from the natural water slide (my second visit). Their aunt, whod ridden it years ago with a boyfriend, led the way. Comments. Maybe Ill head up there again! Lookout Point via Devil's Canyon and Mace Trail Loop, Second Mace Trail, Dome Rock Trail, and Squirrel Creek Trail Loop, North Peak to Greenhorn Mountain Loop via Bartlett Trail. The view is amazing and the water feels wonderful on hot days!! Denny Creek was named for Arthur A. Denny, the leader of the Denny Party. The slide area looked really fun but apparently you need to tuck in your head before end where you get dunked. 40 Places to See in California Before Your Kids Are All Grown Up, 30 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in California, 25 Most Beautiful Medieval Castles in the World, 15 Best Things to Do in Middleborough (MA), Pirates Cove Family Fun Aquatic Center, Littleton, Brighton Oasis Family Aquatic Park, Brighton. Our two 6-year-olds were able to do it and had an amazing time. Hope you enjoy. Beautiful trail and well worth traversing rocks to get to the slide. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Great fun!! OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. I highly suggest hiking/water shoes. You are now inside the freeway as the eastbound lanes are about a mile separated from the westbound lanes from here to Snoqualmie Pass. There are great views into the valley (3.9 miles, 4125 ft) and the trail crosses a side creek which makes a nice drinking hole for dogs. 4. Take a few steps to get going and then sit down on the slick moss-covered rock. Total distance (Round Trip) 10 to Melakwa Lake, 11 to Upper Melakwa Lake, Total elevation gain 2700 ft. to upper Melakwa Lake, 2600 ft to Lower Melakwa Lake. Getting off the road and down to the slide does require scrambling down a few rocks though. Hi everyone! Started hiking this trail 32 years ago. Head off up the ridge to the left of Melakwa Lake behind the privy. Love Colorado? More a moderately trafficked. Connected by a lazy river, these . Then word got out and careless people started drinking, smoking and shooting, and littered the place with broken bottles, pop top tabs, butts and bullets. For a tamer experience, grab a tube and drift down the lazy river Castaway Creek or float and swim in the Commotion Ocean wave pool. The climbing wall will test your strength and the water basketball activity makes for hours of fun. Thanks! (Hey; we never said that getting to ride the slide didnt come without a little work!) If you own a wetsuit, bring it! Slide Rock State Park in Sedona boasts a water slide that formed all by itself - absolutely no human intervention. Hot Spring Day Passes may not be purchased in advance. Begin your hike on a connector trail to the real Franklin Falls trailhead. If you can find it, then its worth it.. Easiest way to get back and forth across the stream is to wade across least strong currents. Cross over the Melakwa lake outlet on the logs and proceed along the trail on the left shore of the lake. All year round to waterslides. Recommend the slides for teens and adults but the hike was doable with small children. We were camping at the lake, so we added some length to this by hiking from the campground, around the lake, to the trailhead (which is basically an unmarked path of the edge of the highway). Shapiro knew of a more epic slide deeper into the forest. Watch out for the giant dumping bucket! For tons of thrills and spills check out one of the many exciting rides. Then follow the stream up a very short way to Upper Melakwa Lake (elev 4500 ft). They clung to bushes along the unmarked trail I hiked through San Isabel National Forest; the trail that indeed took me to what Id been told: a natural water slide. From road it was very steep. Located at Elitch Gardens, the huge waterpark is a must visit destination. ), which is evident at the jaw-dropping Wheeler Geologic Area: a series of highly eroded volcanic ash from an explosion nearly 25 millions years ago. Jump on your mat and ride the six giant turns emptying into the cooler 75-degree pool. Alot of fond memories. Also, watch out for sudden rain storms in the summer after 4:00pm. The bridge that was once here was washed out in 2009 by avalanche debris from the flood stage creek. Guests of all ages will be sure to get wet and have a blast at Walsenburg Water Park. Definitely not a hike for those that cant rock scramble. Nestled in the sprawling million-acre San Isabel National Forest, hikers and thrill-seekers can shoot down this legendary natural waterslide. The Denny Creek Trail is extremely popular and for good reason! I went for it though, and Im glad I did! Countries; Regions; Cities . Theres a brand new tot pool for young water lovers. I just wanted to point out that from the parking lot to the actual slide area its more like a mile (I clocked it on GPS), not a half mile. Keekwulee Falls occurs as Denny Creek emerges from a narrow canyon. Hey guys. Not many people so we missed it! Clearing these, you will get a great view of Keekwulee Falls. lots of downed trees, had to cross the water a couple times but the slides and scenery are amazing. Think good grip and traversing foot deep water in parts. Tragedy hangs over the beauty. Harder than what it described but super fun!! Short, beautiful hike. Be prepared to cross the river several times. Be prepared to get wet, it is necessary to cross the creek at least once or twice to navigate towards the water slide. Trees down all over trail. 7. And its 1.5 in and 1.5 out to be clear. Had a blast. But I did slip and my foot plunged into the water up to my calf. Enjoy this stretch before the steeper trail ahead. Take your pet and your lady and make sure they go in water with you! By Sydney Paschall | June 6, 2022. Annie is a freelance writer, content editor, and marketing whiz with a background in broadcasting and a passion for chicken nachos. Its a steep descent that flattens into a meadow of tall grass and aspen. Winter users need equipment and experience in avalanche prone areas. This is the Franklin Falls parking lot which is also used for the Denny Creek Trail now that the Denny Creek / Melakwa Lake parking is closed. Cool down in the lazy river or make a splash in the cool waters of the pools. Located at Elitch Gardens, the huge waterpark is a must visit destination. A journey down to the natural waterslides near Isabel lake in San Isabel, CO (Saint Charles creek)7-29-16Follow me on Instagram @ outdoors_inspired#getoutdoo. I agree with an older review that the trail is mis-classified. What is the half mile hike like back to the slide? Now that youve hiked 5 miles to here, its a must to do another 0.3 to Upper Melakwa Lake. Now it is time to take a ride down this incredible natural wonder that although not as tall and fast as the slides at amusement parks will make your summer complete: Tucked away within the scenic San Isabel National Forest lies one of Colorados coolest hidden gems: an all-natural water slide! The first part is pretty steep going down, and then steep coming back up at the end! Colorado's largest natural lake, Grand Lake. Photo: Dining Guide at Denver International Airport. Be sure to take advantage of all the area has to offer. Also in the lodge were a man and his young boy, who said I should try the raspberries I find on my way. I was at the slides over the weekend and they were low but still a lot of fun. Belly-flopping into the pool can get painful though. We did this hike last June. Speaking of summer not being over yet, have you had a chance to ride along the exciting Boulder Creek? Whatever the season, youre sure to find an indoor or outdoor park that is perfect for you or for the whole family. Children will love the huge Lagoon Leisure Pool. Several campgrounds are fairly close by, like Quaking Aspen Campground and Redwood Meadow Campground, which is right across from the Trail of 100 Giants. We were camping at the lake, so we added some length to this by hiking from the campground, around the lake, to the trailhead (which is basically an unmarked path of the edge of the highway). A Northwest Forest Pass is required for parking. Both water slides provide a turning, twisting, exhilarating ride that ends with a large splash. There are a LOT of downed trees so be prepared to climb over and under throughout a good portion of the way. If its raining hard, water levels can rise rapidly so consider that as well before crossing. It drops down and follows the Pratt River down to the Pratt Lakes. SECRET Natural Water Slides, San Isabel National Forest, Colorado 6,644 views Jul 31, 2019 50 Dislike Share Integrity Auto Care 23 subscribers Look what we found!! With a ton of activities and awesome rides, Pirates Cove is sure to have something for the whole family. I went for it though, and Im glad I did! As you go a total mile, maybe there will be a few more creek crossings and some awkward maneuvering over boulders. There will be a green gate closing off the road to cars but if you hike a mile up on road there will be a clearing on the right. Its one of those places, Kayla Roberts, 18, said beside the creek in the forest, rock cliffs towering around her and her boyfriend, both from Pueblo. So my family is planning to go camping at Wishon Campground with plan to see the Natural Rock Slide. (FREE leg-burning incline > pricey gym membership.). You have to cross the water at the bottom to get to anything good really, and its pretty iffy. Adrenaline seekers will have a blast at the park. Colorado San Isabel National Forest Natural Water Slide at San Isabel Photos Photos of Natural Water Slide at San Isabel Natural Water Slide at San Isabel. Then cross a talus field (3.3 miles) into a sparsely treed open area (3.5 miles, 3785 ft) where the trail ascends steeply and is quite rocky. Total distance (Round Trip) - 4 miles to Keekwulee, 2.6 miles to slides. Fun for the whole family, our facility is easily accessible whether you are driving, or taking a hotel shuttle and is mere steps away from the free town bus stop at Lincoln and 3rd Street. Photo: Michael Levine-Clark At 507 surface acres, Grand Lake is Colorado's largest natural body of water, and with impressive depths that reach down almost 400 feet, it's also the state's deepest. The pool boasts a diving board and the waters are always cool and clear. Going to head there next week, really excited! Not an easy trail. This is a must do trail for my family at least 2 times a year! Sliding down that slide looks fun, just hope the ground is soft. In the right hand photo, the pools are just below the upper cascade at the top of the photo. Signup today for free and be the first to get notified on new updates. From the rolling Eastern Plains to the majestic mountains and beyond, there is truly no shortage of these all-natural wonders. 0.2 miles after the turnoff to the waterslides, the Denny Creek Trail crosses Denny Creek. Saw a few people rub their heads. . The huge Bay pool is just right for splashing and swimming and features a diving board and a drop slide. Stay left and cross FR 58 after 0.1 mile. We got stuck in a big one that was a bit scary to our kids, we were safe but it was LOUD. Fishing, paddle boarding, canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, dirt-biking, atv-ing, natural water slides,are just some of the great options for . Anyone been able to slide with this drought. Have to cross water several times. 24 Jun . 07-11-2014, 02:49 PM . Love Colorado? A hike usually has a trail and this was HARD to keep to a trail. Adventure seekers will love the thirty foot tall water slides. Had my 4 y/o along for the hike and it was super scary at times. Otherwise, continue across the bridge and follow the road 0.25 miles until you reach the Denny Creek trailhead. Continue down the road (not FR 58) a short bit to the Franklin Falls trailhead on your right. Then had to cross again to bypass more rocks, walk several hundred feet on the other side and recross to get back to the main trail. Day Passes must be purchased onsite at the Historic Bath House or Upper Pools. You have permission to edit this article. Low water level. The water is FREEZING! All year round to waterslides. Just returned, water still flowing, and a bit low but great time had by all. VIEW FULL MAP 5 4 84 Reviews Jayme May Natural Water Slide at San Isabel This is more than a hike. Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise. That being said, make plans to take a ride down this all-natural water slide, which is hiding out within the beautiful San Isabel National Forest. Turn left and cross over the freeway. Total elevation gain - 560 ft to Keekwulee Falls viewpoint, 140 ft to the slide. I camped in the area back in the 80s. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Towels are available to rent with a deposit. Two thrilling slides will have your heart racing. Now the trail has two long switchbacks up exposed rockslides (1.7 mi). The Alpine views from Upper Melakwa are absolutely stunning. it's easy to lose track. one of Colorado's premier hot springs, is an historic hot spring, family-friendly recreation facility, and world-class gym in the heart of downtown . The hot springs are open to the public every day of the week. The kids may be back in school, but that doesn't mean that summer -- and all the fun that comes with it -- is over! (7 & 4 years old). At least at the beginning, the trail is fairly well defined. Started hiking this trail 32 years ago. Some locals brought inflatable round rafts to slide down, but most people just slid down in their bathing suits. Thanks Lynda! If you are going to Franklin Falls, turn right onto the Franklin Falls Trail. Have to cross water several times. Call something Paradise, kiss it goodbye The Eagles. JK Elitches, we love you, too, and await your grand re-opening! When people mention deadfall, theres no way to exaggerate how AWFUL it was. The Upper Pools are included with your day pass and are open daily Memorial Day - Labor Day. Would not take someone who has a rough time moving around but for kids and healthy adults you are good. The Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is close to the Hotel Glenwood Springs so you can enjoy the huge indoor waterpark and then hop over for a unique adventure. The St. Charles Creek waterslide can be hard to find, but fortunately, the Greenhorn Valley View offers detailed directions via their website. Address: Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge, 13999 Main St, Guffey, CO 80820, USA Address: Adrenaline Falls, Durango, CO 81301, USA Address: San Isabel National Forest, Colorado 81233, USA 105Reviews. Relax and let the warm waters of the hot tub soothe your cares away. So be careful where you step. I only watched. Kids ages 4 & 9 were able to do it. Lots of rock scrabbling and water crossing.. very hilly I would not recommend taking small children, some of the river crossing and hills would have been precarious. Hopefully someone still looks at these comments, I was wondering if there is water flowing down the slide all year long? Where is the best place to tent camp? Dont miss the exciting new interactive Warp Speed slide. Kingdom Water Park, Denver. They rode the stream and dropped with a short waterfall into a pool. Tots will have a blast in their own tot pool complete with zero depth entry and a whole host of fun features. From a woman behind a counter of fudge inside a wooden lodge farther west, closer to the destination Id heard about near Lake Isabel. Located south of Steamboat Springs, the Devils Causeway is a jagged and narrow peak that stands at an elevation of nearly 12,000 feet and is recommended for only the most skilled of hikers, as some spots are a mere four feet wide. RELATED: Before You Visit, Know the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace. Annie is a freelance writer, content editor, and marketing whiz with a background in broadcasting and a passion for chicken nachos. At several switchbacks you will be only a few steps from plunging over a precipice down to the gorge below. After Keekwulee Falls, the trail climbs steeply through a narrow, steeply walled canyon. This makes the hot springs odorless. Melakwa Pass is a 0.5 mile rock scramble up the center of the valley beyond Upper Melakwa Lake. You have to cross the water at the bottom to get to anything good really, and its pretty iffy. The lap pool offers eight lanes of cool, clear waters and a diving board. We got stuck in a big one that was a bit scary to our kids, we were safe but it was LOUD. Soaking in hot spring water can also help ease aches and pains, particularly of the joints. Natural Water Slide at San Isabel Moderate 4.3 (105) San Isabel National Forest Photos (93) Directions Print/PDF map Length 1.6 miElevation gain 255 ftRoute type Out & back Head out on this 1.6-mile out-and-back trail near Rye, Colorado. They were sweet all right. Unlimited Water Slides +$7. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 44 min to complete. If you add a couple of water crossings on the way back you can cut out some of the bouldering. Plenty of water coming down, freezing water, nice sunny day. If you have kiddos, this is a must! There is so much history in the area (Check out our About page to learn more) and loads of outdoor fun for the whole family. Its official: As of this publication, Water World, public and private pools, AND various water and amusement parks around the Centennial State will be closed for the summer, which is leaving Coloradans wondering what the heck we will do to cool off during these hot months.