Waterfall Hikes Near Cortez, CO

8,832 residents
Denver Time Zone
2 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Canyon and mesa country surrounds Cortez, and only two falls land inside its radius. Eagle Falls is a tenth of a mile from the car. McElmo Falls takes its name from the creek that drains west toward Utah, and the page holds little verified data on it, so go with modest expectations and a camera anyway. Spring runoff is the best window in this dry corner of Colorado.

Located at 37.3503°N, -108.5768°W

Map of Waterfalls Near Cortez

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

2 of 2 gauged

2 waterfalls near Cortez have live flow data today

Eagle Falls Barely Flowing McElmo Falls Low

Updated 39 minutes ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

This Afternoon

Sunny · 83°F

Aft 83°F Sunny Best
Sun 86°F Mostly Sunny
Lab 83°F Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Tue 86°F Sunny
Wed 88°F Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Thu 86°F Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Fri 85°F Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Flowing best right now near Cortez

Updated 39 minutes ago

Ranked by live stream-gauge flow versus each waterfall's seasonal normal.

  1. 1 McElmo Falls Low · 3 cfs 15th percentile
  2. 2 Eagle Falls Barely Flowing · 17 cfs 0th percentile

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Cortez hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Find waterfalls to hike near Cortez

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All 2 Waterfalls Near Cortez

McElmo Falls

46 miles away
Colorado
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Eagle Falls waterfall

Eagle Falls

30.8 miles away
Colorado
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near Cortez

What is the shortest waterfall hike near Cortez?

The shortest waterfall hike near Cortez is Eagle Falls at 2.4 miles round trip.

Can I camp near the waterfalls around Cortez?

Yes, 2 waterfalls near Cortez have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to Cortez?

The closest waterfall to Cortez is McElmo Falls, approximately 3.2 miles away.

🏙️ Other Cities Near Cortez With Waterfalls

Durango, CO
19,148 residents
Farmington, NM
46,457 residents
Montrose, CO
20,394 residents

Nearby Hot Springs

Hot springs near Cortez, Colorado

Trimble Hot Spr, Stratten Warm Spr

Trimble Hot Spr, Stratten Warm Spr

32.9 mi 97°F

Trimble Hot Springs and Stratten Warm Spring share a location near Durango at 97 degrees Fahrenheit, just 9.4 meters from the r...
Tripp Hot Springs

Tripp Hot Springs

33.2 mi 111°F

Tripp Hot Springs emerges at an impressive 111 degrees Fahrenheit near Durango in La Plata County, earning its reputation throu...

Stratten Warm Spring

33.7 mi

Stratten Warm Spring flows near Durango at 6,600 feet elevation, accessible from a roadside pullout with just a 29.5-meter walk...

Pinkerton Hot Springs

37.4 mi

Pinkerton Hot Springs surfaces at a roadside-accessible location just 81 feet from Animas Spring Road, distinguished by remarka...
Pinkerton Hot Springs

Pinkerton Hot Springs

37.8 mi 90°F

Pinkerton Hot Springs emerges at 90°F at 6,748 feet elevation in La Plata County near Durango, where exceptional iron concentra...

Paradise Warm Spring

38.5 mi 115°F

Paradise Warm Spring emerges at 115°F at the substantial elevation of 8,659 feet near Mountain Village, where extremely high ch...

Looking for a soak after your hike? Explore more hot springs near Cortez, Colorado on SoakingSprings.

Explore Colorado springs

Where to Stay

Hotels & Lodges Booking.com

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Cabins & Rentals VRBO

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Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
RV Rentals Outdoorsy

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