Spouting Rock

Q: Are dogs allowed at Spouting Rock?

No, dogs are not allowed at Spouting Rock. No Dogs, with the exception of ceritifies service animals

Q: Are there fees or permits required for Spouting Rock?

Yes, there is a fee of $12.00. A permit is also required. Hikers will be asked to present their permit upon arrival to the Hanging Lake rest area, only people with permits will be allowed to park at the Hanging Lake rest area.

Q: Is swimming allowed at Spouting Rock?

No, swimming is not allowed at Spouting Rock. No Swimming. Which makes sense but also sucks because the water is crystal clear and beautiful!

Colorado

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Photo Credits (7)

Armen Suny

Difficulty

Hard

Trail Length

2.9 miles

Trail Type

Out And Back

Elevation Gain

1,529 ft

About Spouting Rock

Spouting Rock is a waterfall in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado, located approximately 200 feet (about 60 meters) above the popular Hanging Lake. It is known for water that gushes directly out of a limestone cliff face and is reachable via a short, 100-200 yard side trail from the main Hanging Lake path.

Trail & Hike Details

2.9 mi distance 1,529 ft climbed

The Approach

The hard 2.9-mile out-and-back trail gains 1,529 feet of elevation on the way to the falls.

Trail Description

Spouting Rock is reached by the Hanging Lake Trail, which climbs about 1,200 feet in 1.2 miles to the lake on a rebuilt route of stone steps and seven footbridges, then a short spur above the lake. A boardwalk was added at Spouting Rock in the 2026 trail rebuild. The trail is steep and rocky.

What to Expect

A big and well maintained parking lot is at the base of the trail head, they offer rentals of spikes (useful in the winter and spring) and trekking poles. It's a shorter hike in distance, but with the elevation gain it feels longer. You hike over several bridges as you wind your way up to the lake and the water fall. The Hanging Lake itself is pristine, looks straight out of Skyrim

Accessibility

The trail involves steep, uneven terrain with significant elevation change and is not accessible to mobility devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Spouting Rock?

❌ Dogs are not allowed
No Dogs, with the exception of ceritifies service animals

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🤑 Fee: $12.00
Permit required
Hikers will be asked to present their permit upon arrival to the Hanging Lake rest area, only people with permits will be allowed to park at the Hanging Lake rest area.

🏊 Is There Swimming at Spouting Rock?

❌ Swimming is not allowed
No Swimming. Which makes sense but also sucks because the water is crystal clear and beautiful!

When to Visit

Spring Summer Fall

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Access roads and trails may close during winter due to snow.

Safety Information

It is very icy in the spring and winter, and trails are not actively cleared. Spikes or trekking poles will help a ton. They rent them at the base FYI

Know when to go.

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

Is Spouting Rock Frozen?

Updated about 14 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

Spouting Rock is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 46°F to 32°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: no gauge

Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.

Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in Colorado.

Weather Forecast

The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR

Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.

1-meter lidar shows Spouting Rock dropping about 330 feet in a single sheer step. The brink sits at about 7,219 feet above sea level.

Steep ground runs through the entire stretch: about 332 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the pin and 189 feet in the 500 feet below it. Facing southeast, the falls sit in full sun for most of the day, best photographed early or late.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Spouting Rock near No Name, Colorado, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Spouting Rock near No Name, Colorado, showing about 330 feet of drop, a single sheer drop, facing southeast

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 7,219 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 330 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: Southeast; Sunlit most of the day. Go early or late for softer light.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading southeast).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Getting There

The trailhead is at the Hanging Lake Rest Area at I-70 Exit 125 in Glenwood Canyon, east of Glenwood Springs. There is no westbound exit there: westbound drivers continue to the Grizzly Creek exit and return east on I-70 to Exit 125.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Parking

A permit, booked online in advance, is required to hike and covers trailhead parking. Each permit is for a 3-hour window.

Hours

Elevation

7,323 feet above sea level

Coordinates

39.601650° N, -107.191997° W

⚠️ Reservations are required for this location

Visitor Tips & Gear

You must book a permit to hike, and they fill up quick. That's kind of a pain but it keeps the trail from being too crowded. Wear sturdy shoes, as the trail may have uneven sections. Bring water and a camera to capture the scenic views.

This trail sits at 7,323 ft above sea level

Elevated Trail

UV radiation is roughly 29% stronger at this elevation than at sea level, and the dry air accelerates dehydration. Extra sun protection and fluids go a long way.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Coppertone Sport SPF 50 Sunscreen

UV intensity jumps ~4% per 1,000 ft — at this elevation you can burn in half the time.

Sun Bum SPF 30 Lip Balm (3-Pack)

Lips have almost no natural UV protection and burn fast in thin, dry mountain air.

Liquid I.V. Electrolyte Packets

You lose moisture ~2x faster at elevation — electrolytes help you absorb water efficiently.

ROCKNIGHT Polarized UV400 Sunglasses

High-altitude glare off rock and water is intense — UV400 lenses block 99%+ of UVA/UVB.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

This challenging 2.9 miles trail gains 1,529 ft in elevation — come prepared with proper hiking boots and trekking poles. Sun exposure on the trail makes good sun protection a must in summer.