Are there fees or permits required for Morgan Creek Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Morgan Creek Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Morgan Creek Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Morgan Creek Falls.

Aerial view of the ground around Morgan Creek Falls near Hayden, Colorado

Aerial view · USGS

Nearby gauge (Elkhead Creek) · 28 ft³/s · Much higher than usual

Morgan Creek Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Morgan Creek Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Morgan Creek Falls.

Colorado

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

3D terrain

No public access

Morgan Creek Falls isn't open to the public. There's no public trail or parking, so please don't trespass or park at neighboring properties. See public waterfalls nearby.

Morgan Creek Falls is on private land with no public trail. Do not cross private property to reach it.

About Morgan Creek Falls

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Morgan Creek Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Morgan Creek Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

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.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 2 hours ago Roaring

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Elkhead Creek, 6.9 miles away, not on Morgan Creek Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

28 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

Much higher than usual for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

4 5 10 14

Based on 31 years of record

2.99 ft

Water depth at gauge

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

The water is flowing much higher than usual, expect an impressive display.

About This Gauge

This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.

ELKHEAD CREEK ABOVE LONG GULCH, NEAR HAYDEN, CO

USGS 09246200

6.9 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 171 sq mi

Altitude: 6,398 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge ELKHEAD CREEK ABOVE LONG GULCH, NEAR HAYDEN, CO (11 km away).

Moderate confidence

Roaring right now

28 cfs

↑ Rising

Today

Roaring

28 cfs

9/10

Tomorrow

Roaring

28 cfs

6/10

Thu

Roaring

28 cfs

9/10

Fri

Roaring

26 cfs

9/10

Sat

Roaring

25 cfs

9/10

Sun

Roaring

24 cfs

9/10

Mon

Roaring

27 cfs

9/10

Best window: Today — roaring flow, sunny (trip score 9/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late March to late June, peaking in May.

How we calculate this

This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.

Know when to go.

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

Is Morgan Creek Falls Frozen?

Updated about 13 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

Morgan Creek Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 44°F to 34°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 26 ft³/s

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 Around Morgan Creek Falls

High-resolution lidar hasn't been flown here yet, so this is the aerial view of the ground around the falls. Open the 3D view to tilt and spin the landscape.

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

Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Elevation

6,709 feet above sea level

Coordinates

40.545668° N, -107.204644° W

Where to Stay

Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby

Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses

RV Rentals Outdoorsy

Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Nearby Campground

Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District

21.5 miles away · 0 sites

The Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District includes about 500,000 acres of the Routt National Forest, and terrain ranges from sagebrush flats to forested mountains. There are a wide variety of year-round recreation opportunities available to visitors. The Ranger District office is in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Scroll down for area-specific activities, locations and maps...Select California Park/Black Mountain, Mount Zirkel/Park Range, North Routt, or Steamboat under 'Areas & Activities' in the right

Book on Recreation.gov