Ouray Slot Canyon

Directions: In Ouray the park is located at the west end of Third Avenue. If walking from Ouray, you need to walk up the dirt road at the end of Third Ave to enter the park, it is not far at all.
Box Canyon Falls is a wonder. The waterfall plunges 285 feet through a narrow slot canyon with amazing force. The City of Ouray built this park in order to allow you to get up close and personal with this impressive waterfall. The park has two main attractions, the lower trail and the upper trail. The lower trail consists mostly of a steel walkway weaving through the slot canyon to the base of the falls. You will get wet on this trail, joyfully wet...
The upper trail is no less impressive. You walk up a series of steel staircases and switchbacks up to a walkway that traverses the top of the slot canyon, looking down on Box Canyon, the river, and the waterfall. You also get a great view of the towering cliffs protecting Ouray from the rest of the world.

Box Canyon Falls Park Website Directions: In Ouray the park is located at the west end of Third Avenue. If walking from Ouray, you need to walk up the dirt road at the end of Third Ave to enter the park, it is not far at all. Box Canyon Falls is a wonder. The waterfall pluges 285 feet through a narrow slot canyon with amazing force. Mar 30, 2014 - This is Box Canyon Falls in Ouray, CO. The waterfall lies in a slot canyon and is rather impressive. It's kind of hard to shoot, but I think this shot does an OK job of representing the scene.

Box Canyon Falls Park is a developed waterfall attraction situated in the “Switzerland of America”, Ouray. It showcases an 85 foot cascade of water down Canyon Creek.

The waterfall is the climax of Canyon Creek, which spills thousands of gallons a water each minute over the falls. You can witness this breathtaking attraction both above and below the waterfall. It thunders down into a quartzite canyon narrowly surrounded by 100 foot walls.

In addition to the easily-accessed waterfall, there are hiking trails, picnic areas and a visitor center. The visitor center features interpretive exhibits, describing the local ecosystem and history. The park and trails are open year round, however the visitor center closes for the winter in November. Normally it opens at 8am each day. Dogs are not permitted in the park.

The largest swifts that migrate North America, Black Swifts, make sure of the park each summer season. Arriving from Brazil in early June, the birds stay through September. The National Audobon Society declared Box Canyon Falls an important bird area.

Hiking Trails

There are three main trails in the park:

Falls Trail – easy 500 foot walk into the canyon, mostly flat.
High Bridge Trail – a half mile loop that gains 200 feet in elevation. You’ll see stunning views of the Amphitheater Cirque peaks and an aerial view of town.
Native Plant Loop – quick stroll through nature with plant markers for the local flora. This is only trail without steps.

Getting There