Upper Piney River Falls Trail

The Upper Piney River trail starts at Piney Lake, a private ranch pond at the end of a long gravel road above Vail, and follows the river up a wide valley into the Eagles Nest Wilderness to a set of falls in a small gorge. The walk is nearly flat for 3 miles, the Gore Range fills the view the whole way, and the aspen make it one of the best fall-color hikes in Eagle County.

From the parking area, walk east through the Piney River Ranch property along the north shore of Piney Lake; the ranch allows hikers through on the marked path. Past the lake the trail enters the meadows of the Piney River valley, with Mount Powell and the Gore peaks ahead, and passes the wilderness boundary sign about a mile in.

The trail alternates between aspen groves, willow flats, and stands of spruce, crossing a few side creeks and gaining elevation so gradually that it hardly registers. At about 3 miles the valley pinches and the river drops through a series of cascades over ledges; the trail climbs a short rocky pitch beside them. The falls are the turnaround for the 5.9-mile round trip. The trail continues, steeper, toward Upper Piney Lake, a much longer day.

From Vail, take the North Frontage Road to Red Sandstone Road (Forest Road 700) and follow it north about 11 miles to Piney Lake. The road is gravel, washboarded, and slow, about 40 minutes from town, but passenger cars manage it in dry conditions. The Forest Service trailhead lot sits just before the ranch and is free; the ranch charges to park on its own lot. The road closes with snow, usually from November into late May or June. No permit is needed for day hiking.

Dogs are allowed on leash in the wilderness, which is most of the route. Kids do well: flat, obvious, and a waterfall at the end. Moose are common in the willows along the river; give them a wide berth. The ranch runs a restaurant and canoe rentals on the lake in summer, which makes a good end to the day. There is a toilet at the trailhead. The rocks at the falls are wet and slick; the gorge has claimed people who climbed for a better photo. Vail is 40 minutes back down the road, and the Vail hikes page lists the closer creek trails.