Continental Falls is a series of steep tiered cascades on Spruce Creek in Summit County, Colorado, dropping about 300 feet below the Mohawk Lakes south of Breckenridge. Breckenridge Tourism calls it the largest waterfall around Breckenridge, and the Spruce Creek trail to the Mohawk Lakes climbs right beside it.
The falls
Lidar measurements indicate a long chain of falls and cascades with a cumulative drop of roughly 300 feet over a run of about 575 feet, though earlier inventories recorded no height. The creek tumbles through three chasms in an eroded rocky gully, though the falls remain unconfirmed on the ground. The falls sit at about 11,700 feet, in the White River National Forest.
Getting there
The Spruce Creek trailhead is about 2.4 miles south of Breckenridge. Spruce Creek Road (CR800) leaves Highway 9 opposite Goose Pasture Tarn; low-clearance vehicles should stop at the lower lot, while a rough 4WD road continues another 1.5 miles toward the upper trailhead. Parking is free but fills quickly; no overflow parking is allowed along the road, and there are no toilets or water at the trailhead.
The trail starts gently through forest, then climbs steep switchbacks beside the falls. The trail continues past the falls to the Mohawk Lakes: the 6.4-mile Mohawk Lake and Continental Falls loop carries 1,788 feet of gain, while the round trip to Upper Mohawk Lake, at about 12,100 feet, is 6.7 miles. The full Mohawk Lakes hike spans 8.4 miles with 2,106 feet of gain.
When to go
The season runs from late June through September, depending on snowpack; snow on the upper trail usually clears in July.
On site
Small side trails off the switchbacks lead to viewpoints of the cascades. Hikers should stay on the trail near the falls and walk on rocks above them to avoid damaging the fragile alpine tundra. Cabins stand along the climb above the falls.
Nearby
Lincoln Falls is about 4.6 miles away, Chalk Creek Falls about 8.5 miles and Cataract Creek Falls about 10 miles. Breckenridge is about 4.8 miles away.
Distances are straight-line.