Helen Hunt Falls is a 25-foot horsetail waterfall on North Cheyenne Creek in North Cheyenne Cañon Park, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado. It sits beside the park road with a parking lot and a small seasonal visitor center at its base, and it is the usual starting point for the short climb to Silver Cascade Falls.
The falls
The creek drops in a single horsetail over the granite of a canyon that the city describes as cut 1,000 feet deep into 1.5 billion-year-old rock. Lidar data puts the drop at about 25 feet, though earlier surveys listed 30 feet and other accounts give 35 feet. The falls can be seen from the base and from a footbridge above them.
Getting there
The falls are 2.5 miles up North Cheyenne Canyon Road from the park entrance, and the lot at the base has about 30 spaces. Buses, RVs and oversized vehicles are not allowed on the road. In June 2026 storm damage closed the park's roads to vehicles for several weeks; they reopened in early July after repairs. Check the city's page for road status before driving. On foot, the Columbine Trail runs about 4 miles from the Starsmore Discovery Center at the park entrance up to the falls, climbing from about 6,250 to 7,300 feet.
When to go
The park is open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. from May through October and 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. from November through April, with the gates locked at night. The visitor center is staffed daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The lot fills early on summer days, and the city may close the road temporarily when the park reaches capacity or for snow removal.
On site
A short walk leads from the lot to the bridge above the falls, and a moderately steep trail continues about 0.3 mile to Silver Cascade Falls, as noted in park trail descriptions. The visitor center has park maps, drinking water and, in summer, portable toilets. Dogs are allowed on leash. There is no cell service, so the city advises against relying on Uber or Lyft for a ride out.
History and name
The falls honor Helen Hunt Jackson (1830–1885), a poet and writer who campaigned for better treatment of Native Americans and is buried in Colorado Springs. The Bruin Inn was built at the base in 1881; the name Helen Hunt Falls became official in 1966. A small outbuilding called the Cub survived the fire that destroyed the inn and served as the visitor center until a new Cub opened on September 8, 2012.
Nearby
Silver Cascade Falls is about 0.1 mile away. Seven Falls is about 1.4 miles away and Saint Marys Falls about 1.5 miles.
Distances are straight-line.