Hike to Granite Falls

Granite Falls

NPS Photo / Karen Daugherty

• Distance: 5.2 miles one-way (8.4 m)
• Elevation Gain: 1,046 feet (319 m)
• Type of Trail: Out & Back, from the Green Mountain Trailhead

The trail to Granite Falls is currently closed - The Upper Tonahutu Creek Trail from the junction of Onahu Trail at Tonahutu to Flattop Mountain is closed.

This area was impacted by the East Troublesome Fire of 2020. The Green Mountain/Onahu Trail loop is open to hikers. The Green Mountain Trail remains closed to stock users. All stock users are advised to use the Onahu Trail in and out.
 

Park visitors should be aware of additional hazards when recreating in burn areas including:

• Burned-out stump holes where the ground may be weak and unstable
• Unstable dead trees, especially in windy conditions
• Loose rocks, logs and rolling debris
• Flash flooding and significant debris flow possible in burn areas
• Dry, hot conditions with little forest canopy to provide shade

For current fire information, maps and details on areas closures within RMNP, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/fire-information-and-regulations.ht 

Hike along the lush, marshy Big Meadow, through forests of lodgepole pine, quaking aspen, subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce on your way to the falls. Like all mountain waterways, Tonahutu Creek swells with melting snow during spring and early summer.

During peak runoff, Granite Falls thunders as the water rushes downhill toward Grand Lake. Be sure to check with a ranger for current trail condition information.

Help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own. Keep your distance - it is illegal to approach, feed, or harass wildlife. 

Details

Activity

Hiking

Pets Allowed

No

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Location

Green Mountain Trailhead

Reservations

Yes

From May 27 to October 10, 2022, Timed Entry Permit Reservations are required to enter most areas of Rocky Mountain National Park between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. To access the Bear Lake Road Corridor, Timed Entry Permits are in effect from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Timed Entry Permit Reservations are only available to be booked through https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086910. One Timed Entry Permit Reservation is $2.00 and non-refundable. 

Timed Entry Permits are vehicle permits. One Timed Entry Permit will cover one vehicle and all passengers in the vehicle. Timed Entry Permit Holders must enter the park during their reseved 2-hour reservation window. 

To learn more, visit the park's Timed Entry Permit Reservation webpage at https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/timed-entry-permit-system.htm

Accessibility Information

This is not a paved trail. The trail is rugged and uneven with a total elevation of 1,046 feet.