We have hiked to the Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls from the Wild Basin Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park a couple of times before, but without a RMNP reservation this weekend, Chris found us a back way into the park from the small town of Allenspark. No reservation needed.
We walked the 3.1 miles to Calypso Cascades through sunshine, a little hail, and rain.
We hiked up about 750 feet in elevation, stopped for lunch, and then descended down to the Calypso trail. The trail on the north facing side of the mountain had a few spots covered in snow. Most of the passage was fine except for the one or two spots that seemed like solid ice.
The falls there were amazing once we arrived. They were truly cascades as they spilled over their banks and cascaded down the mountain side.
Chris and I decided to continue on to Ouzel Falls for another 0.9 miles. It was uphill again.
With the spring run off, the falls were powerful.
We started our 4 mile hike back to the car.