Outdoors and wildfire - Western Slope
Treasure Falls drops 105 feet on the climb up Wolf Creek Pass
Treasure Falls is a tall cascade on Fall Creek about 15 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs, just over the line in Mineral County, with a short but steep climb to its base off US 160.
Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 15, 2026
Head east out of Pagosa Springs on US 160, and about 15 miles up the road, where the highway starts its climb toward Wolf Creek Pass, you reach a paved pullout for Treasure Falls. You drive there from Pagosa Springs, which sits in Archuleta County, but the falls themselves are just over the county line in Mineral County. You can see the falls from the lot, a tall ribbon of water dropping off the rocks above. It pours down Fall Creek, which joins the San Juan River.
The waterfall is often listed at 105 feet, and the Forest Service rounds it to about 100. Either way, it is a lot of falling water for so little effort to reach. To get close, you walk a short trail of roughly a quarter mile, with switchbacks that climb a few hundred feet to a deck near the base. It is short, but it is steep, so plan for a real little climb rather than a flat stroll.
Spring is the loud season. As the high country sheds its snow, the creek runs full and the spray carries. In winter the falls can freeze into pale blue ice, which is its own kind of show, but the trail gets icy and slick. If you go in the cold months, traction on your boots is a good idea.
For trail details, current conditions, and seasonal notes, check the San Juan National Forest Treasure Falls Trail page.