North Clear Creek Falls is an easy stop on the Silver Thread, but only in season

Of all the stops along the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, North Clear Creek Falls is one of the easiest to enjoy. A short side road off Highway 149 leads to a developed overlook with paved parking, picnic tables, a restroom, and railings, and the path to the viewpoint is wheelchair accessible. The falls drop in a single curtain into a rocky canyon, and interpretive signs explain what you are looking at.

The word to hold onto is seasonal. This is high country, and the access road is closed to vehicles in winter. It is usually snowed in from late fall into spring, with possible gates during muddy spring road work. So a “quick stop at the falls” is a summer-and-fall plan, not a year-round one.

A few other basics: there is no overnight camping at the overlook, no drinking water, and no trash service, so pack out what you bring. Nearby forest roads also lead to other spots like Rito Hondo Reservoir if you want to make a longer loop.

Before you count on the falls being open, check the Rio Grande National Forest for the site’s season and road status, and use the state’s byway and road information for Highway 149 itself.