Hayes Creek Falls

Hayes Creek Falls is south of Redstone, Colorado.  It flows year-round, but freezes in winter and is used by ice climbers.  In the spring, melt-off fuels its surge as it runs into the Crystal River.

Ice-climbing a frozen waterfall

Ice-climbing

Hayes Creek falls, south of Redstone, Colorado is a popular ice-climbing location in winter. There are a few more places in the Crystal River valley, and I'm eager to find and photograph them.

Seasonal streams and falls will run high and fast this year

Hikers and backpackers in the Colorado mountains should expect more snow and tricky stream crossings this year.  Near-record snowpack at the upper elevations is going to take longer to melt and will add much more water to the run-off that feeds seasonal streams and waterfalls like the one pictured above.

This seasonal waterfall begins flowing in March and dries up in June each year.  At its peak in May, it's really gushing as it flows into the Crystal River south of Redstone, Colorado.

hidden falls

I call this the "hidden waterfall" because it's relatively unknown to most people in the area.  I lived here for eight years before exploring a trail by which I drove almost daily.  It's also a seasonal waterfall, fed by spring melt-off, and flows just a few weeks each year.  It's hard to capture in a photo, but that tiny sliver of water at the top of the frame is nearly a hundred feet above me.

The seasonal waterfall in the canyon south of Redstone, Colorado

Three miles south of Redstone, Colorado, in a narrow canyon, there's a seasonal waterfall that flows for just a few months each year.  When it flows, it can really gush.  It began late this year, last Friday, and the warm weather this weekend may help it reach peak quickly.

All around the Crystal River valley there are seasonal streams.  The run-off from melting snow is why they call this time of year the "mud season."  That's the season between ski season (or snowshoe season) and summer hiking season. 

This is a great time to head to the desert.  It's not nearly as hot there as it would be in the summer, and some cacti may be flowering.  We'll head to the canyons around Grand Junction next weekend, and I'll post photos of our hikes here.