Roaring Fork Stream Pullouts

Roaring Fork drops fast here, running over boulders and ledges in a series of small cascades. The rocks are thick with moss, and hemlock and rhododendron lean over the water. In the stretches where the road hugs the creek, you can hear it from the car with the window up. In late October the maple and poplar leaves fall and collect in the pools.

The pull-offs are informal and hold one or two cars. Some are gravel, some are paved shoulders. Park fully off the lane, because the loop is narrow and one-way.

• When: overcast days and after rain, when the water is full and the colors are muted; mid-day sun leaves the creek in patchy glare.
• Time to allow: 5 to 10 minutes each.
• Water safety: rocks are slick, and the creek is deeper than it looks after rain. Stay on the bank.
• Vehicles: buses, trailers and motor homes are not permitted, and the park advises that vehicles over 25 feet should not enter.

The 2026 Roaring Fork season runs mid-April to November 29. After that the gate closes for the winter. The loop takes 45 minutes with stops, and traffic is heaviest on October weekends, when the lots at Grotto Falls and the farmsteads fill.

Parking tags can't be purchased in this area, so buy one before you drive in; a parking tag is required for stops over 15 minutes. If the named stops are packed, the unnamed pull-offs are a way to enjoy the road without waiting. Laurel Falls Trail, the nearby alternative, is closed.