Having just spent a week back on the east coast where I immersed myself in waterfall and stream photography, this past week saw me continuing that trend.
While I’ve been antsy to get out an photograph mountain peaks and alpine lakes, this past week saw mostly bluebird clear sunrises combined with haze and smoke from the wildfires burning across Colorado and the west.
Since it was unlikely I was going to be able to capture any portfolio worthy images of peaks and mountains with the smoke, haze and clear blue skies, I figured water features would be the most productive way to spend my time.
Over the last fifteen years, I have photographed many of the waterfalls in Rocky Mountain National Park. Even so, I still have a huge list of falls and locations I have yet to visit and photograph. Rocky is big, and getting to each and every waterfall in the park requires lots of dedication and effort.
I had never visited West Creek Falls prior to last week. I’ve spied it on my topo maps many times but it’s somewhat out of the way location has kept me from passing by it or making it the sole purpose of and expedition.
West Creek Falls lies just inside the eastern boundary to Rocky Mountain National Park. Much of the actual hike into West Creek takes place outside Rocky Mountain National Park. Starting at McGraw Ranch, and traversing the North Boundary Trail through the Comanche Peak Wilderness area you eventually come to a spur trail that leads you on the hike up to West Creek Falls.
West Creek Falls is located in the West Creek Research Natural Area. Besides the small spur trail to the Falls, the West Creek Research area is essentially a trailess, little visited section of Rocky Mountain National Park tucked within the Mummy Range.
Like many locations in Rocky now, fallen trees and deadfall can present a problem in capturing unhindered views of locations. West Creek has its share of deadfall, but with some careful placement of my tripod and camera I was able to photograph the beauty of West Creek Falls.
West Creek Falls is a beautiful, secluded spot in Rocky Mountain National Park. I’m definitely planning on visiting the falls again most likely in the fall which looks to be promising.