Treasure Falls, CO

Great place to stop and stretch your legs if traveling in the San Juan's between Pagosa Springs and Wolf Creek/South Fork. Treasure Falls has is an impressive waterfall, over 100' tall. There's a large parking area with restrooms and a great place to stop for a traveling break. The falls can be viewed from the parking log, but those able should climb the well-maintained trail to get to the base of the falls - well worth the effort.


The trail starts near the restrooms and the informative signs. After a hundred yards or so, the trail splits with a left fork taking you to a fine overlook of the San Juan Valley toward Pagosa Springs. Continuing right on the main trail and several switchbacks, you first come to a bridge that spans the underlying creek. Continue up the main trail (left) from the bridge to get to the "Misty Deck".Oak, Aspen, and Spruce trees thickly line the trail as well as informative signs about the fauna within the area.

The legend of the falls is posted at the trailhead: "As the story goes...in the late 1700s, an expedition of 300 Frenchman secretly entered the Suan Juan Mountains in search of gold in what was then Spanish Territory. Over a period of years, they faced disease, brutal winters, and battles with the Ute Indians. Of the 300 Frenchman, only two returned to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. They told an intriguing tale about how the leaders of the expedition had cached a fortune of gold near Treasure Mountain. Many have looked for the gold but have failed to locate the cache. Most of the clues have been lost or destroyed...and the French gold remains the Legend of Treasure Mountain."

The round trip takes only 20-30 minutes. This is a great hike for children...fairly easy, well maintained with plenty of wooden benches for rest breaks. The falls will be most impressive in spring during snowmelt.

2012-10-05 squatpuke