Dry Creek Ditch Falls is a short out and back route on the foothills west of Montrose, Colorado. The path follows an old irrigation ditch road above Dry Creek Canyon before dropping toward a seasonal waterfall. It is a rough, single lane dirt road rather than a maintained trail, and it sees a mix of vehicles, mountain bikes, and hikers.
Trail Summary
- Location: Uncompahgre Plateau foothills, about 8 miles southwest of Montrose, Colorado
- Distance: 1.9 miles round trip
- Difficulty: Level 1 - Suitable for high clearance 2WD
- Minimum Elevation: 6,719 ft
- Maximum Elevation: 6,781 ft
- Elevation Gain: 325 ft
- Travel Time: 54 minutes (recorded track)
Difficulty
Suitable for high clearance 2WD
Stock equipment is sufficient and no special equipment is needed. The road is dirt and rocky with potential obstacles under 5 inches, such as loose rock, dips, or ruts. Grades are slight with good traction, and the roadbed is typically wide enough for two vehicles.
Elevation
The route stays within a tight band of elevation, running between 6,719 and 6,781 feet. Total climbing over the course of the trail comes to 325 feet, offset by 302 feet of descent, for a net change of only 62 feet from start to finish. There is no single sustained climb or descent, just a series of small rolls as the road follows the contour of the ditch line above the canyon.
Terrain
This is desert and foothill terrain. Expect packed dirt and rocky sections along a single lane road cut into the hillside, with sagebrush and scattered pinyon and juniper along the way. The surface is uneven in spots but free of any significant ledges or technical obstacles.
4WD Experience
A high clearance 4WD vehicle handles this route with no difficulty. The road is narrow and washboarded in places, with loose rock and minor ruts common on ditch and canyon rim roads in this area. Tire placement is not critical here, though drivers should watch for oncoming bikes, hikers, or ATVs on the blind curves along the ditch bank. Standard tires and stock suspension are adequate.
Travel Time
The recorded track shows a total time of 54 minutes for the 1.9 mile round trip, which reflects a slow pace with stops to take in the views and reach the falls on foot. Driven straight through at a cautious speed appropriate for a narrow ditch road, the round trip takes closer to 15 to 20 minutes. Most visitors will want to budget closer to an hour to allow time at the waterfall.
Highlights
The destination is a seasonal waterfall at the head of the drainage, a reliable payoff for a short trip. Along the way there are open views west toward the San Juan Mountains and down into Dry Creek Canyon. The area is known as Golden Eagle nesting habitat, so watch the canyon walls and skies. Vegetation shifts from sagebrush and scrub oak on the open sections to pinyon pine near the water at the far end.
Trail GPS File
Map