A High Cascade in the Shoshone National Forest

Tumbling down Big Creek in Park County, the falls come off the steep slopes of the Middle Rockies in distinct steps, with a recorded total height in the several-hundred-foot range and a single drop of around 240 feet. The exact figure varies by source, but the impression is the same: a tall, energetic cascade carved into high mountain terrain at nearly 9,500 feet of elevation.↗↗↗

The waterfall sits in the Shoshone National Forest, managed by the U.S. Forest Service, wrapped in lodgepole pine and mixed-conifer stands. The surrounding country is classic high Rockies landscape—glaciated valleys, alpine peaks and subalpine fir and spruce—where snowmelt streams send cascades down the canyon walls. Because it draws few visitors, you are likely to have the falls and the trail largely to yourself.↗↗↗

The Hike In

The falls are reached on the Big Creek Trail (USFS Trail #761.5), most often as a 3.0-mile out-and-back day hike. The route climbs roughly 500 feet over natural-surface tread with short steeper pitches, earning it a moderate rating: enough elevation and uneven footing to call for steady boots, but well within reach of most fit walkers looking for a scenic outing.↗↗

Follow the signed trail into quiet woods until the gorge opens to viewpoints of the cascade. The setting feels properly backcountry while remaining a maintained Forest Service trail, and dogs are welcome along the route. There are no trailhead or access fees, and the water is not a swimming spot—this is a place to view from the trail, not to wade.↗

When to Go and How to Prepare

Plan your visit from late spring through early fall, when the trail has shed its snow and the falls run fullest; peak flow typically comes in June with the height of the snowmelt. Roads and trails at this altitude can close under winter snow, so check current conditions with the Shoshone National Forest before you set out from Cody.↗↗↗

This is genuine mountain wilderness: the area holds deer, elk and birds, and bears, so carry and know how to use bear spray, watch your step on slick rocks near the cascade, and be ready for shifting weather. At close to 9,500 feet the air is noticeably thinner, so take it slow, hydrate well and bring sun protection—good hiking shoes, water and bug spray for the warmer months round out the kit.↗

Making a Day of It

Big Creek Falls makes an easy day trip from the Wild West town of Cody, about a 39-minute drive to the trailhead, and pairs well with the other waterfall hikes that cluster within 50 miles of town. For travelers using Cody as a base—whether for its museums, rodeos or as a gateway toward Yellowstone's eastern entrance—the falls offer a low-key, local-feeling alternative to the busier crowds on the plateau.↗↗↗