How to Photograph Helen Hunt Falls

That exact creative process drove the decision when my son and I set out to shoot Helen Hunt Falls in Colorado Springs. Having not photographed this specific canyon in six or seven years, I recalled a straightforward logistical approach. The location features a tiered road system designed to lead drivers past a lower lot up to a main or upper parking area, offering direct access to the base of the waterfall.

However, mountain conditions are inherently dynamic. Upon arrival, we discovered that a recent landslide had covered a portion of the road. With emergency construction underway, the upper vehicular access routes were entirely closed, forcing us to pivot, park at the very bottom lot, and trek the remaining distance.

Helen Hunt Falls Photography Guide

Planning Your Photography Route

The journey into the canyon serves as an excellent case study for anyone mapping out Colorado photography locations. The trail itself is highly deceptive. The initial segment begins as a gentle, scenic walk tracing the banks of Cheyenne Creek, offering low-impact navigation right along the water.

Once the path moves away from the creekbed, the geography changes completely. The terrain transitions into a demanding incline, forcing you to navigate a series of steep switchbacks that climb hard through the canyon. Carrying a heavy pack of high-performance camera bodies and wide-angle lenses adds a deliberate pace to the ascent. By the time we reached the falls, our tracking data measured the detour between two and a half to three miles. Because of the immediate, heavy incline at high altitude, the physical strain certainly makes it feel closer to a grueling four-mile backcountry hike.

The environment along the route provided a fantastic experience to observe the local wildlife. Moving quietly with gear allowed us to observe active mountain birds and small canyon animals native to the Front Range. Reaching the thunderous 35-foot waterfall at the upper basin provided a classic, rewarding conclusion to the physical grind.

Ultimately, the shoot yielded a high-quality photograph, but it represents a developmental step rather than the final destination. The precise lighting and specific environmental elements I am visualizing have not yet perfectly aligned, keeping this spot firmly on my active scouting list. The true value of the day was defined by the actual experience: a solid physical challenge, the observation of mountain wildlife, and the opportunity to share a demanding backcountry trail with my son.