Silver Cascade Falls is a wonderful place for a quick, get-away romp over some moderate grade ice that is oh-so close to Colorado Springs. Merely drive to the top of Cheyenne Canyon and park at the Helen Hunt Falls trailhead. From there, it is only a few minutes walk to the base of the falls. Sporting moderately steep, this is a wonderful place to take someone to learn the basics of ice climbing or to get in a quick lap or two when you can’t get away from town. From the parking lot at the trailhead, follow the trail for two switchbacks until you arrive at an obvious shoulder. This is also where the wooden fence pinches down into a very distinct corner. Hop the fence and follow an obvious trail down into the creek bed. There is also another way to approach the stream bed from below without having to climb over the fence, but I have never been that way. Once you are in the stream bed, follow it to the base of the climbing. You will know it when you get there. Here you will find some very nice logs that make a wonderful bench where you can sort gear and put on crampons, etc. The ice follows two rolling bulges to reach the top of the overlook in about 165 feet of climbing or so. Actually, the technical stuff is over much sooner, and you will be walking over snow for the last little bit. There are some trees at the top of the bulges where a top rope can be set up. To get down, either rappel, scramble down to the climbers left, or walk down the trail from the overlook. Enjoy.
Protection
For gear; screws, quick draws, and some slings will be all that is necessary.
By Leo Paik Administrator From: Westminster, Colorado Jan 25, 2007
FWIW, this place seemed really nice for a teaching area. The main slab can host 2 parties & is about 90 ft to a couple fat trees. There is a shorter slab, wide enough for 2-3 parties, up & left that is probably 30-40' to a tree. I hear this can get quite crowded on weekends.
Great learning/training area if you live nearby. I use to go up just after the sun went down and climb by headlamp. It's always quiet then, just you and the critters (big glowing eyes in the trees). Highly recommended. Grabbed a snowboard descent in March of 04 after a heavy wet spring snow. Very enjoyable.
It is mostly low angle and dead easy so a safe place for someone learning to place screws. Can be fun to cruise around on and practice french thechnique or other silly stuff like climb sans toos, sans cons, or other desperate things you might find yourself doing if you are into ice climbing and stuck in the Springs!
North Cheyenne Canyon
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