Zapata Falls…

Zapata Falls is a popular natural attraction located near the Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado, United States. It is known for its stunning waterfall and scenic beauty. Here’s some information about Zapata Falls:

Zapata Falls is situated in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, southwest of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. It is located within the Rio Grande National Forest.

The highlight of Zapata Falls is its waterfall, which cascades down a narrow crevice in the mountainside. The falls are tall and flow from a hidden creek that originates from the melting snow and ice in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Trail and Access: To reach Zapata Falls, visitors need to hike a short trail. The trailhead is easily accessible by car and has a parking area. From the parking area, the trail follows a rocky path and crosses Zapata Creek multiple times. During the summer, the creek is usually shallow and manageable to cross, but it can be colder due to the snowmelt. In winter, the trail can be icy and challenging, so caution is advised. You can brings dogs up the trail however please clean up after your pet. We saw tons of dogs going up and down the trail but the pet waste was creating lots of bugs in the area. We saw a small animals closer to the falls, please do not feel them or throw rocks at them. They will not bother you if you just leave them alone and not feed them. The parking lot can hold about 10 maybe 15 cars and it’s very limited.

Upon reaching the end of the trail, you will encounter a narrow opening in the rock face that leads to the cave behind the waterfall. To access the cave, it is necessary to wade through the freezing water of Zapata Creek. Inside the cave, visitors can witness impressive ice formations, particularly during winter when the waterfall freezes. The cave provides a unique perspective and a chance to observe the waterfall from behind. We did to the top of the where the falls are. They was a large amount of people walking up there which made it difficult to get a view up there.

We will try to come back again and we will bring lots of bug spray, additional tip…come early in the day.