Total Mileage/Elevation: .9 mi, uphill but not too steep
Location: South of Great Sand Dunes National Park & North of Ft. Garland
This Trail is Good for: hiking, wading, kids, families
Dispersed Camping Nearby: no
Forest Service Campground Nearby: yes, at the trailhead
Pets: yes, on leash
Duration of Hike: 1 hour round trip
Possible Loops: No
Time of Year I Hiked the Trail: July
Time to Nearest Town: 30 min to Ft. Garland
Condition of Approach Roads: Lots of road work was done very recently up to the trailhead.
Directions to the Trailhead
Take Hwy 160 to Ft. Garland and then Blanca. Just on the west side of Blanca look for State Route 150 north. Approx 4.5-5 mi north and there will be a road on the east side of the highway that leads up to Zapata Falls Trail. Follow this road to the parking area and campground. Take the Zapata Falls Trail to start.
Zapata Falls Trail Description
The trail starts at the parking area near the campground. The trail is just under a mile long and ends where South Zapata Creek crosses the trail. There are some benches here, a sign that talks about the falls, and shade.
The trail is mostly exposed, and is up hill so be prepared for sun and warm weather in the summer. It can be pretty warm.
In order to see the falls you need to wade in the creek for about a hundred yards up to the falls. You cannot see them from the creek crossing. Bring shoes you can get wet or sandals. The rocks can be slippery and sharp so it’s not a good idea to do this barefoot.
The creek isn’t very deep but it is pretty hard to walk up in there and keep your feet dry, however- I did do it mostly. Just plan on wading up. It’s more fun that way. Trekking poles are also a help as you navigate the rocks up the creek.
The falls get louder and louder as you approach and the walls of the canyon just go straight up around you keeping the noise in. On a hot summer day the mist from the falls is very refreshing!
This is a great hike for kids and families as it’s short, you get to play in the water, and it’s fun.
Where to Get Maps for This Hike
Twin Peaks, CO Product Number 512021
Download USGS Survey Map Click Here (from USGS website free)
CalTopo Online Mapping Software- https://caltopo.com/map.html