Zapata Falls

Six miles outside of Great Sand Dunes NP is Zapata Falls. Zapata was a huge ranch in the area and the falls are on that original property, which is now under the aegis of the US Bureau of Land Management. Driving up a three mile graveled and wash-boarded road gets you to the parking area, and a half mile uphill trek gets you to the creek and falls.



Like all mountain creeks, Zapata Creek's bed is strewn with rocks of all sizes. A trail takes you alongside the water for a few yards, but then you have to jump right into the cold water, get up over this remnant of an old dam, and wade another 30 or so yards of the creek to the cave-like entrance notch in the rock face of the mountainside (the dark triangle shaped shadow in center of photo.)



A 90 degree turn gets you into the notch/cave and a walk of another 30 feet brings you to this 30 foot falls.



After the water reaches the bottom of the 30 foot drop, it makes a 90 degree turn into a second, 6 foot waterfall. This photo is obscured by the mist and water drops on the lens.



This final photo tries to capture both falls at once from a distance. Since I am basically in a cave, it was difficult to get a good shot of both falls due to the distance and the darkness.



The water you wade in varied from inches to a foot deep. Earlier in the season during snow melt, the water is so deep, fast, and cold that it is not recommended to wade to the falls.