The Long Way
Alamosa County
Three people stand near a waterfall in a rocky canyon.
Plate I. Hikers at Zapata Falls Trailhead. From nps.gov
A car parked at an overlook with a view of a vast landscape under a cloudy sky.
Plate II. Campsite view, Zapata Falls Trailhead. From recreation.gov
A vehicle parked at a scenic overlook beneath a cloudy sky.
Plate III. Valley view from Zapata Falls Trailhead. From recreation.gov
A silver travel trailer is parked at a scenic campsite beneath cloudy skies.
Plate IV. Zapata Falls Campground, Zapata Falls Trailhead. From recreation.gov
A person and a dog stand outside a yellow tent set up among trees.
Plate V. Zapata Falls Campground, Zapata Falls Trailhead. From recreation.gov
Water flows over rocks in a small stream.
Plate VI. Cascading water, Zapata Falls Trailhead. From blm.gov
A frozen waterfall inside a rocky canyon.
Plate VII. Frozen waterfall, Zapata Falls Trailhead. From alamosa.org
A clear alpine lake surrounded by rocky mountains and green vegetation.
Plate VIII. Alpine lake view, Zapata Falls Trailhead. From blm.gov
A landscape view showing distant mountains, a wide plain, and trees in the foreground under a cloudy sky.
Plate IX. Zapata Falls Trailhead. From blm.gov

Zapata Falls Trailhead

Alamosa, Alamosa County, Colorado. SRMA; All facilities open year-round.

Details

Map. Alamosa, Alamosa County, Colorado. Larger map
Where
Alamosa, Alamosa County, CO. No street address stated. Directions
Getting there
From Alamosa, depart on US Highway 160/Main Street eastwards. Go east on Highway 160 until you reach Colorado State Highway 150. Turn left and go north on Colorado State Highway approximately 12.5 miles. Turn right onto the unpaved gravel road (Lake of The Falls Road).
Fees
Free hike and parking lot.
Access
Access to this waterfall entails a mildly steep 0.5 mi (0.80 km) hike. Viewing the falls requires fording the stream and climbing rocks.
Walk-in or reserve
Camping in designated sites is by reservation only.
Phone
(719) 852-7074
Website
blm.gov
Managed by
San Luis Valley Field Office.

A short but adventurous hike over slippery rocks leads to a magnificent 25-foot waterfall at Zapata Falls Recreation Area.

Notable Events

  1. 1864Families from Mexico established the town of Zapata at the western base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. blm.gov
  2. 1870sSeveral landholdings were consolidated into one of the San Luis Valley's first and largest cattle ranches, which is still active today. blm.gov
  3. 1889Settlers who purchased part of the Zapata Ranch envisioned a reservoir in the mountains above Zapata Falls, with a flume to bring water down to irrigate farms on the valley floor. ranchlands.com

Sources

  1. blm.gov/visit/zapata-falls-srma
  2. blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2023-10/2023%20-%20Zapata%20Falls%20Special%20Recreation%20Management%20Area%20brochure.pdf
  3. alamosa.org/listing/zapata-falls-trail
  4. nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/nearbyattractions.htm
  5. recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/261715
  6. sangreheritage.org/zapata-falls
  7. ranchlands.com/blogs/journal/the-history-of-zapata-ranch