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    Zapata Falls

    4.4 (34 reviews)

    Zapata Falls Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Zapata Falls

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    Karen 2.

    great hiking path up to the waterfall. was mostly frozen but is so beautiful! must see

    Emily C.

    If you're going to be nearby at Sand Dunes NP, Zapata Falls is definitely worth the trip! The road up to the trail head is one of the bumpiest drives I have ever been on -- even though it is only a few miles, expect it to take 25+ minutes. The trail itself is really well marked, clean, and takes only 10 or so minutes to the top. The best part is being able to walk through the river (sandals/chacos/water shoes recommended), in between the rock cave walls, and get very close to the waterfall. It was like an oasis. Such a fun, free, and quick activity!

    Joey W.

    Do not go up if you have a regular compact car, the unpaved rocky road was pretty rough. We decided to just hike the unpaved road (~ 3 miles) by foot. Bring lots of water and a snack because it's a long hike up. Once you get to the stream. you still have a small hike to the waterfall. We took off our hiking boots to get across. The water was cold. It's worth hiking to the waterfall!

    Christi S.

    A short hike to a great waterfall. It is shaded once you get to the river. I wore hiking sandals, which was great for the 2nd half of the hike. The "path" next to the river is rocky and steep- you have to scramble to not get wet. But with the sandals- I just walked in the water which was much easier, although cold. Also- the view from the parking lot is great!! Great views of great sand dunes national park. Road to lot is unpaved- and steep going down.

    Zapata Falls
    Stephanie B.

    Fantastic hike! The falls were frozen but they were beautiful! The trail is quite rocky but beautiful and well maintained.

    Tracey B.

    Great place. We went at the end of April and the falls were still frozen over. It was really pretty to see. We did not actually walk on the ice as all the reviews warned of how slippery it is. The hike up to Zapata Falls was much rockier than we thought and definitely took some energy. It is rated "easy" for a hike but honestly I thought it was more moderate.

    The falls
    Richard H.

    Wow. Amazing little walk to a great Colorado Landmark. Wear shoes you can walk in the river with for sure!

    1 mile later, the river!
    Leland S.

    My friend recommended this spot, once I did some research, it looked really nice! (Experience may be different during the season). Here was my experience early June. Directions: It's pretty straight forward, the hike is probably 2 miles. iIt's just the off-road driving that will be very length and timely. Hiking Difficulty: Easy The main challenge is the bumpy drive really. Other than that, if you go early June, the ice has freshly melted. Thus the water trek is SUPER cold! Going towards the waterfall will give you resistance. You WILL get wet on the final stretch heading towards the waterfall. However if you do go during the Winter..I heard it's simply bea-utiful! Advice: * If you're visiting, I highly recommend an off-road vehicle to rent. Once you go off road, a 3 mile drive is a bumpy 40+ minutes with a regular car * Great hike for kids and adults, it really is a short hike.

    Heading toward the falls through the freezing water!!
    Moe E.

    Here is a video of my experience https://youtu.be/Ru-p8rRSrVY I was so excited about being able to actually hike up a mountain and see a waterfall!! That excitement was partially vanished when we got to the actual road leading up to the trail!! THE ROAD WAS HORRIBLE!!! It took 30 minutes to make it up a 3.5 mile road!! OMG!! We finally made it up the road and up the trail. The trail was about 1/2 a mile long. We had just visited Great Sand Dunes and we were already tired, so I struggled to make it up!! Make sure you have hiking boots!! We didn't have any and when we got to the creek, we were slipping off the rocks!! The water is freezing cold, so be ready!! We didn't even get to see the falls because there was a line of people waiting, so we just turned around!! Try not to go at a busy time!!

    Lol, yes I took a selfie.
    Seth A.

    I had spent the first portion of my day exploring Great Sand Dunes National Park and since I had extra time, I had read that Zapata Falls was a worthwhile place to visit. Zapata Falls is located just off the main road 5 minutes away from the entrance to Great Sand Dunes NP. The sign to access Zapata Falls is clear and visible. It was mentioned in my research that to get to the falls area you must drive 3 miles on a dirt, gravel road. LET ME CLARIFY THIS! It was one of the worst maintained, bumpy and rugged roads I may have ever driven on!!! Halfway through the brutal trek, I was highly considering turning around, especially since it was the 2nd day of my 10 day journey through some of Colorado's great national parks and I felt like I was doing serious damage to my rental car! :( Also...it's not like there's AAA or a gas station near the Great Sand Dunes area to come rescue you. Fortunately, my Ford Focus made it to the falls trailhead! My only thinking at this point was how am I going to make the 3 mile trip back down the road...but my intrigue for seeing what Zapata Falls looked like kept me forging ahead. Once at the parking lot, there's a trailhead sign saying the short hike to the falls is about a 1/2 mile, mostly uphill, but not strenuous at all. The area along the hike is mostly surrounded by trees and forest, nothing too scenic. Approaching the falls, you will walk along rocks that are halfway submerged in water coming from the base of the falls. This water forms a gentle stream. My shoes did get a little wet here...but as long as you carefully watch your step... I visited on May 2, 2018 and Zapata Falls were halfway frozen. Also, the falls were located in a tiny little opening/crevice where you will stand on rocks while maintaining your balance to view a mostly ordinary and uneventful looking waterfall. And...my photos appeared dull and blurry at times with an overall lack of inspiration. There was a giant block of ice coinciding next to the falls which made for a disappointing setting. After witnessing Zapata Falls, I quickly questioned to myself, "why in the world did I drive the roughest 3 mile road to get here???" My lasting impression...it was not worth it whatsoever to come here. The falls weren't nearly as picturesque as I had anticipated. I couldn't wait to return to my car and get myself back to the main entranceway. I would suggest skipping Zapata Falls and spend as much time as possible touring Great Sand Dunes National Park...a much more interesting and colorful destination to appreciate nature and the great outdoors.

    Zapata Falls
    Sandra V.

    This place is AWESOME. There is a drive up the mountain maybe 3-4 miles of dirt/rock road. The drive sucks. Well it sucks in the sense that it takes a bit to climb because you don't want to ruin your vehicle and not sure what to expect when turning the corners. The hike to the actual part of where the water is short. Once you get to the water you will either go thru the water and wet your shoes or you will try to go over on top of the rocks trying not to get wet. The water is COLD. Take an extra pair of shoes in case you get wet. The fall is thru a cave. The process of going thru the water is what takes time. There are several people going thru at the same time as you. I would recommend you go but for sure have a good vehicle (wouldn't say small car), good shoes either hiking shoes, tennis shoes, or sandals with good grip on bottom.

    Entrance to Zapata falls
    Mikala M.

    This hike is Beautiful! We came here in October and the colors of the leave made this hike even more beautiful. The actual hike is less then a mile long, not a steep terrain at all but a little up hill. Very rocky but easy to walk through. You can start to hear the waterfall as your getting close. You'll come to an opening of large trees and you'll want to head towards the right and cross the river a few times, go through the cave area and there is the amazing waterfall! I'd recommend going in the summer as the water is Freezing in October and you will get your feet wet when crossing the river. There's a 4 mile lake hike you can do afterwards if you're up for it. The only con: the non grated road on the way up to the hike. This road needs some serious work done to it!

    Inside the falls cavern while ice has formed.
    Patrick S.

    Well worth the short trip if you are in the Great Sand Dunes National Park area. The access road is well marked south of the GSDNP entrance, a short drive but bumpy ride will get you to the trailhead. This area is very nice with a campground, real bathrooms, lots of parking and a great vista! The hike up to the falls is about 1/4 mile and its really rocky but easily navigable. Once you get to the water, provided there is no ice, you wade back upstream to see the falls. You can hear them crashing down but you have to be inquisitive and willing to get wet to actually see them. When we went, it was still spring and the stream was ice covered so no need for us to get wet...the actual falls were beautiful and partially ice-covered and so cool! Its a great side-trip and in the heat of the summer the dip in the stream will be a welcome diversion!

    Our son in front of the falls

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    This campground has great views from every spot!!!!The waterfall is beautiful too!!!!!

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    Ask the Community - Zapata Falls

    Review Highlights - Zapata Falls

    You will be rewarded with stunning views of the dunes and a really cool waterfall and creek area.

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    Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve - Information Sign  10-06-2025

    Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

    (239 reviews)

    A truly remarkable landscape that must be experienced. These are the tallest sand dunes in North…read moreAmerica. Yes, in Colorful Colorado!!! My first trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park was in February of this year. It completely exceeded my expectations. No, it's not classic Colorado. Yes, I visited in the off season (more people should do this!) Minimal crowds meant having most of the park to myself. I rented a sandboard in Alamosa and sandboarded down the dunes. Only $20 at Kristi Mountain Sports! Talk about a thrilling experience! Totally recommend doing this if you're craving an adventure. All you have to be cautious of are the weather conditions, specifically wind. I watched the forecast like a hawk and tailored my visit accordingly. The two popular hikes to experience the dunes are High Dune and Star Dune, with the latter being the tallest. Now you know I'm a hiker and that I grew up near the ocean...but hiking on sand??? Not for the faint of heart! I made it up to High Dune and ran out of water and decided it was best to head back. Incredible views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. At a few points I was completely surrounded by dunes and that was a feeling I never thought I'd experience! Visiting at sunrise the following morning was spectacular. I was the only one in the trailhead parking lot! The pink skies over the dunes and mountains was a special combination. I hiked the Dunes Overlook Trail afterwards and I'd recommend it since you get to see the park from a higher vantage point. I also saw 25 deer on trail, no I'm not exaggerating! This was the adventure of a lifetime. Go play in Colorado's sandbox, you'll be surprised how much you enjoy it! Can't wait to come back!

    Looking for something different than skiing down a mountain in Colorado!? You should visit the sand…read moredunes- definitely a bit more physically challenging but once you get to the sand dunes and get to sled down the dunes it's so much fun! We rented sleds from a place just half a mile down the road. They give super clear instructions on how to use them!

    Zapata Falls - hiking - Updated May 2026

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