wildernet

Conejos Peak Ranger District

Quick Facts

Zapata Falls Area

General Description

View from Zapata Falls Parking Area - 10.98

A very rough dirt and rock road leaves State Road 150 approximately 11 miles north of Highway 160. A hike of 2.7 miles or a four-wheel drive vehicle is needed to reach the parking area. There is a restroom and picnic area by the parking area.

This hike is not for everyone. Be prepared to climb a short ladder, get your feet wet in cold water and balance on slippery rocks. Hike 1/2 mile up the trail to the creek, climb up the ladder and continue in the creek through the rock canyon where the falls cascade inside the rock walls.

Directions from U.S. Highway 160: From U.S. Highway 160, proceed north on State Road 150 for about 11 miles to a dirt road on the right side. Four-wheel drive is recommended for this road. It is approximately 2.7 miles from State Road 150 to the trailhead.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: May through October (NOTE: The best time to view the Falls is when the creek is at minimum flow since you have to walk at least one-fourth mile up the creek to reach a point where the Falls can be seen in the cave.) .

		Current Conditions & Trip Reports
		Add your own trip Report! Newly re-released feature. One of the most popular features on Wildernet, trip reports allow you to share your experiences with others. This is an invaluable resource for determining what to expect on your outdoor adventure, so please participate! To prevent spamming, you must be a registered user of Wildernet in order to submit a trip report Filed By: tom (liberal, ks) Number of People Encountered: 11-25 ppl Recommend to a Friend: Highly Report: Dirt road is very rough, but not hard for two wheel drive. Trail to falls has several benches along the way. Once you get into the slot canyon falls are visible from about ten to fifteen feet in, smaller fall about five feet, then about twenty feet above that another fall. Lots of pinion pines. Saw about a dozen deer along road at dusk on the way back fromthe sand dunes. Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl Recommend to a Friend: Highly Report: Correction to trail head access. The road to the Zapata Falls trail head is dirt but is passable by most any 2wd regular clearance vehicle. Just take it slow.

Recreation Opportunities

Activity		Remarks	On Site
	Cold Water Fishing	South Zapata Creek; South Zapata Lake	No
	Forest Areas	Zapata Falls Area	Yes
	Four-Wheel Driving	A very rough dirt and rock road	Yes
	Hiking & Walking	Zapata Falls Trail & South Zapata Creek Trail	Yes
	Horseback Riding	Trail is steep in many places	Yes
	Picnicking	Picnic tables at parking area.	Yes