Updated July 2026
Zapata Falls
South Zapata Creek drops ~30 ft inside a narrow rock cleft near the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains; reaching the falls requires wading the creek through the slot, a short but rocky ~1 mi round trip near Great Sand Dunes.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Bureau of Land Management for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Graded lakes within 25 miles
- BMountain Home Reservoir · Costilla County · 17.9 mi
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Frequently Asked Questions
Zapata Falls drops about 30 feet. That makes it the 521st-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 23% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Zapata Falls Trail reaches it about 1 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 193 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Mosca. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Bureau of Land Management for closures and current conditions.
Late spring snowmelt (May-Jun). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More Colorado waterfalls
- Adams Falls · 55 ft
- Alberta Falls · 30 ft
- Bear Creek Falls
- Booth Falls · 60 ft
- Box Canyon Falls · 285 ft
- Bridal Veil Falls · 365 ft
- Bridal Veil Falls (Hanging Lake)
- Cascade Falls (Ouray) · 270 ft
Sources
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