Zapata Falls Day Use Area

About Zapata Falls Day Use Area

A short, yet slippery hike leads to the view of a 25-foot waterfall at Zapata Falls Recreation Area. During the summer months, the falls provide a cooling oasis, but during the winter months, the waterfall freezes into an enormous column of ice, perfect for the experienced ice climber. Travelers along Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway can stop for an overnight stay at one of 24 campsites in Zapata Falls. For more information, please contact the San Luis Valley Field Office.

How to Get There

From the community of Alamosa Colorado, drive east on Highway 160. At the intersection with Highway 150 turn north on Highway 150. Follow this road north to the Zapata falls Road (gravel), on the east (right side) of highway 150. Take this road to the Recreation Area (approximately 2 miles). The day use parking is on the left and the campground is on the right. The trail head to the falls is in the Day Use parking lot.

Plan Your Visit to Zapata Falls Day Use Area

Heading to Zapata Falls Day Use Area? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)