Zapata Falls

Swimming in the pool of a hidden waterfall is a magical experience that you can have right here in the San Luis Valley. However, it does take some effort to reach, especially considering you will need to navigate around rocky cliffs and even walk upstream of the Rio Grande River to reach it (so make sure you pack your water shoes). This region of Colorado can get extremely hot in the summer, and the powerful plummet of ice-cold water is a welcomed remedy to combat the heat. The falls are also equally as stunning in the winter when the water freezes over a creates a massive ice column in the middle of the pool.