Zapata Falls Hike
Waterfall | Colorado
0.9 mi round trip
237 ft
Easy
Zapata Falls Hike at a Glance
The Zapata Falls hike is 0.9 mi round trip with 237 ft of elevation gain.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 9,430 ft |
|---|---|
| Distance | 0.9 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 237 ft |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Your time: about 25 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 30 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 240 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 0.9 mi distance and 237 ft of gain for this hike are verified (denvergazette.com), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Zapata Falls
Zapata Falls is a waterfall in Colorado, on land managed by Bureau of Land Management (Zapata Falls SRMA).
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Zapata Falls Trail: 0.9 miles round trip with about 237 feet of elevation gain. Distance from denvergazette.com. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Easy.
Before You Go
- Dogs are allowed on leash. (denvergazette.com)
- Viewing the falls requires fording the stream and climbing rocks. (blm.gov)
- People wade in the creek in summer despite a posted warning of cold, potentially strong currents. (denvergazette.com)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Bureau of Land Management (Zapata Falls SRMA) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Zapata Falls?
The Zapata Falls Trail to Zapata Falls is 0.9 miles round trip with about 237 feet of elevation gain.
Are dogs allowed on the Zapata Falls trail?
Dogs are allowed on leash.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
1:00 PM (2:00 PM summer)
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Zapata Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- denvergazette.com
- Distance
- denvergazette.com
- Falls location
- en.wikipedia.org
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Zapata Falls.