Thenaturalmedic Adventures
Hello there, and thanks so much for joining us here! You are probably wondering what this podcast is all about? In this podcast, we will talk about all sorts of outdoor adventures, but primarily, for now, we will focus on hiking and backpacking. No other outdoor adventure is so accessible to so many people! So please join us as we talk about how to hike/backpack and learn how to hike any length trail from your local neighborhood parks to those long trails such as the Appalachian and others worldwide! Remember... "in every walk with nature; one receives far more than he seeks... - John Muir " See you on the trail!
Thenaturalmedic Adventures
Sometimes You Should Chase Waterfalls: Our Journey to Zapata Falls
Note: Please See YouTube for the Video Version
Ever wondered what geological treasures hide near Colorado's Great Sand Dunes? Join me on a refreshing detour to Zapata Falls, where ancient glacial forces created a stunning 25-foot waterfall tucked away in a rocky chasm.
The adventure begins with a scenic half-mile hike through BLM land, leading to Zapata Creek. Don't be afraid to get your feet wet—the final approach requires wading through shallow water and navigating slippery rocks, but the reward is absolutely worth it! As I discovered, the falls cascade dramatically into what locals call the "Pot of Falls," creating a cool, misty sanctuary that contrasts beautifully with the nearby desert landscape.
What makes this site particularly fascinating is its geological history. The waterfall formed approximately two million years ago when glaciers shaped the San Gregorio de Cristo mountains. These ancient ice masses deposited enormous rock piles (moraines) and created weak spots where water could carve its way through—eventually forming the falls we see today. This natural wonder offers a perfect example of how diverse Colorado's landscape truly is, with sand dunes and waterfalls existing just miles apart.
If you're planning a trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park, I strongly recommend adding Zapata Falls to your itinerary. The entire hike is only about a mile round trip, making it accessible for most visitors while still feeling like you've discovered something special off the beaten path. Sometimes you really should chase waterfalls! Have you explored any hidden gems near famous national parks? Share your discoveries in the comments, and don't forget to subscribe for more trail adventures!
All right, hiking to Zapata Falls, which is a BLM area near the Great Sand Dunes. Follow along, see what we can see. Okay, look at this. Let's see what we can see. Okay, Look at this, the Pot of Falls. Whoa, your moment of sin. The Pot of Falls. It's 25 feet tall, supposedly Good flow today, and it's kind of hard to get over there to get a good shot. So hopefully you can see this, but definitely worth the half a mile hike up to see it. I think this is a case where you would chase waterfalls. You do have to hike up the creek a little bit or try to take your time going across these little slippery rocks into that little chasm there to get to the actual waterfall Flowing really nicely today, the second day of fall 2025. I would say in some cases it is okay to chase waterfalls. Do not stick to the lakes and rivers that you're used to chase waterfalls. Do not stick to the lakes and rivers that you're used to.
Speaker 1:Approximately two million years ago, there was glaciers that formed, contributed to formations. Here in the San Gregorio de Cristo mountains, the Wooded Ridge is a moraine, a huge rock pile deposited by a glacier. Water flowing from the glacier and snow field was a weak spot. That's what made Zapata Falls. And there's the creek. It's such a wild thing. The trailhead is right behind me. These panels talk about the valley, the water and how people came to the valley and how you have these peaks of granite surrounding big sand, which, of course, I've visited over the last couple days. So what a crazy place. But definitely, if you are visiting great sand dunes, you should definitely come and check out Zapata Falls. It's about a mile round trip hike A little bit of wading that beautiful little hike off the beaten path a little bit. Hope you enjoyed this video. If you did give it a thumbs up, make sure to subscribe for future videos and I hope to see you on the trail. Okay, bye.
