Zapata Falls, Waterfall in San Luis Valley, United States

Zapata Falls is a waterfall in the San Luis Valley where water descends through a narrow rocky crevasse at the mountain base. The flow creates a natural water curtain between the canyon walls as it drops from the upper rock face.

Zapata Falls lies on Bureau of Land Management land beside Rio Grande National Forest, south of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The surrounding San Luis Valley and Sangre de Cristo Mountains were used by Ute and other Native peoples, but the sources record no trail at the falls; the land passed to BLM management in the 20th century.

The name Zapata is Spanish, used in the San Luis Valley where Spanish-language place names are common. The falls lie on Bureau of Land Management land next to Rio Grande National Forest, south of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Visitors today come to watch black swifts, which nest near the falls at one of the few known breeding sites for the species in Colorado.

The trail climbs about 0.5 miles (800 m) from the parking area to the falls. Reaching the waterfall itself means fording the stream and climbing over rocks, so expect wet feet and uneven footing.

During winter months, the entire waterfall freezes into a transparent ice column while water continues moving beneath the surface. This rare occurrence transforms the site into a different kind of spectacle that attracts visitors seeking the frozen landscape.