Rainbow Falls, Natural waterfall in Manitou Springs, Colorado, US
Rainbow Falls is a waterfall in Manitou Springs, Colorado, where water drops along Fountain Creek into a narrow rocky canyon. The falls sit directly beneath the Highway 24 Bridge, which frames the view from above.
The Ute people considered this site sacred long before the area was settled by European Americans. The Highway 24 corridor developed through the 20th century and gradually brought roads and infrastructure right up to the edge of the falls.
The canyon walls around the falls are covered in graffiti left by visitors over the years, giving the spot a raw, informal character that surprises many first-time visitors. Some locals now call it Graffiti Falls rather than its official name.
The falls are reached by a short trail from the parking area near Cave of the Winds, just outside Manitou Springs. The path is open year-round, but drier months make the rocks around the pool easier to walk on safely.
The name Rainbow Falls likely comes from the way sunlight catches the spray and creates small rainbows at certain times of day, though most visitors arrive without knowing to look for them. Visiting in the morning, when the sun hits the water at a low angle, gives the best chance of seeing this effect.
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