Day 12: Zapata Falls Trail and Great Sand Dunes Recreation

On Saturday, September 24, 2022, I drove 45 minutes to hike the Zapata Falls Trail, a 1-mile out-and-back journey leading to a secluded 25-foot waterfall tucked away in a rocky crevasse of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Arriving at the trailhead around 9:15am, I eagerly began my hike.

Despite spending almost an hour traversing the trail and capturing photos along the way, I unfortunately didn’t reach the waterfall. To access it, one must wade through the creek water. Having mistakenly left my hiking poles in the car, I hesitated to venture in, worried about slipping and damaging my camera. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed all that the hike had to offer.

At around 10:30am, I departed Zapata Falls and returned to the hotel to change into my swimsuit, preparing for an afternoon of relaxation at Sand Dunes Recreation, a peaceful oasis nestled in the San Luis Valley. Before heading there, I made a quick stop at the FedEx inside Walgreens in Alamosa to drop off my hiking poles for return to LowerGear Outdoors.

I spent about three hours at Sand Dunes Recreation, primarily hanging out in The Greenhouse, an adults-only section featuring four soaking pools, a sauna, tropical gardens, and a small plates, beer, and wine menu. While The Greenhouse was amazing, it’s an enclosed space, and the weather that day was so beautiful that I couldn’t resist spending some time reading outside by the large pool. Fortunately, I managed to snag a lounge chair before making my way back to the hotel to shower and change for dinner.

My last stop of the day was the San Luis Valley Brewing Company, a locally focused, small-batch craft brewery and restaurant. It was the perfect way to end my time at Great Sand Dunes National Park.