Waterfall hikes are by far my favorite. When we planned our drive to Crested Butte, I was thrilled to discover Zapata Falls! I knew right away that this was the perfect hike to cap off the year. Keep reading to discover more about this incredible winter hike to a stunning frozen waterfall!
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Zapata Falls in winter is a breathtaking sight, where the cascading water freezes into intricate ice formations that glisten in the cold, mountain air. Surrounded by rugged cliffs and a serene landscape, the falls create a tranquil, almost otherworldly scene.
Getting There
Address: Zapata Falls is located off Highway 150, just a few miles from the Great Sand Dunes National Park entrance. It’s within the San Isabel National Forest.
Trailhead: The trailhead is marked, and you can drive to the Zapata Falls parking area. From there, the hike to the falls is about 1/4 mile (0.4 km) and is relatively short, but it involves some scrambling through rocky terrain and can be slippery in winter due to ice and snow.
The Hike – Distance: 0.8 miles | Time: 30 minutes | Level: Moderate
This hidden gem of a hike provides a stunning view of a 25-foot frozen waterfall nestled inside a cave. The hike to the falls is an easy, gravel trail that meanders through the trees. To reach the cave itself, you’ll need to trek on top of a chilly, frozen creek, and to see the waterfall, you will need to enter the cave.
Winter Hiking Conditions
Trail Difficulty: The short trail can be steep and potentially icy during winter, especially as you get closer to the waterfall. It’s important to wear sturdy, waterproof boots with good tread and consider investing in microspikes or crampons to improve traction on icy surfaces.
Ice and Snow: The falls themselves are often frozen in winter, creating a beautiful scene of cascading ice formations. However, the surrounding rocks, water, and trail can be slick, so proceed cautiously.
Cold Temperatures: Winter temperatures in the area can drop significantly, especially at higher elevations. Be sure to wear warm, layered clothing, and bring hats, gloves, and scarves.
Clothing and Gear
Dress in layers to regulate your body temperature and wear moisture-wicking fabrics. Be sure to pack warm gloves, hats, and a scarf or neck gaiter to protect against cold winds. Consider bringing trekking poles for added stability on slippery terrain. My heated jacket was the perfect outer layer for this hike!
If you plan to spend time near the falls, the mist and cold air can cause the surroundings to freeze, making it a beautiful, icy spectacle. Waterproof outer layers can keep you dry in these conditions.
The trail to Zapata Falls is typically accessible year-round, but in winter, there may be snow and ice, making the path slippery. Wear sturdy, waterproof boots with good traction and consider bringing traction devices like microspikes or crampons.
Safety Tips
Stay Safe Around Ice: Be cautious when walking near the frozen waterfall, as ice can be slippery. Keep a safe distance from the edge of any ice-covered areas.
Cell Service: There may be limited or no cell service in the area, so it’s a good idea to tell someone your plans and estimated return time.
First Aid Kit: Always carry a basic first aid kit, as the trail can be tricky, especially when icy.
Other Winter Activities Nearby
If you’re in the area for hiking, you might also want to explore other winter activities near Great Sand Dunes National Park, such as snowshoeing or sledding on the sand dunes, which create a surreal experience in winter.
Image credit: Great Sand Dunes National Park website
Overall, Zapata Falls in winter is a stunning and serene destination, with fewer crowds and a peaceful atmosphere. If you’re well-prepared and take necessary precautions, it can be a memorable winter hike!
The United States, with its vast and diverse landscape, is home to a myriad of experiences from coast to coast. Whether you’re interested in exploring vibrant cities, immersing yourself in rich history, or enjoying outdoor adventures, I’ve got you covered. Check out my list of our top 52 epic road trip adventures across the United States to help you plan the road trip of a lifetime!
It’s hard to even describe the size of these Redwoods, they are truly awe-inspiring! The hikes we took, like the trail through the Stout Memorial Grove, was very easy and had plenty of opportunities for the kids to climb on fallen logs.
3. Go dog sledding at Monarch Mountain in Colorado
Dog sledding in Monarch, Colorado
If you’re in Colorado in the wintertime, I highly suggest looking into a dog sledding adventure! The views are incredible, but we all agree that the most fun was getting to play with the dogs after our guided sledding adventure!
Start with the walk down into the cave behind the Visitor Center and then take the elevator back up! This entire 2.5 mile cave walk is absolutely amazing and a must-see if you are in New Mexico. Be sure to visit the website to purchase timed-entry tickets ahead of time.
Ouray is a stunning mountain town. It was amazing to stumble across this waterfall, just a short walk from downtown on 8th Avenue!
7. Become a Jr. Park Ranger at any National Park or National Monument
Jr. Rangers
This has become one of my youngest boy’s favorite things to do when we visit a National Park! Just head to the Visitor Center wherever you are to learn more and get the necessary booklet to complete and earn your badge.
Winter adventures are the best, especially when you live in Texas and rarely get snow. We love to snowboard together and Crested Butte is our favorite little ski town!
This stop is hilarious! If you’re near St. Roberts, Missouri I highly suggest stopping at this place for some amazing fudge, candy, and lots of laughs!
There’s nothing more that I love than adventuring with my family. It’s even better when we get to explore on our own without a guided tour. This place is fascinating and very informative. We loved climbing ladders to get a closer look at these cliff dwellings.
Seeing the Macy’s Parade has been on my bucket list for years, but I think we enjoyed walking through the parade balloons the day before even better. Here, you get an up close view of the different parade balloons as they are being inflated! Truly a unique experience. You can find this location at Columbus & 72nd St.
13. Visit a living history museum in the Historic Triangle, Virginia
Historic Jamestowne
Being a teacher, I absolutely love learning about the history of our country! The Historic Triangle is a set of three of living history museums. We explored Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestowne, and Yorktown. We enjoyed Jamestown the most!
This drive is not for the faint of heart! But, I have never seen views like this on any of our road trips. The best views can be seen from Ouray to Silverton! Use extreme caution if you’re brave enough to attempt this one!
15. Walk on the MayflowerII in Plymouth, Massachusetts
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Again, I am a huge nerd! So of course, I had to make the drive to Plymouth when we were visiting Boston last summer. Walking on the Mayflower was a dream come true. Yes, I know it’s not the original, but it’s still so cool to learn more about the journey and see a replica in person!
Orange Beach in the spring is delightful. The weather is warm and the crowds are thin! Sometimes it’s just really nice to relax on the beach and have no plans. Big waves are also super cool, especially for the kiddos!
The Preserve is a truly unique experience down in the Hill Country. We had such a fantastic day learning about elephants, giving one a bath, and ultimately helping in their conservation.
Getting to walk inside Abraham Lincoln’s home in Springfield is a must for anyone that loves history and our 16th president. We learned so much during this tour and it sparked our love of seeing other presidential homes across the US!
20. Collect sand dollars at Enderts Beach, California
Enderts Beach
I’ve always wanted to find a sand dollar at the beach and I’ve only been successful here! The views are impressive and we loved counting all the sand dollars on our walk along the beach!
21.Take a photo in the first town in the first state in Historic Lewes, Delaware
Historic Lewes
I didn’t realize that Delaware is so full of early US history! Be sure to stop for a photo if you’re near Lewes, DE. It’s the first town in the first state in the US!
If you like adventure, then I highly suggest taking a white water rafting trip! I will admit, it’s a little scary but oh so fun. My boys loved this activity on our road trip through Colorado.
The Grand Canyon is something everyone needs to see at least once! Move away from the scenic lookout points for less crowds and views like this.
24. Explore Jesse James’s hideout in Robbers Cave, OK
Robbers Cave State Park
If you enjoy camping and hiking, take a trip to Robbers Cave. You’ll find caves, slot canyons, and a super cool hideout that outlaws like Jesse James used to hide from the law.
25.Take a tram to the top of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri
View from inside the arch
St. Louis is a really neat town to explore. If you visit, you have to go inside the Gateway Arch. The tram ride up was a little intimidating, but super cool!
26. See the birthplace of our government in Philadelphia
Inside Independence Hall
We loved our visit to Philadelphia! If you’re there, be sure to get tickets to go inside Independence Hall. It still smells like the 1700s and the relics from that time period really take you back. I might have cried when the Park Rangers showed us some actual artifacts that were George Washington’s!
Jekyll Island is already picturesque with gorgeous beaches and moss covered trees. Driftwood Beach is a unique day trip and fun for the whole family to explore. My boys enjoyed climbing on the trees and swimming here.
28. Do all things Christmas in Santa Claus, Indiana
Santa Claus, Indiana
Did you know that there’s a town called Santa Claus in Indiana? We visited a few years and did all the Christmas activities! We had breakfast with Santa, wrote him letters at the post office, and took all the Christmas photos around town!
Michigan is beautiful any time of the year, but I loved my trip in the fall! We explored quaint, waterfront towns and did a little hiking, too! It’s a great place for a girl’s trip.
Another city full of early American history is Boston. The 2.5 mile long Freedom Trail passes by 17 different locations that are significant in our early history.
31. Hike to Ice Lake in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado
Ice Lake
This is a tough hike, but the views are totally worth it! Jereme called this lake, “the Gatorade lake.” I have never seen water so blue! It’s about an 8 mile hike, and the elevation gain is comparable to hiking over two Empire State Buildings.
I have always wanted to drive through Monument Valley and finally had the chance on our way to Moab a few years ago. We stopped for a quick photo at Forest Gump Point!
This trail is one of my most favorites to date! I love exploring caves and this place is fantastic. There are around 13 caves along the trail that you are allowed to explore on your own!
34. Learn about the early days of whaling at the Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut
Seaport Museum
We enjoyed our East Coast road trip last summer. I had heard about Mystic, so we decided to stay the night there. The Seaport Museum is similar to a living history museum. We had a blast walking around and going onboard different ships.
I’ve taken the architecture tour once in Chicago and it was the highlight of the trip. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. I learned a lot about the history of Chicago and the views were great!
36. Catch a game at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts
Happy boys at Fenway!
My boys love all things baseball. So, when we visited Boston, we knew that we had to see a game at Fenway. It was a blast and I even caught my little one a ball from a player on his birthday!
37. Stroll along the Cliff Walk trail in Newport, Rhode Island
Cliff Walk
I cannot imagine what it must be like to live in Newport. There are mansions, and breathtaking views, and a boardwalk, and amazing seafood, and shopping! The Cliff Walk was our favorite… besides eating!
The River Walk is a fun place to explore any time of year. There’s a lot of shopping and a lot of amazing restaurants. But, it’s even more amazing at Christmas because they hang millions of lights all along the trees that line the river!
39. Experience the Wild West in Virginia City, Montana
Back in the Wild West
This little town makes for a fun day trip if you’re near Yellowstone. We enjoyed our visit and exploring the area. The town is now designated as a National Historic Landmark District and the buildings along the main street are like individual museums of the time period!
40. Explore the Cliff Palace dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park
View of Cliff Palace
I felt like a little kid again climbing ladders to access the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde! It’s a truly unique experience and I highly recommend seeing this National Park. Be sure to get timed-entry tickets ahead of time if you plan to visit.
If you’re a movie fan or a baseball fan, this is a fun stop if you’re in Iowa! My boys watched the movie for the first time a few summers ago, so it made a great stop on our Midwest road trip. They had a blast playing baseball on the actual field and walking through the rows of corn stalks.
I’ve always been interested in learning about the Ice Age and other extinct animals. I recently heard about the Waco Mammoth National Monument that’s located in Texas. Here you can see 24 Colombian Mammoth fossils!
We had our very first bear encounter on a trail in the Grand Tetons a few summers ago! It was a little scary at first, but also a very cool experience. Make sure to bring bear spray! We saw several bears and cubs, deer, a fox, and moose on our trip.
Driving through the dramatic landscape of the Badlands should be on your road trip bucket list! There are many scenic overlooks, the chance to see wildlife, and even hiking trails to explore. It does get pretty hot there in the summer.
If you love waterfalls as much as I do, then be sure to find Upper Mesa Falls if you’re near Yellowstone. This waterfall is gorgeous and you can get so close to it.
One of my favorite adventures was walking among the giant sculptures of the Ruins of President’s Park. It was creepy, but we were fascinated. If you’re looking for something different, add this to your list!
Driving around the mountains in a convertible on a beautiful fall day is highly recommended! Snowbird is breathtaking, especially if you’re lucky enough to visit in the fall.
Another fun adventure was walking from Pennsylvania into New Jersey via the Ben Franklin Bridge. The views of Philly are awesome and it’s just fun to say we walked from one state to another. The walk was not long at all!
If you have kids that like dinosaurs, then you should definitely visit Dinosaur Valley State Park. There’s a large collection of dinosaur tracks in the river bed. It’s even better to visit at the end of a dry summer!
In conclusion, embarking on adventures in the USA offers a diverse array of experiences that anyone can enjoy. Whether it’s hiking in national parks or immersing oneself in the historical significance of landmarks, the USA beckons travelers with open arms. Each adventure leaves its mark, creating memories that resonate long after the journey concludes!
We just returned home from one of the most beautiful places on earth, Colorado! Usually we visit this state in the winter for our annual snowboarding trip over the New Year, but this summer we decided to change up our plans and take our boys for a summer visit. I am so glad that we made this decision!
With that being said, since we changed up our original plans a little last minute, I felt completely overwhelmed planning this vacation and I hope that this post helps you with your plans. I had absolutely no reason to be overwhelmed, Rocky Mountain National Park is so easy to maneuver and everything is gorgeous.
I started by checking out the Rocky Mountain National Park website. Always check out the NPS websites, they include valuable information and webcams, etc. This summer you have to have a timed-entry ticket to enter the Park and there are two separate areas of the Park. Kind of confusing right, especially for first-timers! So, hopefully I can break this down for you in an easier way. Timed-entry tickets are available on the first of the month for the following month, so I got our tickets on June 1st for July. They are $2 for each day that you want to enter, plus you have to pay the park entrance fee once at the gate & I believe this is $35 for the week. If you have a 4th grader, they can get the 4th grade pass for FREE and your entire vehicle can enter the park! Click here for your 4th grade Every Kid Outdoor Pass. The Park only releases a certain amount of tickets each day and hold a couple hundred that go live at 5:00 pm for the following day. So, for example, if I wanted tickets for July 15th I could go online (on the Park’s website) on July 14th at 5:00 pm and TRY to get tickets for the following day. But these tickets go fast, so you need to be online and logged in to your account for a quick purchase.
There are a couple of different entrances to get into the Park, we always used the Beaver Meadows entrance coming in from Estes Park. You will need timed-entry tickets for this entrance (and all entrances) unless you arrive before 9:00 am or after 3:00 pm. When you enter here, you can drive along Trail Ridge Road from one end of the park to another, roughly 45 miles I believe. The views are stunning and there are several different areas to pull over and park to check out views or hike trails. You can get a Park map at the entrance and everything is nicely marked off with signs. I highly recommend driving this road at least once on your visit! We found so many neat places to stop for photos and some really great trails with short hikes! Make sure you have a full tank of gas if you plan to drive this road!
Photo from Trail Ridge Road
Once inside the Park there is another entrance area that requires timed-entry tickets unless you arrive before 5:00 am or after 6:00 pm and this is the Bear Lake Corridor. In my opinion, this is the most popular and beautiful area of the park, so be sure to get tickets for this area! Several of our “bigger hikes” were from this corridor. Once inside this area, there are places to park and hop on a bus to go to the Bear Lake parking/trails, but we were able to easily find parking at the Bear Lake parking lot. I was only able to grab tickets for 2 days in the Park, both times in the afternoon, and we still had the BEST visit!
Before I list out our itinerary for the week, here are some helpful tips/things you should make sure to bring with you!
Timed-entry tickets (printed or on your phone – make sure to screenshot because service is limited)
Dress in layers, it gets cold when rain moves in and out
Raincoats – thunderstorms pop up almost every afternoon, be prepared!
Water and snacks
Sunscreen / hat
Camera (my photos are from my iPhone)
First aid kit with Band-Aids
Binoculars
Hiking boots / shoes
AllTrails App
Bring a backpack, you must pack out whatever you bring with you, so have something that holds trash
Our Itinerary for the Week
Now, for all of the details and the fun stuff! Since I booked this trip last minute, we were not able to stay very close to the Park like I had wished. I REALLY wanted to stay at the Stanley Hotel (where the Shining was filmed) in Estes Park, but there were no rooms available for our dates. So, we opted to stay in Boulder, CO and we really enjoyed that area. It took about an hour to drive from Boulder to RMNP, so that is the only downside if you don’t like being in the car a lot.
Day 1: We decided to explore the Boulder area on our first full day in Colorado. I used the AllTrails app to find a few hikes close to us and the boys wanted to visit Forsyth Canyon since it was a hike to a waterfall! The app literally gave us directions to the exact parking lot for the trailhead, so I can’t recommend this app enough! This hike was rated as an easy, 3.2 mile out and back hike, and the scenery was excellent! We did in fact hike all the way to the top of a waterfall and opted to walk back after that instead of hiking around and down boulders to the falls, only because we had our border collie with us and she was tired.
Above the waterfall
We also ventured into town and walked around Boulder Creek, which runs through town. The water was cold and flowing fast, but the kids had fun playing in and around the river. You can also get tubes to ride down the river, Jereme and I did this about 17 years ago! We knew the ride was a little crazy, so we didn’t let the boys do it this time!
Boulder Creek
Day 2: Our second day was our first trip to Rocky Mountain National Park! I had timed-entry tickets to the Bear Lake Corridor for 4:00 pm. We slept in and then headed to Estes Park. It took us an hour to drive, so we got there around 1:00 pm. I had a couple of hikes saved on the app again around Estes Park that were not in RMNP, so we decided to walk around Lake Estes before lunch. The views were stunning! Once our walk was over, we headed into town and had burgers and did some shopping. During this time, around 2:30 pm or so, a thunderstorm moved in, so we ran to the car and drove around the town. We saw so many elk out and about, it was really exciting and luckily the rain moved out fast!
Walk around Lake Estes Elk in town!
We headed to the Park right before 4:00 pm, and didn’t wait in line for more than 5 minutes to enter. We drove right to the Bear Lake parking lot, used the restrooms at the trailhead, and began the hike to Emerald Lake, which is rated as a moderate 3.2 mile out and back hike. It was AMAZING!!!! This one is probably my favorite hike ever. We followed the signs along the trail and passed by two other lakes, Nymph Lake and Dream Lake, before getting to Emerald Lake. Our boys, ages 10 and 7, did great on this one. Check out these views!
Nymph Lake Dream Lake Emerald Lake
Day 3: I was not able to get tickets into RMNP for this day, see I told you they go fast! So, I found a hike near Boulder in a small town named Ward. Even though it was only about 25 miles from our hotel, the drive took about an hour through the mountains. We went to Brainard Lake Recreation Area to hike Isabelle Glacier. This area also requires timed-entry tickets and it costs $12 for those reservations. We had reservations for 2:00 pm for the Long Lake area, which is where the Isabelle Glacier trail begins. If you want to do this hike, make sure your tickets are for the Long Lake area, you will get a ticket if you park in the wrong parking lot (per the park ranger at the entrance). This hike is rated as a moderate 5.5 mile hike on the AllTrails app, but the sign at the trailhead only had it as 2 miles from the start of the trailhead. We absolutely loved this hike and it was quiet the adventure. When we got about 1.8 miles into the hike, a thunderstorm popped up and we put on our raincoats and hunkered down and waited out the storm. We had gone way too far to just turn around and head back! I am sure the views would have been so much better on a clear, sunny day, but we still thought the entire hike was breathtaking and really enjoyed this one!
This was along the trail to Isabelle Glacier Waiting out the thunderstorm! The end of the trail to Isabelle Glacier
Day 4: This day was my boys’ most favorite day! We rafted the Poudre River (near Ft. Collins) with A Wanderlust Adventure. We chose the Taste of Whitewater for beginner/immediate levels and we spent about 2 hours on the water. It was definitely and adrenalin rush and something that I am so, so happy we experienced! I mean, just check out the excitement from our photos! The price is $70 per person and they offer a full photo package for $55, which included about 50 photos and a video!
Day 5: This was our last day at Rocky Mountain National Park and we had tickets to enter Bear Lake at 2:00 pm. We decided to get up early and head to RMNP by 8:00 am so that we could enter without timed-entry tickets. We drove all of Trail Ridge Road on this day before we were able to enter the Bear Lake Corridor. The views were amazing, we pulled over at several different places, visited the Continental Divide, and did two short hikes between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm. We packed a picnic lunch and ate on one of our hikes, too.
Pull-off along Trail Ridge Road This hike was right off the parking lot from the Continental Divide! This is the Colorado River Trail Hike off of Trail Ridge Road You will see animals everywhere in the Park!
At 2:00 we headed to Bear Lake and hiked to Alberta Falls. It was beautiful, a little crowded, but beautiful nonetheless. We loved just sitting and watching the waterfall before heading back. AllTrails has this hike rated as an easy 1.6 out and back hike. It was pretty easy, but the end of the hike is all uphill right before getting back to the parking lot and we saw a lot of people stopped for a rest in this area.
Along the trail to Alberta Falls Alberta Falls! The boys loved this trail!
From here, we decided to drive over to Sprague Lake (you will see the signs) because I really wanted to see a moose and my research kept pointing me in this direction. Sprague Lake is a super easy loop around a small lake and only about 0.8 miles total. We arrived around 5:00 pm and within about 25 minutes we got to see a mama moose with her baby walk through the water and find a place to stop and munch on grass! It was truly amazing and we probably watched these moose for almost an hour before they left the area! Please remember that with moose and bear, you should keep your distance! The park ranger told us that’s about 3 bus links away. We stayed with the park ranger and I just zoomed in on my photos. My day was totally made and we were all so excited to see these animals in their natural habitat!
This is the trail around Sprague Lake Mama and baby moose!!! Views around the lake
Day 6: This was supposed to be our drive home, but we just loved our summer visit so much that we decided to extend our trip and head to Crested Butte for a few days! It’s about a 4.5 hour scenic drive from Boulder! It was also truly amazing and I will blog about it soon! In the meantime, check out my favorite photos from CB below.
Mount Crested Butte Views from Judd Falls trail Slate River
Please feel free to message me with any questions if you are planning a trip to RMNP or Boulder! I am always happy to help and offer my advice and tips. We definitely did not see it all and I look forward to another visit, but I hope this information helps other first-timers or hikers with kids! Stay safe out there and Happy Travels!
Hey y’all! It’s Jasha here again. I thought I would blog about our day trip to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO. We’ve had quite the adventure! So, for those of you that don’t know, we left for an 8 day vacation on June 23rd and headed to South Dakota for the week. Our trip unexpectedly turned into a 12 day trip! On our way back to TX, our Yukon lost all engine power due to a problem with the computer system. We ended up stuck in Cody, WY for 3 days without a car. Finally, it was fixed… or so we thought. When we made it 8 hours down the road, on the outskirts of Colorado Springs, the computer system had another problem and we lost all engine power again. We were literally right at an exit and were able to coast over to a fabulous hotel, called My Place Hotel. The staff was amazing and got us a great rate. The rooms were awesome, with full kitchens and an option to have breakfast delivered to your room in the morning for you to cook. It also had a grocery selection which was helpful for us since our vehicle wasn’t running. Check it out if you’re ever out in CO Springs! Anyway, my dad is amazing and came to the rescue with a truck and trailer to help haul us home. He lives in the same town as us, so it took him 11 hours to drive up to Colorado. So, we decided to take the boys to do something fun for the day while we waited for him. I had been to the Garden of the Gods when I was a kid with my family and then Jereme and I went up there with his family about 15 years ago. So, it had been a really long time since I was last there. And let me just say, my boys LOVED it! I have never heard them ask to have their picture taken so many times. So, if you have little boys, or girls, that love the outdoors and enjoy climbing over cool rock formations, then this is the place to go! Oh, and it’s FREEto visit!
We Ubered over to the Garden of the Gods visitor center to start out our day trip. It has restrooms, a few exhibits, a cafe/coffee shop, a souvenir shop, movie theater (that details the formation of this land form), a 2nd story viewing balcony, and a lower level desk that offers different tours – like by jeep or trolley. I believe they also offer free shuttles that drive you across the street where the rock formations are. We chose to walk, we had been stuck in the last hotel for 3 days and then again in the car the whole day before, so it was nice exercise for all of us! We packed a backpack full of drinks and a few snacks for the hike. I think next time we might pack a picnic lunch to take with us. (I’ll get to the food part later!)
Jereme and the boys on the walk to the Garden of the Gods Park
The views are amazing, even before you walk through the park. There are different paths and trails along the way that are very easy to walk along. There are a few stairs to climb, but nothing too hard. It was really hot when we were there so we took a lot of breaks in the shade. We enjoyed watching the rock climbers during our breaks.
One muddy part, the boys problem-solved an easier way across!
There was a log down to use to cross the water! It was hard to stay balanced!
Below are just a few of our favorite pictures in the park.
My family!
Notice how nice most of the paths are!
Climbing with my boys!
Jett climbing through a tunnel
My boys had the best time!
Jett just doing his thing!
Jake was so mad that I wouldn’t let him climb as high as his brother!
Loved all of our adventures this past week!
More stunning scenery!
We explored the park for about 3 hours and then we got hot and tired. We decided to venture back to the visitor center for some food and to peruse the exhibits. We had a wonderful late lunch at the cafe. The boys had yummy cheese pizza and I had a tuna sandwich. Jereme had a turkey avocado sandwich. It was a little pricey, I think we spent about $40 on food , but overall we enjoyed what we ordered! Then we walked around the exhibits and ended our visit at the souvenir shop where little Jake spent ALL of his birthday money! Haha! Below are a few pictures from the visitor center.
Different animals found in the area
Once again, the teacher in me loved this! We definitely want to go back and visit Colorado Springs next summer. Near the Garden of the Gods is also The Cave of the Winds and Pike’s Peak. I’m sure there’s so much more in the area to explore, so stay tuned for our next visit!
Road Trip Queen 