Photo
Above: Due to a dry winter, the water ran relatively low during my visit to Rainbow Falls in March 2012.
Rainbow Falls is a beautiful waterfall located on the west side of Manitou Springs.
In the historic settlement days, the wagon trail that went west toward Woodland Park came near it.
As the region's population grew in the 20th Century, that route became U.S. Highway 24 and eventually,
an unsightly highway overpass was built beside it.
For years, the area has been marred with graffiti, vandalism
and environmental hazards, but things are changing for the better.
In 2010, the 4.9 acres surrounding the waterfall were purchased by El Paso County.
(The waterfall sits outside of Manitou Springs city limits.)
The long-term plan is to restore this area into a park, perhaps
similar to a place like Helen Hunt Falls
in North Cheyenne Canyon.
If love waterfalls and live in the Pikes Peak region, this is a neat place to see.
Directions: If you have Google maps or a GPS system, search for Serpentine Drive in Manitou Springs.
Park at the dirt lot at the hairpin turn and walk 0.1 miles along Fountain Creek to the waterfall.
If you're in the center of Manitou Springs, travel west on Manitou Avenue.
At the fork where you're forced to choose Highway 24 west or east, choose east.
That will take you to the hairpin turn on Serpentive Drive.
Photos and commentary by Steve Garufi.
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