Zapata Falls hike was supposed to be a fun little detour, ending with some pretty views and maybe a splash or two. What we didn’t plan on? Walking away with wet, frozen feet that felt like they were standing on ice cubes. Let me break down how we ended up in this mess.

The Traiilhead

So, we decided to hike to Zapata Falls in sandals. Yep, sandals. Why? Because we just came from hiking 6 miles at the Sand Dunes National Park, where sandals are perfectly acceptable footwear. The hike to the falls was supposed to be a simple half-mile up and back to the car, so no big deal, right? (Spoiler alert: wrong.)

The trailhead gives you this gorgeous view of the Sand Dunes from afar, blanketed in wild sunflowers, which was mesmerizing enough to fool us into thinking this was going to be a chill walk. It was a beautiful, sunny, 90-degree day, and the hike was listed as “moderate.” Okay, how bad could it be?

Well, apparently “moderate” means climbing through rocks and dirt with pine trees that provide absolutely no shade. The heat was unbearable—did I mention it was 1 p.m.?—and seeing older folks coming down gave us that false sense of security. Like, if they could do it, we could, too. We were so naive.

The Falls

Finally, after what felt like hours, we made it to the top. We could hear the falls, but of course, we couldn’t see them yet. Why? Because you have to walk through freezing water over slippery rocks to get there. Great. Just what we wanted.

I asked a few people if they’d made it to the falls, and the responses were mostly “Nope, too cold.” But my son was determined, and my wife pushed me into being the brave one. So, sandals and all, we waded into the ice-cold water. It was like stepping into a giant freezer full of knives, but hey, who needs feeling in their feet anyway?

The gorge walls started closing in, getting darker and darker as we got closer to the falls, and by then, my feet had gone completely numb. But, we finally made it! The falls were… medium-sized. Not exactly Niagara Falls, but the sound and sight were worth it, even though I couldn’t feel my toes. It was pure, white, and freezing—but we loved it anyway.

Walking Back

After a few minutes of admiring the falls and pretending not to mind the icy water, we decided it was time to head back. And, let me tell you, getting out was a whole different beast. Slippery rocks, cold water, and a son who thought this was the funniest thing ever made it feel like we were in some weird reality show where you don’t win anything.

We somehow made it back to my wife, who had wisely stayed behind (the true MVP), and showed her the video of the falls. She was excited to see it but a little bummed she missed out on the adventure. Trust me, babe, your feet are thanking you.

The hike back to the car wasn’t any easier—more rocks, more dirt, and more people hiking up, probably regretting their life choices as much as we were. We saw kids and dogs, and honestly, I wished them all luck if they were planning to face the icy water like we did.

For those brave souls who visit Zapata Falls in winter, you get a real treat: the falls freeze into this giant ice column that looks like a scene straight out of “Frozen.” I don’t know if you’ll get Elsa, but you’ll definitely get ice-cold feet.

Finally, we got back to the car, still wet, but ready to leave the Great Sand Dunes area and head to our next destination: the Grand Canyon of Arizona. Stay tuned for more shenanigans.

Also, pro-tip: next time, pack better shoes.