Ute Pass Falls

Today was a typical day in Colorado Springs: different weather every 4 minutes. It was warm, though, and even though it would randomly begin to rain every so often, I decided that I'd find a short adventure to go on after work. Short because I didn't get out of work until 5:30pm, and I'm not familiar enough with anything or anyone to be out on a mountain after sundown, and short too because I would be going by myself. There is an amazing website called www.localhikes.com that I have been frequenting almost daily. It lists all the...well...local hikes in and around Colorado Springs. I've done 2 so far, and have plans to do another on Saturday, and hopefully Section 16 next week.

Today my short adventure was hiking to the Ute Pass Falls in Manitou Springs, aka Rainbow falls, and affectionately known as Graffiti Falls. I love love LOVE Manitou Springs! It's an adorable and very eclectic little mountain town. It has beautiful views and a slew of natural mineral springs that pop up all over the downtown area. Manitou is a native American word for 'spirit', and the Ute native americans, among others, thought the area to be sacred and its springs full of healing powers. Today visitors and locals alike can walk to the path of the different mineral springs and drink from each. They're each said to have their own unique flavor, depending on which minerals gather in that spring area. I haven't tasted any of them yet, but I'm sure I'll do that tour eventually.
This view is just above Manitou Springs. Isn't it lovely? The main trail to the waterfall starts above the town, and of course the creek that flows from it flows downhill and through downtown Manitou. I hiked the opposite way: From the creekside up into the hills where Ute Pass Falls....falls. :)

This is the trailhead I took; a small, red clay, sandy trail that wound closely with the creek up through the forest and into the hills above Manitou.

The trail sometime strayed awfully close to the rushing stream of mountain water, and it took some creative stepping and jumping to keep my feet dry!

Huge boulders (like THAT one! :) ) would interrupt the creek's flow every now and again, forcing it to split in two and rush around the giant rock.

One of the best parts of this hike was the sound. It was so soothing and cathartic to walk along and listen to the gentle rush and bubble of the stream.

Here, before I had even begun the climb up to where the water really started rushing closer to the falls, there were already signs why this place had been nicknamed 'graffiti falls'.

As I ascended the hills, the sound of the water grew ever louder, and the graffiti more constant and colorful.

The water began to rush quickly and to pick up to a near constant roar....

Finally, I came around a large boulder and spotted the falls. They lie almost hidden behind and overpass for highway 24. The roar here was very impressive, and equally impressive was all the graffiti. Every available surface was covered with painted letters, words, goodbye's, hello's, anthems, beliefs, truths, hobbies, bands, books, characters, and anything and everything else you could imagine. While some would say that it takes away from the natural beauty of the place, I didn't feel that way at all. Perhaps I would have if it were just a few tags of swear words or derogatory slurs, but I would say 85% of this was truly art. I found it beautiful.After marveling at the falling water and the myriad of colors surrounding me, I started back down the rock side and back towards my car. Before traveling back to my car, I stopped atop the hill and watched as the sun sank below the top of the mountains. And you know what? At sunset, mountains really are purple.

I took a couple of videos, since waterfalls and rushing streams can't be truly caught in still pictures, but I'm not sure if they work. If they do, hooray and enjoy! If not, I'll edit this post and delete them. :)