Sunday, November 15, 2015

Seven Falls, Colorado Springs



Seven Falls is a series of seven cascading waterfalls that plunge 181 feet from the South Cheyenne Creek in South Cheyenne Canyon, Colorado Springs, Colorado.  It has been a privately owned tourist attraction since the early 1880s. After a devastating flood in 2013, it was bought and restored by the Broadmoor Resort and Hotel.  When my husband and I stayed at the Broadmoor in late September--click here to read that post-- to celebrate our wedding anniversary, we took a day outing to visit Seven Falls and hike some of the trails in the canyon.  (All photos and photo collages in this post will enlarge for easier viewing if clicked on.)


The South Cheyenne Canon Road to Seven Falls has been called "The Grandest Mile of Scenery" in Colorado.  On either side of the picturesque 1,125-foot canyon, we passed through the  "Pillars of Hercules," which are only 41 feet wide at their narrowest point and rise 940 feet on the right and 790 feet on the left.


Upon our shuttle bus arrival to the Seven Falls Visitors Center/gift shop, we saw a staircase that would bring us to the top of the "Eagle's Nest" viewing platform.  There were 181 steps that we could climb to the top...


...but instead, we opted to take the four-story elevator inside the mountain to the Eagles Nest viewing platform. There were placards inside the tunnel leading to the elevator that contained photos and interesting information about the history of the Seven Falls area.


The view of the entire 181 feet length of cascading Seven Falls is best seen from the Eagle's Nest viewing platform. Seven Falls is the only Colorado waterfall included on the National Geographic list of international wonders.


After we took the elevator back down to the bottom of the canyon we walked over to the bottom of the falls.



To see the waterfalls up close there is a staircase with  224 steps leading to two viewing platforms...


...and this time we walked up all the steps to the top of the falls


Along the way up the stairs, we saw the different fall formations/ From bottom to top they are Hill, Weimer, Hull, Shorty, Bridal Veil, Feather, and Ramona.


The stair climb up is scenic in all directions.


At the top of the Canyon, there are three hiking trails that one can take to see different sights. They are open certain hours and months--check the Seven Falls website for further information.  


One trail leads to Midnight Falls which is close to the headwaters of the South Cheyenne Creek...


....and the other trail leads to Inspiration Point, described above.


We did not hike the length of either trail due to time constraints, as we had early dinner reservations, but we did enjoy the beauty of the trail that we hiked partially. This majestic 450-year-old Ponderosa Pine tree captured my attention.


You can read more about this tree on the placard above that is situated in front of it.


We turned around and walked back through the quiet forest...


...back down the staircase next to the Seven Falls...


...and back to the rocking chair area where people waited for those that made the climb or just wanted to sit and listen to the sound of the falls.


The Broadmoor remodeled and enlarged an existing restaurant on the Seven Falls property, which they call Restaurant 1858.  It is an approximately 100 seat high end, rustic in appearance, restaurant, meant to evoke the feel of a gold rush era. It may be closed during inclement weather and admission to the Seven Falls area is required to dine there--check the website for further details.  The Broadmoor has also installed an area of 10 zip lines they call the Broadmoor Soaring Adventure, which also offers stunning views of the canyon for the adventurous.

Seven Falls was truly a wonderful sight to see, even in autumn when the amount of water is lower than spring time's snowmelt season. Next time we visit we'll leave more time to explore all the trails on top.  It is so exciting for me to be able to enjoy all these beautiful places in Colorado. There are many more places I have yet to see in this great state so there is much more to look forward to!

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39 comments:

Proud Italian Cook said...

Hey Pat, What breathtaking beauty! I give you credit for walking up all those steps, you make me want to get a fit bit and get moving more!

Daniela said...

Every time I come and visit you here, my darling Pat, I have to be prepared to something amazing and I've never come away disappointed, indeed, your posts always fascinate me more and more !
I have to say that the Colorado Nature is truly gorgeous and you are preserving it with so much care, everything is so cared and clean, you're so respectful of what you have.

Thank you for sharing these so beautiful photographs of yours,
with gratitude I'm sending love and hugs,
your friend
Dany

The Furry Gnome said...

Remarkable place!

From the Kitchen said...

Breathtaking (really!) views of that area. I like to think of the first person(s) to come upon those falls!!

Best,
Bonnie

Linda W. said...

What a cool series of waterfalls! Thanks for sharing your pictures.

Anonymous said...

happy blue Monday.

Rajesh said...

Beautiful cascading water falls. Love to see it myself.

Taken For Granted said...

We tried to visit Seven Falls the last time we were in Colorado Springs, but it was closed due to the damaging flood. Thank you so much for your excellent photos of this wonder. I've always loved Cheyenne Canyon. Good to know the falls is once again open to the public.

SarahBeth said...

Beautiful! They look familiar, perhaps we viewed them from afar.... because I don't remember the stairs, elevator or those wonderful rocking chairs! We thought about living in Colorado Springs -- I wish we had!
What a trip you had!

Anonymous said...

The falls are just lovely!

SmilingSally said...

Hello Pat,

You are living the life! This is yet another adventure.

Thanks for playing today.

Happy Blue Monday!

Donna said...

Wow...good to hear this spot is being maintained...not sure I could climb the steps with my knees and my fear of heights....but oh I would love to see it.

joyh82 said...

OMG those falls are beautiful! Would love to go back to visit
Colorado for a visit again one day!
Have a great week. :)
Joy @ Books and Life

genie said...

We have may beautiful waterfalls around our area here in the Blue Ridge, but nothing like this that I have seen. Our problem is people keep going thru the barricades and then slipping and falling to their deaths. It happens every summer.I hope they do not have that problem there. That is one big bunch of steps. It would take commitment and perseverance to climb them. Thank you for all the history and the lovely pictures.

ellen b. said...

Beautiful Pat!

Michelle said...

What a beautiful area, but I will confess that I think most of Colorado is beautiful! I like that they have the rocking chair area!

Lorrie said...

I'm thinking the rocking chair area would be most welcome after climbing up and down all of those stairs. How wonderful to climb alongside the waterfalls. Beautiful sights!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Beautiful ... You are awesome at finding places to visit in your new home state. I was happy to see about the elevator ... That means I could get up there! Those stairs I would never make!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Wow Pat, you sure find some gorgeous places to visit. I love how you and Vinny are always doing things together. And with all that hiking you guys are regularly doing, you're getting healthier than ever.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

What a magnificent place to visit. Thanks for sharing the wonderful views with us

mick said...

Great photos and it looks to be a really beautiful place. I would love to visit it - and think I would make good use of those rocking chairs!

Fun60 said...

You need some stamina to cope with all those steps. Pleased to see elevators in place so that everyone can see the majesty of the Falls.

diane b said...

Thanks for taking me on this trip. It is an amazing waterfall and the photos are great. You did a good job of hiking up all those stairs.

Rhonda Albom said...

Wonderful hike and magnificent falls. Looks like a lot of stairs.

Al said...

Very nice. I was just there a couple of weeks ago too. Are you enjoying today's snowstorm?

Gracie said...

I still miss your pics and stories from NYC (I love that city) but these landscapes are amazing!!!!Thanks for sharing such a beauty.

A Colorful World said...

We miss out on a lot now that we can no longer, climb stairs or hike! We thought about Seven Falls last year when we went through that area, but it was just one more thing we couldn't do "from the car," so we opted not to. It's hard being like this when we used to LOVE to hike! I really appreciated your photos. It's beautiful there!

carol l mckenna said...

Oh what a beautiful and awesome place ~ Gorgeous photography!

Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol

eileeninmd said...

Hello Pat, what a beautiful place to visit. The waterfalls is gorgeous, I am not so sure about all those steps. The view looking down the steps and waterfalls would make me dizzy. Lovely photos. Enjoy your week!

Ruth said...

You always surprise me with your photos! You are really making consider a visit to Colorado next year. I like that you can take a look at the individual falls using the stairs. That is one steep climb!

bj said...

Beautiful photos of one of our favorite vacation spots. We love going to Colorado...the falls are out of this world and so many other beautiful spots in that state.

Jeanne said...

Hi Pat, I have been trying to get back to visiting but it is hard. I was so happy to see your comment on my blue Mon. post. There was a lot more to share on that garden but I didn't want to be that photo heavy.

We did have a lovely vacation for a whole month in SE France. We did fly through Paris to get home just two weeks before the attack. We are so happy to get home when we did.

The Seven Falls is spectacular and a wonderful place to visit. We need to go back to Colorado and take in many more things that we haven't see. We are pretty much not thinking going overseas for a long time. How sad for the French people.

We are spending Thanksgiving with our children (two daughters and families) who live in Florida. I know your wonderful family will probable have Thanksgiving together. A blessing to be thankful for everyday. Thanksgiving blessings to you all.
Hugs,
Jeanne

Molly said...

The falls are stunning, what a fabulous place to visit

Mollyxxx

Tony McGurk said...

What an amazing place to visit. The falls are beautiful. The 224 stairs I'm not so sure about though.

Powell River Books said...

I wouldn't make it up those stairs with my fear of heights even though it's a beautiful view. - Margy

Spare Parts and Pics said...

What an incredible spot! That shot from the top of the stairway made me dizzy! I would like to visit there sometime.

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

Wow! Breathtaking views.
Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
Blessings,
Cindy

Kalpana said...

What marvellous photos. I must say though that just looking at those steps gave me vertigo.

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

You have been seeing so many beautiful sights! Love the photos. I am pinning this for our next trip to CO. Thanks for sharing it with SYC.
hugs,
Jann