I have wanted to start a Nature Explorer's Club with our little ones and friends for a while now, and this past weekend we finally made it happen! The vision for the club is simple - to get out and explore nature as a group of families. We plan to meet once a month at different locations around the San Luis Valley, with plenty of time to explore, hike, play and learn in this amazing place in which we live. It seems appropriate that our first hike together was in the first month of the new year...
For our January hike we decided to go up to Zapata Falls, near the Great Sand Dunes National Park. It is a short, easy hike up to the falls, perfect for little legs. Winter is an awesome time to visit Zapata Falls, as the waterfall is frozen into beautiful formations, with flowing water visible underneath the ice. Getting back into the cave is quite easy as well, with a frozen creek to walk on.
We met at the trail head, which is at the top of a snowy road that switchbacks up the mountain. On hindsight, we probably should have met at the bottom and carpooled up to the top, as not everyone had a vehicle that could make it up the road...now we know for next time!
Our family arrived a little early, and so we pulled out the sled and took in the view. The photo at the top of the post (taken by Aaron) is of the view from the trail head parking lot, looking out across the valley. Mason got a nice sled run going, and River enjoyed walking around in the snow.
Soon we were joined by the four other families and we headed up the trail.
After a beautiful hike we made it to the creek and the falls.
It was so much fun to see the children as they excitedly began exploring this little frozen world. They found holes in the ice and watched the water flowing beneath. It's not often you get to "walk on water" on a frozen creek, and they loved it. We began to carefully make our way on the slick ice up the creek to the little cave and the icy waterfall.
It was not long before the littles began attempting to climb to the base of the frozen waterfall, and parents assisted the children with climbing up and sliding down. Upon approaching the cave, one little girl was not so sure about "going in the cave", but as soon as she saw the waterfall she said "It is magical!"
After spending some time enjoying the frozen waterfall, we headed out of the cave to the giant ice flow slides. At least, that's what they became...
Then we hiked back down the trail, examining tracks in the snow and looking at the view of the sand dunes and mountains. When we arrived back at the trail head we managed to get everyone together for a group photo and then the littles were off to sled down the hill by the parking lot and climb trees.
We all had so much fun. The children did not want to leave their magical castle/home/hideout in the trees, but we eventually got everyone back in their respective vehicles for the ride home.
It was a beautiful day for a hike, and a couple of the kids were already asking when the next one would be. There is something very fun about exploring nature with friends, and I can't wait to do it again.
On the ride back home Mason was drawing in his notebook and he said, "Ahhh...Zapata Falls was great!"
I could not agree more.
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