Experience Broadmoor Seven Falls

Being flatlanders, the raw beauty of the mountains always captivates us. Colorado Springs sits on the eastern edge of the peaks. On a previous visit, we discovered that there were too many sites for us to see in one trip. It took a few years, but we finally made our way back for more exploring. On this trip, we were looking for some challenges. That’s not hard when you find yourself at 6800 feet elevation. Fortunately, we had already been in the region for a couple of days. Having acclimated, we were ready to experience Broadmoor Seven Falls firsthand.

It Starts with a Hike

Sunny skies and moderate temperatures made the perfect setting for a new adventure. Access to experience Seven Falls starts at their offsite lot, which is located at 1045 Lower Gold Camp Rd. We made our way to the parking lot, where a shuttle would take us four miles to the park entrance. The shuttle is free, but tickets to the park were $18.00 each. It was one of the few times we have had to pay to see waterfalls, but the intrigue created a need to see this place for ourselves. After securing our tickets, we headed into the park. The first part of the visit includes a hike that’s just under a mile in one direction. The path slowly gains altitude, but nothing like the hikes we found in Arches National Park. There is a tram service, which costs a couple of bucks but we opted to give our legs some exercise. Hopefully, we wouldn’t regret the choice.

Overhead Entertainment

We were well into our hike, when we heard a low yell echo through the canyon. Looking up, we spotted zip lines that straddled the cliff tops. They have two courses that allow visitors to soar high above the ground. Having zip lined across a part of the second-largest canyon in the U.S., I opted to sit this one out. We watched for a few minutes, which supplied a break from the elevation increase. Soon we were ready to resume our pace up the canyon. A small stream tumbled along one side of our path. The falling water sound was small, but it reminded us that there was more excitement to come. The map provided during admission pointed out features in the surrounding cliffs. Some we could make out and others took a little more imagination.

Heading Up!

The paved walk to the falls viewing area took longer than it should. We found ourselves stopping often to take in the sights. A slow grade up meant we’d be walking downhill on the way back. Our trip had already included some strenuous hikes, so my body was telling me off. We looked around and discovered a couple of ways to see the falls. A set of 185 stairs leads up to an observation platform named Eagle’s Nest. For nearly 40 years, the property had a funicular that ferried visitors to Eagle’s Nest. It was replaced in the mid-80s with an elevator, which is found at the end of a tunnel. Situated along the tunnel walls are display cases filled with artifacts and stories of the falls area.

Great Vantage Point

Once on top, we found that Eagle’s Nest offers a good vantage point for viewing the chain of falls. Water flowing into the canyon falls 181 feet to the pool below. On its way down, it passes through seven cascading falls. We were surprised to learn that each of these have a name. Starting at the top, water passes through Bridal Veil, Feather, Hill, Hull, Ramona, Shorty, and finally Weimer. From this distance it was more difficult to make out each separation, but we assumed there were an equal number of pools that marked the bottoms.

Counting the Falls

Before long, I found myself paying more attention to the people on the stairs. The stairs along the falls seemed to be wide enough for about 1 1/2 persons. A series of platforms allow for passing. Once on top, there are a couple of hiking trails, if the stairs didn’t wipe you out. Here’s where I made the decision not to undertake the 224 stairs that lead to the top of Seven Falls. Since hitting 60 years old, my body isn’t as accepting of stairs. We had hiked at The Flatirons, in Boulder, earlier in the week. While it was exhausting, it was also exhilarating. Now I was feeling the after effects of the climb, as parts of my body signaled their disapproval.

Experience Seven Falls

Back at the base of the falls, we found a couple of chairs that offer a firsthand view of Weimer Falls. The roaring of the falling water made conversation futile. Instead, we chose to just take in the raw beauty of nature. We relished the time we had to experience Seven Falls, but the reality of travel started to creep back in. With hunger gnawing at us, we knew it was time to start the hike back. My knees had forgiven me but I decided it would be prudent to just stroll. I think all attractions, that include elevation gain, should have the climb at the start of the visit. It was a pleasant downhill walk all the way back to the tram. So, how many of you have climbed those stairs?

Experience 7 Falls!