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| Rainbow Falls ... Beneath The Highway
Rainbow Falls is such an amazing place. Fountain Creek takes a significant drop of maybe 50 to 60 feet on the west end of Manitou Springs (technically west of Manitou's city limit), and it can be accessed off of Serpentine Road at the one and only hard switchback. I snapped this photo of Rainbow Falls while going for a walk on a summer day, and I am really happy with the quality of it! :) Now Rainbow Falls has quite a history to it. In the settlement days, guests at the historic Cliff House could take a guided mule ride to the waterfall. With the advent of the automobile, a road and bridge were built practically over the waterfall that led to points west up Ute Pass. It was during the modern era where the environment was viewed as something to be conquered, paved over and disregarded ... all for the sake of "progress." It probably would have been ludicrous back then to have constructed the road in a way that would have brought inconvience, although saving the dignity of this amazing waterfall. Things even became even worse in the 1970's, as the Manitou Springs Bypass was built (modern day Highway 24) that added another eyesore just north of the waterfall area. Today, Rainbow Falls is probably known for two things: 1) A little-known and beautiful waterfall that local Manitou Springs residents visit from time to time, and 2) A popular spot for teenagers to "hang out," drink and use drugs, litter, spread graffiti, and get themselves in trouble. On occsaion, there is a sad story of someone dying who climbed up the structure underneath the bridge and feel perilously to their death from the long drop. Call me an optimist and a dreamer, but I long for the day that Rainbow Falls will restored to its former glory. You can see more of my photos of this area here: Rainbow Falls -Steve (June 12, 2006)
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