South Zapata Lake is a remote alpine lake perched at 11,800 feet in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness of Alamosa County, Colorado. Reached by a challenging 9.8-mile round-trip hike that gains roughly 3,000 feet of elevation, this backcountry destination rewards determined hikers with breathtaking mountain scenery, crystal-clear water, and a solitude that few front-range lakes can match. If you are willing to earn your views, South Zapata Lake delivers one of the most dramatic payoffs in the San Luis Valley.
The trail begins at the Zapata Falls trailhead, where most visitors stop to see the waterfall about a mile in. Beyond the falls, the path climbs steadily through dense forest, crossing South Zapata Creek multiple times before opening into high alpine meadows near the lake. Three distinct creek crossings require careful footing on slippery rocks, and hikers should expect to get their feet wet during early summer snowmelt. Water-resistant boots are strongly recommended. The terrain is rated Class 1 but the relentless elevation gain makes this a genuinely demanding day hike, with most hikers reporting four hours up and three hours back down.
The scenery at South Zapata Lake is nothing short of spectacular. The lake sits in a glacial cirque beneath towering peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Range, with seasonal wildflowers blanketing the meadows in July and golden aspens painting the valley in early October. Reviewers call the views breathtaking and describe the hike as hard but absolutely worth the effort. Wildlife sightings are common, with mountain goats and bighorn sheep inhabiting the surrounding ridgelines.
Backpackers can set up camp around the three-mile mark or near the lake itself, following Leave No Trace principles in the wilderness area. The Zapata Falls campground near the trailhead offers about 20 developed sites for nine dollars per night, making it a convenient base camp the night before an early start. The South Zapata Trail is open to hikers and horseback riders, but mountain bikes are prohibited within the wilderness boundary. The best window for this hike runs from June through September, with early fall offering the most dramatic colors and fewer crowds than peak summer.