A Morning At Seven Falls

 

Song:  The Temple in the Forest

YouTube Channel:  Ancient Melodies

On this morning...

we left home early to eat a light breakfast at my favorite Deli...

in Woodland Park.

We wanted something light as we were going to Seven Falls in Colorado Springs.

There is a light hike involved to reach the falls...

and for my sister...

a more rigorous one...

as she climbed up the steps to the top of the falls.

We had BLTs for breakfast (they were very good).

We arrived at the parking lot to await the shuttle to the falls.

The shuttle ride lasted 15 minutes.

We were dropped off at the entrance to the park.

The hike is only .8 of a mile long...

it is all on a paved and gently inclined road...

and there were beautiful sights all along the way.

There were numerous places to rest all along the way...

and places to buy drinks and snacks.

James (my sister's husband)...

hung back to take his own photos.

I sat in the shade as my sister used the restroom.

A beautiful rest stop along the way.

The stream which flowed the whole way to and from the falls...

ran just behind the seating at this rest stop.

We were just before the gift shop / mountain elevator to the Eagle's Nest

(an overlook just before the falls).

We decided to take the elevator to the Eagle's Nest first...

and then visit the lower gift shop.

The elevator is at the end of this long granite tunnel.

The Eagle's Nest...

with the falls in the background.

There was also a small gift shop at the top of the Eagle's Nest.

This gift shop sold mostly various minerals.

After going back down...

we entered the lower gift shop.

My sister bought a copper mug as a souvenir.

After a short break...

we continued to the falls.

The building in the background is a restaurant.

Last time I was here...

the pool was deep and there were live trout in it.

I sat here...

as my elder sister climbed the stairs to the top of the falls.

That is my sister part way up the stairs.

After some time...

my sister made her way back down.

When she arrived back where I was sitting comfortably in the shade...

her face was full of sweat.

After resting for a few minutes...

...my sister wanted to try a rocking chair in the covered area 

 at the base of the falls.

We then began our walk back.

My sister wanted to rest again...

so we stopped back at one of the rest areas.

We could hear the bubbling stream...

which ran just to the side of the path...

the whole way up and back.

We then met the shuttle at the entrance/exit to the park.

After being dropped off at the parking lot...

...we then drove back to Woodland Park to have some refreshments at BierWerks.

I loved the soft pretzel and the nonalcoholic beer (Blonde) last time we were here...

so that is what I had.

My sister and her husband just had their drinks...

as they were not hungry at all.

After resting and enjoying our refreshments...

we then drove back home.

As we were tired...

once we got home...

we all retired to our bedrooms and took a few hour nap.

Seven Falls is the hidden gem of Colorado Springs...

and a must see place.

We had a great time there.

-----------

Tomorrow...

we will be going back to Colorado Springs to go to a Japanese restaurant.

On Wednesday...

we are just going to rest and relax at home...

as early the following day...

my elder sister and her husband will begin their long drive back home.