Entry No. 14 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: records

Rainbow Falls ("Graffiti Falls")

A 45-foot waterfall on Fountain Creek tucked under a road bridge off Serpentine Drive, its canyon walls coated in ever-changing, semi-sanctioned graffiti — locals just call it Graffiti Falls.

The move: Take the short trail in, photograph the falls against the spray-painted rock, and come back another season to see how completely the colors have changed.

📍 Before you go Tucked off Serpentine Drive just off Highway 24, the falls sit directly across from Cave of the Winds — easy to drive past, so watch for the El Paso County Parks signage. Access is now managed: you park at the Higginbotham staging lot and ride a short shuttle to the trailhead, then it's a quick, easy creekside walk to the base. The shuttle and reservation system run only on certain days and warmer months, so check ahead before you go. Flow is strongest in spring snowmelt. Pair it with Cave of the Winds across the road, or downtown Manitou Springs minutes away.

• 📍 Manitou Springs
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Off Serpentine Dr, near Hwy 24 (across from Cave of the Winds), Manitou Springs, CO 80829

Hours: Daytime, year-round; managed by El Paso County Parks. ~$20 parking at 101 Higginbotham Rd.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia · uncovercolorado.com

last checked: 2026-06-04