Snag a reservation for a rare chance to see the frozen falls.

El Paso County Parks and Recreation will open Rainbow Falls in Manitou Springs, Colorado for the public for one day of winter viewing. Aside from this one-day event, Rainbow Falls is only open from late spring to late summer or early fall and will open in the spring of 2021.

Access to the frozen falls is by appointment only and will take place on Saturday, February 6. Spaces are limited but reservations can be made here. Appointments start from 10 a.m. onwards and each appointment lasts 30 minutes. Please note: large vehicles are not permitted. There is no cost, however, the parks department is requesting visitors to make a $1 donation per person that will go to programs and improvements at Rainbow Falls State Park.

Access to the falls used to be more broadly permitted but concerns of vandalism and graffiti grew, which resulted in the local government creating more restricted access to the site. In the most recent years, Manitou Springs has spent more time and resources to maintain and clean up the Rainbow Falls to preserve its natural beauty.

Rainbow Falls is a historic site that has attracted residents and visitors for over 100 years. One of the main features of the visit is the historic 1932 Highway 24 Bridge into Manitou Springs. El Paso County Parks took ownership of the falls in June 2010.

Have you seen Rainbow Falls in warmer weather? Share the best part of your experience in the comments.