I’ll admit, paying good money to go see a waterfall didn’t really appeal to me seeing as there are thousands of waterfalls you can see for free all around the country. However, having visited The Broadmoor Seven Falls in Colorado Springs, they managed to overcome my cheapskate frugal nature and I’d say it’s definitely worth paying them a visit.
The whole experience is great and there’s amazing scenery and beauty from the moment you rock up at their parking lot. Seven Falls is on the grounds of The Broadmoor resort, but you can’t park at the resort itself. Instead, you park at Norris Penrose Event Center; here it is on Google Maps in case you want to get directions.
The parking lot is about four miles from the entrance of Seven Falls, so they offer a free shuttle service to get there.
We visited in June 2021 and they still had a mask requirement on the bus due to COVID, but not at Seven Falls itself. The Broadmoor Seven Falls is pet-friendly provided your pup is leashed and they’re also allowed on the shuttle bus to get there. That meant Truffles got to have her first bus ride which took about 10-15 minutes.
Our driver seemed to be trying to give us some kind of guided tour on the way there, but with the air conditioning being on and the lack of a microphone/tannoy system on the bus, it was impossible to hear anything she was saying.
Once we were at the park, it was a short walk to the ticket office to get our tickets. The Broadmoor doesn’t sell Seven Falls tickets online, so this is the only way to get them.
The ticket agent gave us a map of the attraction, along with a sheet with the rules they have there.
There’s a 0.8 mile walk to the falls which had a mild incline all the way. If you have mobility issues, they offer a tram service that drives you up there. This is free for seniors and season pass holders and $2 for everyone else.
If you can walk the 0.8 miles though, it’s definitely worth it. The walk through the canyon is beautiful, with the rock walls flanking you and a stream running alongside the route.
There are various rock formations marked along the way both on the map you’re given at the entrance and with signs as you’re approaching the formations. For example, there’s Washington’s Profile which you can see at the top facing to the right.
Along the way to the falls there are stores, restrooms and a covered seating area in case you need some shade.
If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s a Rappel Zone and zipline, although those are paid for separately.
At the base of the Eagle’s Nest there was a restaurant called Restaurant 1858, although it was closed the day that we visited.
The Eagle’s Nest gives you some great views of Seven Falls, but there’s a catch – you have to climb 185 steps to get to the platform. Good news if that sounds too much though – there’s an elevator that can take you up and down.
We decided to get some exercise though and so took the steps up and down. Even Truffles was up for the challenge.
There was a platform halfway up where you can take a much-needed breather before continuing up.
At the top of the stairs there was a large viewing platform as well as a small gallery called Rockhounds which features fossils and minerals from around the world.
That’s not why you’re up there though – the views of Seven Falls and the surrounding landscape are why it’s worth heading up to the Eagle’s Nest.
Seven Falls gained its name as it’s made up of seven separate waterfalls:
- Ramona Falls – This is a ‘fan’ waterfall which is named after Helen Hunt Jackson’s novel Ramona
- Feather Falls – This is a ‘cascade’ waterfall which looks like a feather
- Bridal Veil Falls – This is a ‘horsetail’ waterfall that’s named after its appearance like a bridal veil
- Shorty Falls – This is a ‘plunge’ waterfall that’s called shorty due to it being short
- Hull Falls – This is another ‘horsetail’ waterfall which is named after James Hull who owned Seven Falls in the 1880s
- Weimer Falls – This is a third ‘horsetail’ waterfall which is named after the second owner of Seven Falls – Callidore Dwight Weimer
- Hill Falls – This is a ‘fan’ waterfall named after Al Hill, the third owner of Seven Falls
After enjoying the views, we took the 185 steps back down and continued up the road to get closer to Seven Falls.
There’s a large covered seating area at the base of Seven Falls where you can sit and relax if you just want to enjoy the view from down there. If you’re up for the challenge though, there’s another set of stairs taking you to the top of Seven Falls which has 224 steps in total.
Thankfully there’s another stop halfway up the stairs where you can catch your breath. Truffles managed to make it both up and down the stairs to the Eagle’s Nest and up and down the stairs alongside Seven Falls, although I did have to carry her at one point as she insisted on getting in people’s way who were trying to walk down!
There’s a great sense of achievement when you get to the top and can look down from the top of the falls.
There’s a trail at the top of the falls that takes you to Inspiration Point and Helen Hunt Jackson’s original gravesite. It was a hot day and we were running low on water at that point, so we were a little wary of adding an extra hour to our journey. We therefore decided to just paddle about in the water at the top of the falls for a little while.
After enjoying the views from the top of the falls, we started heading back down the steps.
On our way back down the road, we stopped at Seven Falls Shop to get a couple of drinks and ice creams. This is at the base of Eagle’s Nest, so I’d recommend grabbing drinks on your way up to Seven Falls if you’re worried about running out of water like we almost did.
After taking all those steps, our ice creams felt well-deserved.
Despite having climbed up and down 800+ steps in total, Truffles was still remarkably perky by the end of it.
Final Thoughts
I was initially dubious about paying to go see a waterfall, but it ended up being money well spent. Seven Falls and the walk through the canyon on the way up to them were simply stunning, with the two sets of stairs adding a good challenge to the whole experience. If you visit Colorado Springs, I’d definitely put The Broadmoor Seven Falls on your list of places to see.
How Much Does The Broadmoor Seven Falls Cost?
At the time of our visit in June 2021, here were the ticket prices:
- Adults ages 13+ – $16.50
- Children ages 2-12 – $10.50
- Children under 2 – Free
- Seniors 60+ – $13.75
- Military – $13.75
When Is Seven Falls Open?
The days and times when Seven Falls is open seem to vary by season. For example, when we visited in June it was open from Friday to Monday from 10am-6pm and was closed Tuesday to Thursday.
From July 1 to October 31, 2021, they’re open from Thursday to Monday from 10am-6pm, with Tuesday and Wednesday being the only days they’re closed. In November, it’s due to only be open from Friday to Sunday, so it’s definitely worth checking their website when you’re planning a visit to make sure they’re open that day.
Rod Brown says
Why not open evenings? 1950s-60s was open evenings till 10pm, and many evergreen trees lighted. This started my ‘love’ of lighted outdoor trees! Are all the tree lights gone ??
stephen says
I’m afraid I’m not sure – if you contact the Broadmoor they might be able to explain why or if they do that at some other time of the year.
Roni Lion says
Hi, you guys are awesome. You answered the questions I had plus those I did not think to ask about 7 Falls. In addition to preparing for my trip, I am also trying to figure out how to best set up a travel blog that I can easily post in while I travel. You can bet I’ll be investigating what y’all did here. Hat’s off to you and the sweet dog.
stephen says
Thanks!