Do you love your graffiti with a side of waterfall? Or your waterfall with a side of graffiti? Well, if you answered yes to either of those questions, you should consider checking out Rainbow Falls, which runs out of Fountain Creek in Manitou Springs.
The natural waterfall is tucked under an imposing highway overpass, which makes it difficult to see, but if you do happen upon Rainbow Falls, you will not be disappointed. The natural rock formations that make up the waterfall have become a shrine to local street artists, with slogans, tagging names, and even (last time we checked) a giant white marijuana leaf painted on the rocks. The folks in Manitou Springs have tried to stop the trend of street art being painted on the falls, but to no avail. It’s just a thing now, and covers just about every square inch of the falls and underpass.
But luckily, it’s a pretty cool thing, even if it’s not exactly sanctioned by the town itself. The graffiti is a bright addition to the reds and oranges of the rock formation, and it certainly helps fancy up the underpass that’s imposing on the waterfall. It’s city-meets-town-meets-hiking-trail, and somehow, it just works.
It’s also a hidden, and happy, respite from the overcrowding at Manitou Springs. It’s kinda like your own private graffiti garden. Who could ask for more?
Angelica Leicht
