Omayra Acevedo, Peak to Peak. The recent snow fall has inspired me to stay in the winter spirit. I sat between the wood stove and front door watching the snowflakes hit the ground and occasionally go into a delicately choreographed dance with the wind. As I stared in admiration, I began to think about all the things I love about Colorado Rocky Mountain winters. 

It’s not just how beautiful our winters are, but how important they are. A snow packed winter helps insulate the ground, gives the soil ample water during warmer months, and helps protect several crops that create the beauty I like to call our picture-perfect postcard state. Besides, personally, I’d rather deal with a ton of snow than any size wild fire. 

One of the things I love about Colorado winters are the frozen waterscapes. With the picturesque mountain back drop, rock formations and our beautiful sky, the waterfalls, rivers, creeks and lakes tend to look beyond remarkable. Like a painting or movie scene.

On one of my many winter mountain drives, I spotted some incredibly beautiful frozen water scenes. I took about a billion photos. Okay, maybe not quite a billion, but it sure felt like it by the time I got home and started downloading them. Most of these are quite easy to get to. Right off of I70, is the Charlie Tayler Water Wheel Falls – which I have mentioned before. I wish I could tell you that I loved these falls during the winter, but I love them year-round. Please make it a priority to go see them during all four seasons. They will not disappoint.

Another frozen fall I spotted was right off of Clear Creek Canyon. It was spectacular! I felt as if I had spotted a sculpture in the middle of nowhere. The water was flawlessly frozen through the rocks and as if in seamless uniform and unwilling to disturb human nature, it stopped right at the edge of the road. It was truly perfect.

Colorado has over 80 named waterfalls, 300 lakes, 230 rivers, and more streams, creeks and waterscapes than one can count.  Most of us can go for a short walk or drive and bump into one. I hope you make time to see some of them and enjoy the beauty of nature in our colorful state. 

(Originally published in the February 13, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)