Last June, during a month of rejuvenation, I visited Colorado focusing the last part of my trip in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was an awesome ending to the trip and I loved seeing a mountain range that is distinctly different than the volcanic peaks I am used to in Washington state. I entered on the western side of the park after staying the night camping at Stillwater campground on Lake Granby. The highlight of this overnight stay was a cute little fox I encountered while taking an evening walk and the smoke filled sunset that ended the day…

I entered the park on Highway 34 which runs north and then turns east horizontally cutting across the Rockies. I left really early in the morning near 5 am so I would miss the crowds which can certainly be overwhelming. This was a good plan as I was able to get some hiking in without literally anyone on the trails. After entering the park, there are some huge meadows, which were serendipitously full of elk.

As I drove over the high passes in the early morning, I was so lucky to catch some awesome wildlife with my camera. A fox in a parking lot at the top, and a elk and baby all posed for me. 

The marmot was a a bit jealous so layed out for a photo on a warm rock, and then shyly glanced my direction. 

The mountains were snow covered and beautiful in the morning light. 

The very top of the pass was a surreal world of white and green, and rock sprang out vividly defining the landscape. I was very glad that I chose to head up to these high passes at the end of my trip. Basically, the first part of the trip was spent at increasing elevation over four days, and I think I acclimatized nicely so that I didn’t get a headache or worse when hiking up at the top in the national park. The road travels up to over 12,000 feet in elevation. There are multiple hiking opportunities across the top, and in late June, there was still snow present, but none on the roads. 

The drive down included multiple stops for various views that spread out in the valley to the east. I also was able to get a glimpse of a moose just far enough away. He was hiding in some brush, eating everything in sight. 

My favorite hike of the trip was up to Lawn Lake, which was a 12.5 mile round trip jaunt up to a beautiful alpine lake. The trail was a nice, slow ascent with a 2500 foot elevation gain. It follows the Roaring River which flows through a carved valley with gorgeous effect. 

After arriving at Lawn Lake, I had a beautiful lunch with a new friend. See if you can find him on the right… cute marmot!

I think my favorite views of the trip happened while I was driving around in the evening with the sun falling low on the horizon. The colors became so much more rich and the animals all came out to play. 

I camped on the opposite side of the park then, the west, and stayed a few nights. I revisited the park multiple times trying out more hiking trails. Here are some views from the top of two different small mountains. Deer Mountain was a nice hike with good elevation gain, and the top had great views looking right up into the snow capped peaks. 

Spending a week driving across Colorado, and then the last part of that in Rocky Mountain National Park, was an experience I will never forget. Time alone, to recalibrate, and think through my decisions and direction in life, was invaluable. For me, I also found the simplicity of cooking over a one burner stove kept me feeling grounded, and not food focused. I brought my own food from home, freeze dried mostly, as if I was backpacking and visited very few restaurants. Hiking at least 6 miles per day kept me feeling great! This was a vacation that required some planning, with thoughtful meals, the right gear, and simple expectations. I’m glad I was in good physical shape, which kept me injury free, and not in pain. Knowing your own limits is so important to planning a trip that will be full of happy memories and not visits to urgent care. Remember when bringing the 10 essentials on the airplane to check your knives, stove, hiking poles, and the like. You need to purchase your stove gas when you arrive – gas canisters cannot go on the plane! 

So, all in all, I returned a better person than when I left, ready to face life with a new attitude. Rocky Mountain National Park is definitely on my list of top ten parks in the country, with excellent hiking trails and outstanding scenery. I loved the fact that I could get up and go early into the park from the west and have a natural experience without the huge crowds. If you travel during daylight hours into the park, then you must plan ahead with the timed entry system for reservations. The following web page has the important info you need:

https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086910

Here is a link to the official website for planning your visit to the national park: 

https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm

 Happy traveling!