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Haley BakerExplorer

Technology and Digital Collections Librarian trying to have an adventure every weekend.

Explorer

11/13/16

We got there around 9:45 am on a Saturday in November - parking lot was about half full. Most of the crowds were on their way down so we didn't have to share the lake with many people. The elevation gain really isn't that bad, and the views at the top are more than worth it.

We haven't done much hiking in Moraine Park, but after this hike that's bound to change. Cub Lake is absolutely gorgeous and the scenery feels so much different than the rest of the park (on the Bear Lake side). It was an easy walk and we didn't see many people on our way out - but we did see lots of animals! Be sure to get an early start so you can get a parking spot and have the same sort of wildlife luck - a coyote, a moose, and two elk harems!

The elk rut is absolutely incredible to watch, and RMNP has many signs set up letting visitors know where the best viewpoints are. If you come to RMNP in the fall, you're basically guaranteed to see a few dozen elk (you might even find some in Estes Park!). While you're watching these beautiful animals, though, be aware of your surroundings and don't get too close. When hiking, pay attention to signs at the trailhead as some trails are closed from dusk till dawn to protect animals and visitors alike.

A beautiful campground that can get super busy in the summer. Take the time to plan your trip early and go for a site far from the entrance and along the outside and you won't be disturbed by anything other than the elks bugle-ing too loudly in the meadows below you.

A great view of the lake with so many opportunities to see wildlife - we saw two moose right on the shore when the shuttle was pulling in. Make sure you get there early to beat some of the crowds. This is a great hike to pair with another short one during the day, like to Phelps Lake

The hike itself is gorgeous, but the lake is outstanding. The hike is simple and quick, with Jump Rock providing an easy way to cool off quickly. I'm not much on cliff jumping, but it was easy enough for me to get down to the water and just swim as some of the other members of my party jumped!

Explorer

08/22/16

I think the best part of Old Faithful is that it's accessible for everyone - I went with my family and my 73 year old grandmother had the same experience as her 16 year old granddaughter. We arrived about 4 minutes before it erupted (AFTER the predicted time) and still had perfect vantage points, so don't stress out if you're running late. There are plenty of boardwalks around the area with different geysers and formations allowing you to explore more than just the main viewing platform.

This was a short, simple hike that gave fantastic panoramas of Estes Park and Longs Peak. It was super busy, but not so much that it took away from the experience.

We hiked this starting from the Bear Lake trailhead and passed only about a dozen people on the way up. There was only one other person at the lake when we got there. With gorgeous views and an easy climb, this hike is a must-do for visitors to RMNP

If I have family in town that has never been to RMNP but isn't necessarily up for a "hike," I take them to Bear Lake. Its a gorgeous spot that has a mostly handicap accessible path and incredible views of Long's Peak. It's such a great place to share the beauty of the park without the strain of hiking somewhere further away.

This is a beautiful waterfall that flows nicely in the summer/fall. It's an incredibly easy hike to get there, so prepare yourself to either get there really early or share your view with dozens of other tourists.

Trail Ridge Road is one of the coolest ways to experience a national park, as the highest paved road in the United States, it takes you above the trees and allows you to explore alpine tundra without a hike to get there. If you're there on a rainy day, make sure to stop at Rainbow Curve and see why it gets its name!

Arriving before 8:30 am on a weekday ensures that you have the monument basically to yourself. This allows you to fully immerse yourself in the experience of appreciating these trees the way you were intended to. Absolutely gorgeous and absolutely worth it, even if you're there with other tourists.

We arrived not really knowing what to expect, and were pleasantly surprised with a nice, simple hike leading to some gorgeous views of the city and the bay. If you're in the Headlands, I would definitely suggest you do this hike!

Explorer

04/28/16

We stopped here briefly on our drive up Highway 1 and just stayed at the closest parking area. I got some great shots and didn't have to fight through many tourists to get them, so you don't have to go super far to get the shots!

Explorer

04/28/16

Such a beautiful location, even if it's packed with other people. Tip: You can park along the side of the highway and access the trail instead of paying for parking inside the state park!

We did this hike on April 23, 2016 (a week after a huge snowstorm) and it was wonderful! We definitely needed our Yaktrax but even that only helped so much - slushy spring snow, anyone? It was a gentle, easy hike with only 2 sections of "tougher" uphill, but even those weren't bad. I will say, though, that we crossed the creek 6(!) times instead of just 2. Only once was there a bridge, the rest were just walking through a few inches of water. Overall, it was a great hike!

We did this hike mid-April on snowshoes (which ended up being necessary). The winter route we took, however, involved going straight past Alberta Falls and following the creek the entire way to Mills Lake - "climbing" (walking up) two other waterfalls and seeing some bobcat tracks. If you're not comfortable breaking trail or walking on top of running water with a foot of snow, then definitely follow the author's directions. Otherwise, its a fun adventure to follow the creek. The lake itself was gorgeous and was solid enough to hold four of us standing closely, which made for a great climax to an already great day.

This was definitely an easy hike that was good for beginners, but the trail was hard to follow because there were so many different ways to go. It was also painfully flat for all except the beginning 0.6 miles. The author of this adventure was right, it's easy to add mileage to - we did 6.2 total miles. I would recommend going for sunrise or sunset because the views were underwhelming at 10am. Overall it was a decent hike, good exercise, and a great way to spend your weekend if you're hiking with kids or people who aren't used to Colorado altitude. If you're used to sweeping vistas and seclusion from city life, this might not be the hike for you.