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Sarah GiekExplorer

Teacher by day. Explorer by weekend.

This was the first hike we did after arriving in Colorado. It was a nice, easy hike to start our trip and it gave us a chance to adjust to the altitude. Gem Lake was a bit of a disappointment, as it was very small and rather unremarkable. Nevertheless, the views along the trail were beautiful and it was an enjoyable hike.

Explorer

10/07/16

This place is stunning. Even after seeing the pictures beforehand, I couldn't believe how beautiful the falls were. We went in the late afternoon in the fall on a Monday and there were very few people on the trail. Though I can see why it gets busy in the summer months - short hike with a big payoff!

I didn't plan to catch the sunset at Lake McDonald, but as I was driving out of the park, I just had to stop to watch the show. There were plenty of spots to park alongside the road, so I found an open space and walked down to the shore. I had the place all to myself; a perfect way to end a day of hiking!