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 In August we spent 12 days in the Rocky Mountain National Park area of Colorado. Traveling
the roads marked in yellow on the map, we visited Estes Park, Grand Lake, and finally Winter Park for the wedding
that brought us out here.
Estes Park was our base for exploring the more-scenic eastern side of
RMNP. The Rocky Mountains are more abrupt and dramatic when seen from the east, and lakes and waterfalls are more
accessible from this side.
Click here for
a more detailed RMNP map.
Our base for the western side of the Park was the village of Grand Lake,
alongside the beautiful mountain lake that gives the town its name. This area was a pleasant change from the enjoyable
but bustling and crowded Estes Park. Route 34 follows the Kawuneeche Valley, with the Never Summer Mountains on
the west and the more gradual slopes of the Rockies on the east. Continuing into the Park, this road provides easy
access to the spectacular Alpine Visitor Center at an altitude of 11,796 feet along Trail Ridge Road.
Making up for the less-spectacular scenery was the abundant wildlife.
Early-morning drives found us up-close-and-personal with elk, deer, moose, and a number of smaller "critters"
including coyotes, prairie dogs, chipmunks and ground squirrels.
As expected from a ski resort, Winter Park presented mostly man-made
attractions. However, the wedding was wonderful and we did find a couple of interesting drives along old forest
and logging roads in the Arapaho National Recreation Area and the Indian Peaks Wilderness.
Please browse our images from this, our first
100% digital trip. Being freed from the restraints of film resulted in nearly 2200 images over the 12 days. So
we have no excuses if you don't find something you like among the following categories:
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