From Ft. Collins to Estes Park, we took the scenic route yesterday on Colorado Road 43 through Roosevelt National Park.
I’m particularly fond of mountain driving, with winding roads and the smells of pines and water.
We stopped to walk a bit at the Upper North Fork picnic ground
and appreciate the stream that’s constantly beside the road.
That route brought us into Estes Park from the north — probably no more nor less scenic than any other approach, but quite lovely. The bicyclist who had just crested this ridge and started his descent whooped for a long time on his way down.
Rocky Mountain National Park Bear Lake Hiking Area
After checking into our hotel in Estes Park, we took the Moraine Avenue entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and headed south toward Bear Lake.
We’d been adequately warned of road construction and delays — in fact, the Bear Lake road is closed to private traffic from 09:00 to 16:00 each day — and we got to watch workers clearing out for the day and view the new boulder retaining walls.
We also saw many teepee-shaped piles of coniferous logs. It looks as though forestry crews have been clear-cutting trees lost to disease nearest the road, though it’s possible this is part of the construction project.
Reaching Bear Lake, I realized I was going to be racing the setting sun all the way around if I wanted to take any pictures. It was still late afternoon, but the high peaks to the west make for an early sunset.
The eastern peaks still had bright sunlight even as the lake itself fell into shade.
I felt somewhat like I was doing a military patrol biathlon, walking briskly at an unfamiliar 9475 ft elevation, then stopping to slow my pulse and breathing long enough to handhold the camera in the dimming light.
It’s a pleasant, flat, short 1/2-mile trail … so I walked it again after rushing around to get pictures.
Nymph Lake
The Bear Lake ranger center is also the trailhead to other lakes, and we walked up to Nymph Lake (a 225′ elevation gain). Upon arriving, I didn’t see a way to capture the view of the whole lake, but managed to get close enough for this view of lily pads.
Dream Lake
The path around Nymph Lake continues to Dream Lake (another 200′ elevation gain), so I kept on walkin’.
In spite of appearances, the trail felt very secure and not at all precarious.
Over the river and through the woods,
Uh, over the river again and through the meadow,
to Dream Lake I go.
The eastern end of the lake is incredibly still and clear.
To the west, you can see — and hear, even at that distance — what looks like a mere rivulet but must be quite a waterfall crashing down the rocks and feeding the lake.
Lake Full of Sky
The trip back down gave a lovely view of Nymph Lake.
And I like bristlecones. I was too slow, though, to get a picture of the charcoal-grey bunny rabbit who was hopping away as I approached.