Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park.........................

In Estes Park, there is a wonderful "fitness loop" around Lake Estes, so we decided to stretch our legs and get used to hiking in altitude before heading to Rocky Mountain National Park for a trek. Its about a 4 mile trail, and we enjoyed the views as we walked around the lake.

Lake Estes Visitor Center area....start of the trail

so pretty....on this hot morning

reminds us of some of the trails at home we used to bike on

the views were really great

kayaks and SUPs enjoying the lake 

there's the Stanley Hotel again.....the setting for Stephen King's book The Shining......REDRUM.....waahhhhhaaaa

another view of the Stanley Hotel....lovely setting!

Monday morning we headed out to the Bear Lake area in Rocky Mountain National Park. We weren't in the park very long when we were greeted by a couple of huge male elk. There were some "easy" hikes we wanted to do from the trailhead at Bear Lake. The park was very crowded, and offered a shuttle to the trailheads during the summer. What a pleasure to take that instead of trying to find a parking space in a busy parking lot! Bear Lake parking lot is normally filled by 7:30 am, and the parking lot for the shuttle is usually filled by 8:30 or so. At least that is what the ranger told us our first day here. It is wise to hike before noon, because afternoon thunderstorms usually hit the mountains, and it can be dangerous for hiking. So, I guess everyone gets an early start here too! (Usually we are one of the few early birds, but here there are lots and lots of early birds!)

good morning

how are you today?

Our first hike was a 1.1 mile one way to Dream Lake. Aptly titled! On the way, we passed by Nymph Lake, which was filled with lily pads....many of them blooming. Though a fairly short hike, the gain in elevation was 465 feet, making it a work-out for sure. At least for me! And...we started out at 9400+ feet elevation, so we took it slow on the way to the lake, which was entirely UP. The way back was a breeze though! Haha.

hiking to Dream Lake (a very popular trail)

that way...follow the folks from the shuttle

oh I'm hot already

this trail goes up and up and up the entire way

check out the views

a flat section - finally-but not for long

the views are amazing

here we go

check that out! Takes your mind off the uphill climb

The mountains are calling.............(Look at Tom's face!)

continuing on

Nymph Lake

so pretty

looks like a rose, doesn't it?

very nice

After a few minutes at Nymph Lake, we headed back on the trail UP to Dream Lake. The views were amazing...truly spectacular scenery! 

heading back to the trail

nature's art

love the twisted tree

some (birds) call this home

watch your step

check out that guy's backpack...this is the first place we've seen those...looks like a comfy bed for back-country camping!

sweet

just a few steps

checking out the views

oh, there's Nymph Lake (told ya we were going up, up, up!)

just look at all those mountain peaks

moving right along

great views

 wildflowers along the hillside

gorgeous

you ok Susie?  (surprisingly, yes!)

breathtaking!

a little edgy for a while

a little waterfall area-nice and refreshing 

nice

posing nicely by the little waterfall :)

enjoying the mountain streams and mini waterfalls

refreshing

infinity pool (no, actually, the top of the waterfall)

just about there

the balance beam?

and she makes the landing!  (can you tell we've been watching the Olympics!!)

nice

that mountain ridge looks so close now

The lake itself is surrounded by a pine forest, with mountain peaks in the distance. The water...aahhh! Refreshingly clear and clean, with a nice green tint in the deeper sections. Just beautiful! No boating is allowed, but fishing was okay from the shoreline. We saw several fishermen along our way.
Many folks stop once the trail reaches the lake, however, the trail goes to the other end of the lake, where you can see the stream that feeds it. Lots of fishermen there, so no good pics of the small waterfall there.

Dream Lake .... a beauty

check out that water!

awesome fishing spot

so pretty

another pretty view

nature's art..

having fun

heading to the end of the lake

this is just lovely

let's see if we can find the water source

the waterfall streaming into the lake

lots of sun and wind

oh hey! hanging out in a tree?

see the chipmunk...in the very center of the picture?

heading back and the views are spectacular

wow!

giant bruise from a pulled muscle (ouch!)

Next, from the same trailhead, we went to Alberta Falls, a 0.8 mile one way hike with elevation gain of 160 feet. On our way to the falls, we were going mostly down...and you know what that means. The way back was pretty much uphill all the way. The falls were gorgeous. We had the trail pretty much to ourselves on the way to the falls, so we were rather shocked when we saw tons of people hanging out at the falls! Where did they all come from?

heading down, down, down and you know what that means?

just about at the Falls

bet this is gorgeous in the Fall...with the colorful leaves

nice

almost at the Falls now

imagine...the Fall....and the leaves!

cool

hmm...the bridge or the rocks?

the river flowing through the gorge 

near the Falls now!

woah...where did all these people come from?

powerful Falls

interesting dude at the Falls

so pretty

Alberta Falls

close up

water flowing down from the falls

cool beehive

ready for the trek UP

wait...let me hydrate more...we are at elevation!

Our final little hike was around Bear Lake. It is actually a nature trail, of about 0.5 miles. Now that trail was easy. The others, though listed as easy, were not really. I guess they are easy for the Rocky Mountains! It is all relative!! My fitbit measured a total of 91 flights for those 3 hikes (over a span of about 5 miles total), and it only measures going up. 

its like a different day here....check out the weather

Bear Lake...sweet!

very nice...how many shades of green are there?

of course you can take our picture in the rain!

beautiful-no matter the weather

lots of weather coming our way

nature's painting

looks like a rockslide

right down into the water 

don't get too close to the edge...ahaha

are you with me Susie?

guess the fence wasn't enough to keep these guys off the rocks (very discouraging to see stuff like this...not heeding the signs to keep the park as natural as possible)

view from the end of the lake

the shuttle rolled in right as we walked out of the trailhead...how very convenient!

the ranger station at the trailhead....9475 feet elevation! That's to start!

Anyway, Bear Lake was beautiful too, and even though we had rain for some of that hike, we still thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. This park is amazingly beautiful and we are enjoying every minute here. 

such a pretty park

checking out another possible trailhead for later in the week

the glaciers over yonder

we stop here every day and think it is a new view for us....we are getting old! hahhahaha (actually, I think its because the weather changes the views and they look new to us!)