“Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains”, wrote William Shakespeare. And though he obviously didn’t refer at all to those majestic peaks of Colorado, peaceful it is indeed when driving, hiking and climbing those wild roads, trails and boulders of Rocky Mountain National Park. And firm those peaks stand.
I’d just finished my trip in Latin America, one that led all the way along the Andes. Thrilled I was to start a new mountainous adventure in the States in July – this time along the Rocky Mountain range. Starting at Rocky Mountain National Park I later on followed the rockies onto Teton and Yellowstone. With an in-between stop at the west coast I’ll encounter the rockies again in Canada in the upcoming weeks.
Though slightly terrified for going on my own into the wild, I was immediately rewarded with an overwhelming sight of wildlife when I drove into the park. A couple of bighorns basically jumped in front of my camera. In RMNP you don’t even need to head out far from the trails to spot the big mammals; black bears, elks and mule deers are all to be encountered close to the roads. Although you should leave the driveways of course – nothing better than hitting those trails!
From alpine tundra viewpoints, epic mountain peaks, mirror like lakes, aspen covered valleys to thundering waterfalls – Rocky Mountain NP has quite some epic spots. I wish I had time to hike all of its 350 mile trails, but then again, I’m glad to have a reason to return in due time. For now, I hope you’ll enjoy these pictures as much as I do!
Sunset along the Trail Ridge Road towards the Beaver Meadows
A cautious marmot in the tundra
Views on the way to Emerald Lake
A coyote on the tundra
Reflections at Mills Lake
Elk playing hide-and-seek at Beaver Meadows
Just a colourful plant at Wild Basin
Moraine Park at sunset
Bear Lake in the early morning
Bighorns along Sheep Lakes
The Trail Ridge Road on the way to Beaver Meadows at sunset
View on Nymph Lake from above
Sprague Lake at sunset
Moraine Park
Driving towards Trail Ridge Road
Marmot on the tundra
Dream Lake
Sheep Meadows
A moose on the loose in Sprague Lake
The sun rising up from behind Moraine Park Campground
Alberta Falls
A butterfly along the trail
Nymph Lake
View from the Trail Ridge Road
Copeland Falls at Wild Basin
Moraine Valley
A chipmunk along the trail
Golden Hour on the way down from the Trail Ridge Road
A flower at Wild Basin
View between Bear Lake and Alberta Falls
