Estes Park – Rocky Mountain National Park
The drive up to Estes Park was very beautiful, through
mountain roads and awesome scenery. Prior to the mountain roads, our new GPS
took us off the interstate way too soon. Rather than stay on the highway until
the last turn towards the mountains, it took us through Boulder Colorado, right
on a busy city road near the college and at lunch time! Wow, we could have done
without that detour… After that, the drive was nice going up into the
mountains. As we got closer to Estes Park, the Rocky Mountains were visible in
the distance. As we approached the town, we were able to see the surrounding
beauty of this valley. It’s like a big bowl surrounded by rocky hills and
mountains. The Thompson River runs through the valley and right down the middle
of downtown Estes Park. Gosh, it’s so beautiful and charming. We drove through
downtown Estes Park to get to the campground. Estes Park Campground at Marys
Lake is about 3 miles south of town and is a Larimer County campground. Upon
arrival, we found our site and got setup. The campground was very dusty, due to
the dirt roads and very little grass. The sites were mostly dirt and gravel. It
was also pretty windy, so we had to take down the awning and pick up the ground
rug. Otherwise, it was adequate with full hook ups.
We decided to take a short drive back into Rocky Mountain
National Park (RMNP) to check out the nearby area. We stopped at a couple of
pull-offs and saw a black bear along a creek in Beaver Meadow. There were also
some elk in the area. After driving just a few miles, we decided to go back to
camp and relax for awhile.The next morning we went for a drive up the Trail Ridge Road which traverses RMNP. This is the road we would be taking on our way westward, towing the RV. We were aware of the road conditions, which are wide two lane with many tight switchbacks. Kurt wanted to be able to get a feel for the drive before we decide to make the drive with the RV. The complete trail is 48 miles long and runs on the mountain ridges, down through mountain valleys, with many steep grades up and down. There are many pull-off overlooks to view the spectacular mountains and valleys. Since we were driving only the truck, we were able to pull off and take pictures and also go on some short hikes up to special overlooks and rocks. This park and mountains are beyond any description. It is so amazing to see mountain peaks with snow on them, beautiful green valleys with creeks/rivers and tundra areas above the tree line. We drove about 30 miles back on the road, until we got to the Continental Divide. There were many wildlife sightings; including yellow-bellied marmots, chipmunks, elk and we even saw a mountain lion. There were also many wild flowers in bloom, which just made it even more spectacular.
At this point, Kurt wanted me to drive on the way back. It was fairly easy and with no problems. We determined that there would be no problem pulling our RV across Trail Ridge Road. There were other RVs traveling the road, which helped us make that decision. After getting out of the park, we drove around Estes Park to check out the large lake and the trails around the town. The city park is huge, with a paved trail around the lake. There was boating access and also a dog park, where they can run off leash. It is such a beautiful town with emphasis on tourist and outdoor activities.
The next day we wanted to go hiking and found a nice trail within RMNP on Deer Mountain. The hike went to a peak on the mountain and was about 3 miles one way. While hiking up the trail, we noticed a wildfire on the back side of a mountain on the other side of the valley. Oh boy, we thought this could mean trouble. After hiking awhile and watching the fire grow larger, we decided to turn around and go back down the trail. The smoke was blowing toward us and we didn’t want to continue to breathe it. After we got back to the truck, we noticed the smoke was dissipating. We were not sure why the fire was slowing down, but it was a good thing. We went back to camp to let the dogs come out for a walk and start Happy Hour!
The next day we spoke with our RV neighbors about hiking and they recommended Gem Lake, an awesome hike up to a mountain lake. We packed a lunch and drove to the trailhead in RMNP. Gem Lake is 4 miles round trip hike with an elevation gain of 1090 feet, up to the lake at elevation 8830. This was an amazing and challenging hike with great views of the Estes Valley. The trail was very well maintained and easy to follow (straight up)! We truly enjoyed this beautiful hike, despite the steep trail. There were so many awesome rock formations to look at and the views were amazing. When we made it to the top, it was a small lake surrounded by huge rock formations. Everyone there was relaxed and having some lunch by the lake. We hung out there for awhile and Kurt was determined to hike up on top of the rocks, but only made it about halfway when his vertigo got the best of him. He decided it wasn’t a smart idea to continue. I did get a picture of him up on the rocks. The hike back down was so much easier and quicker. It was such a great hike and had some spectacular views of Estes Park valley. What a wonderful hike and a beautiful sunny day!
After we returned back to camp, we decided to take the boys to the dog park in Estes Park. They had been cooped up in the trailer every day we were in the area. Dogs are not allowed on trails within the National Park, so we had no option but to leave them in the RV. However, they don’t mind it too much and it allows them to get some extra sleep! The dog park was wonderful, with fenced areas to run. They also had access to play in the lake if they wanted to. Kirby and Kody had so much fun playing and running with the other dogs. It was so good for them to run off leash. We took them back to camp for their dinner. Later, we drove into downtown Estes Park. It was after dark, but most of the shops and restaurants were open for Saturday night. It was a nice experience to walk around this quaint mountain town. We did a little shopping and I purchased a T-shirt with the Estes Park and RNMP graphics. It was also amazing to see the Thompson River running through the town. There were several beautiful little parks by the river, with places to relax and enjoy the rushing waters.
After returning to camp, we had happy hour and dinner, then began prepping for our departure the next day. We will be heading toward northwestern Colorado to Yampa River State Park. This is over the mountains and down in the rolling hills area, just past Steamboat Springs. Hopefully we will be able to get in a paddle on the Yampa River.
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