Rocky Mountain NP-So Many Choices!

Wild Basin Entrance

How to get there:

US 36/US 34, Estes Park west	N40.3762°	W105.5237°
SH 7/CR 84 W	N40.2217°	W105.5262°
Ouzel Falls TH	N40.2092°	W105.5620°

From US 36/US 34 on the west side of Estes Park, drive east on US 34 keeping right at mile 0.4 to reach the intersection with SH 7 in 0.8 miles. From here take SH 7 south for 12.8 miles to the junction of CR 84W and turn west to reach the trailhead, entering the park at the Wild Basin entrance.

Photo Ops:

The 2.7 mile hike to Ouzel Falls passes Copeland Falls at 0.3 miles and the Calypso Cascades at mile 1.8. All three falls present their own scenic beauty and there is the opportunity to photograph the Calypso orchid (also known as a fairy slipper) in the area of the Cascades. This is a very small plant with a very short blooming season and is very easy to miss. Watch closely, it is beautiful! It should be blooming sometime in June.

Longs Peak

How to get there:

US 36/US 34, Estes Park west	N40.3762°	W105.5237°
SH 7/Longs Peak Rd	N40.6912°	W105.5135°
Longs Peak TH	N40.5208°	W105.8922°

Follow the directions above to reach the US 34/SH 7 intersection. The Longs Peak road is reached in about 9 miles south on SH 7 from there.

Photo Ops:

Chasm Lake Trail is a fairly strenuous hike of 4.2 miles. The sceney is breathtaking. At 3.8 miles you have a stunning view of the Peacock Pool and the Upper and Lower Columbine Falls. Chasm lake sits in a spectacular mountain cirque with the famous Diamond face of Longs Peack rising nearly 2500 feet above the lake. There will be many opportunities for dramatic vistas of Longs Peak along the trail and alpine wildflowers.

Beaver Meadows Entrance/Bear Lake

How to get there:

US 36/US 34, Estes Park west	N40.3762°	W105.5237°
US 36/Bear Lake Rd	N40.3658°	W105.5847°
Bear Lake Rd/Moraine Park Rd	N40.3540°	W105.5825°
Bear Lake Rd/Big Thompson River	N40.3503°	W105.5775°
Bear Lake Rd/Sprague Lake Rd	N40.3240°	W105.6077°
Bear Lake Rd/Glacier Gorge TH	N40.3067°	W105.6433°
Bear Lake Rd/Bear Lake TH	N40.3120°	W105.6457°

From the junction of US 36/US 34 on the west side of Estes Park (these roads also intersect on the east edge of town), turn south on US 36 and drive about 3.8 miles to the junction with the Bear Lake road, entering the park at the Beaver Meadows entrance.

Photo Ops:

Starting at the US 36/Bear Lake Rd junction and heading south on Bear Lake road in 1.3 miles you will come to the Moraine Park-Fern Lake road. Elk can be found in Moraine Park nearly every morning and evening. Exploring the road will lead to opportunities for good scenic vistas of the Big Thompson River and Longs Peak. Another 0.4 miles down the Bear Lake road is a small dirt road that will also provide river and peak vistas.

At mile 2, the road crosses the Big Thompson. There are good shots from the bridge of the river tumbling over the rocks. Especially during high water in June. Mid morning light should be best.

At mile 5.6 is the junction to Sprague Lake. There is a good photo op of the lake in the foreground with a mountain vista from the east side of the lake. Dawn can be particularly rewarding.

At mile 8.4 you will reach the Glacier Gorge trailhead. There is a very small parking lot here that will fill up quickly. Get here early! From here you can hike to Alberta Falls in 0.8 miles and reach three particularly gorgeous lakes. The Loch is a 2.25 mile hike with the Lake of Glass another mile and Mills Lake can be reached in 2 miles. All of these would be excellent choices for dawn light.

You will reach the end of the road at mile 9.2, the Bear Lake parking lot and trailhead. The short loop around Bear Lake offers a chance to catch Hallet Peak reflecting in the lake from the east side and Longs Peak and the lake from the north. Again dawn light should be fantastic.

From the Bear Lake trailhead there are several opportunities to hike to some especially scenic lakes:

Nymph Lake can include Longs Peak in the vista (0.5 miles)
Dream Lake can be truly fantastic at dawn and most of the morning with nearby Hallet Peak (1.1 miles)

Two Rivers Lake (2.75 miles)
Odessa Lake (3.75 miles)
Fern Lake (4.5 miles)
These three lakes can also be reached from the Fern Lake trailhead at the end of the Fern Lake road.

Fall River Entrance/Old Fall River Road

How to get there:

US 36/US 34, Estes Park west	N40.3762°	W105.5237°
US 34/Endo Valley Rd	N40.4053°	W105.6250°
Chasm Falls	N40.4170°	W105.6723°
Old Fall River Rd/US 34	N40.4413°	W105.7557°

From the intersection of US 36/US 34 on the west side of Estes Park, drive west on US 34 for about 6.7 miles to the intersection with the Endo Valley/Old Fall River road entering the park at the Fall River entrance. Turn northwest onto the Endo Valley road (this road becomes the Old Fall River road, a gravel one way in about 2 miles). In just over 3 miles from this intersection you will reach Chasm Falls and reconnect with US 34/Trail Ridge road in 11 miles.

Photo Ops:

About 1.8 miles from the entrance you will reach Sheep Lakes. Big horn sheep will often come down to these lakes to feed on the minerals.

Chasm Falls is certainly worth visiting and will be shaded in the late afternoon. Look for elk and deer around tree line. Wildflowers are a possibility anywhere along the road.

Trail Ridge Road

How to get there:

US 36/US 34, Estes Park west	N40.3762°	W105.5237°
US 36/US 34 Deer Ridge Jct	N40.4553°	W105.6250°
Chasm Falls	N40.4170°	W105.6723°
Old Fall River Rd/US 34	N40.4413°	W105.7557°
Onahu Creek TH	N40.3163°	W105.8443°
Timber Creek CG	N40.3802°	W105.8495°
Grand Lake Entrance	N40.2590°	W105.8350°

From the intersection of US 36/US 34 on the west side of Estes Park, drive west on US 34, entering the park at the Fall River entrance for 8.5 miles to again reach a junction with US 36, the Deer Ridge junction. US 34/Trail Ridge road continues through the park to the west side climbing about 4000' and reaching a high point of 12,183'. I will relate all distances on Trail Ridge road from this junction.

Alternatively, starting from the same junction of US 36/US 34 on the west side of Estes Park, drive 6.7 miles on US 36, entering the park at the Beaver Meadows entrance, to the Deer Ridge junction.

Photo Ops:

There are many scenic overlooks along Trail Ridge road that offer opportunities for some great vistas.

Starting at Deer River junction you will reach in
2 miles	Beaver Ponds	It is possible to get some good vistas of the mountain ranges reflected in the small ponds here.
4 miles	Many Parks Curve	Scenic vistas back to the east.
8 miles	Rainbow Curve	A must stop. Scenic view of Horseshoe Park, the alluvial fan and the beaver ponds.
11 miles	Forest Canyon Overlook	A deep canyon separates you from a mountain range that seems almost close enough to touch. Sunrise and sunset work here, especially with clouds to catch the light. Clouds can fill the canyon with the peaks rising above; spectacular!
13 miles	Rock Cut	The road is cut through some rocks here with a dramatic drop over the side. Good foreground for the peaks in the distance.
16 miles	Gore Range Overlook	Very similar opportunities as the Forest Canyon Overlook.
17 miles	Alpine Visitors Center	There is a very nice vista looking back down the valley at the very eastern end of this facility.
17.6 miles	Medicine Bow Curve	Some far ranging vistas to the north and west from this spot.
38.5 miles	Grand Lake entrance	Kawuneeche Visitor Center is located here.

Look for moose in areas with aquatic vegetation and willows. Visitors sight moose with some frequency in the half-mile stretch just north of Onahu Creek Trailhead, along the Onahu Trail. Willow areas along the Colorado River next to Timber Creek Campground and at Lulu City are other good viewing locations. Rangers at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center, located 1 mile north of the town of Grand Lake at the Grand Lake entrance to the park, can often provide information on where moose have been recently seen.

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