After starting my day off exploring Bear Lake, I decided to do the 3.6-mile roundtrip hike to…read moreEmerald Lake. While on hike, I passed by Nymph Lake and Dream Lake. Nymph Lake is a charming lake that is about half a mile into the hike and has pond lilies floating on the water. Dream Lake is another half mile after that. I took a little time to enjoy this lake because it was so pretty. The hike to Dream Lake begins at the start of the Bear Lake trailhead. It is a steady climb through aspen groves and ponderosa pine. From here, you can continue on to Emerald Lake. It is considered a moderately challenging hike because of the elevation gain. It is also one of the most photographed lakes because it is surrounded by steep cliffs. You can see Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain in the background. Dream Lake is a peaceful area to relax at and enjoy.

If you decide to hike to Emerald Lake, Dream Lake is the second of three lakes you'll discover…read morealong this hike. About 1.1 miles into the 1.8 mile, moderate hike, Dream Lake is a breath of fresh air. It's better than Nymph Lake and just a sneak peek of what's to come when you finally reach Emerald Lake. We did this hike in mid-June, and it was around Dream Lake when we began finding snow still on the trail. I use hiking sandals and was able to manage in the snow for this hike (was definitely not able to use them for the branch-off for Lake Haiyaha). But do be careful if you're not used to walking in snow. Even though Emerald Lake is the goal (and more gorgeous), make sure to take some time to sit and take in Dream Lake. It's a relaxing spot - drink some water and eat a snack. Just make sure to take all your trash with you! This hike is located on Bear Lake Road, so make sure you make the appropriate reservations - you will need a reservation for Rocky Mountain AND a reservation for Bear Lake Road. You'll park at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, which is the location of some of the most popular hikes on the road. Even though the lot is big, it does fill up. The park & ride isn't too far away, and the shuttle will drive you in. While there is a good amount of shade on this trail, there are still portions in the open sun. Make sure to pack sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water. Beautiful destination. If you can, make sure to continue on to Emerald Lake!

Our visit to Rocky Mountain National Park was very fluid - we didn't have much planned, but Alpine…read moreRidge Trail was still one of the only hikes that was on our must-do hike. It is so breath-takingly gorgeous, that if you're able to complete it, it should 100% be included on your itinerary. Located right by the Alpine Visitors Center, this hike is about 0.6 miles roundtrip and requires you to climb approximately 225 stairs. The hike itself is moderate, but also take into account that you're at a higher elevation - you'll probably have to take more frequent breaks, so just make sure to pace yourself. Plenty of fun placards to read along the way, though, so it's like the hike is inviting you to take a breather. The summit is at 12,005 feet and so beautiful. You will get a full 360 view from the top - take some time to just sit and enjoy. There's even a elevation sign at the top that you can take your picture with. It was June when we visited, so it was still cold, windy, and drizzling. Snow was still out on the mountains. But it was still so serene. The hike starts at the Alpine Visitors Center, which has both clean & modern bathrooms and a water bottle refill station. So make sure you stop by - it's not often you find both of these at a trailhead. Wonderful experience, highly recommend.

If you're stopping at the Alpine Visitor Center when driving through Trail Ridge Road, it only…read moremakes sense to stop by here and go up the 1 mile hike. It is a slight bit challenging (well maybe it's because I didn't bring my water with me), but taking a break or so every 10 or so stairs will help out a ton. Once you get to the top, the views are priceless. You're not going to see viewpoints like this anywhere in RMNP. Being 12,000+ feet above sea level is special. This is one trail you can't skip out on and you'll remember it forever.

We stayed at this campground so we could break up our drive and do the whole route through the RMNP…read morestarting at Estes Park and could finish the drive back to the Denver area the next day. It is the only campground in the park that is on that side of the park by grand lake. We stayed at campground site 74. If you can choose your campsite I recommend that site. It is on the outer rim of the campgrounds and has a great view of the mountains. In the morning we were able to see and hear elk from the campsite! The downside was some of us drink the water from the water spigot at the campsite (not from the dish sink or bathroom sink) and got very sick while the others that did not were fine. Bring lots of your own water or boil your water just to be safe. Mostly tent campers at this location. No showers. We did not have cell service either here, but did not have cell service in the majority of the park. Lots of signs and talk about bears being here but we did not see any. Bring cash to buy firewood at the campground.

We love nature and this was a perfect spot to unwind and get back to that minus cell phones or…read moredigital interruptions. All of Colorado is beautiful but this was one of our favorite spots in both winter and spring but especially in summer because it's like being in a postcard.

I spent a week in Rocky Mountain National Park and dedicated one day to explore the Wild Basin…read moreportion of it. Wild Basin a region in the southeast corner near Allenspark. The Wild Basin entrance station is half a mile west of Highway 84. You will pass by the Wild Basin Lodge and Copeland Lake once you enter. The road to the Wild Basin Ranger Station is a dirt road that is long and very narrow. I was pulling over a lot to avoid cars going in the other direction. The parking lot around the ranger station fills up quick during the peak seasons. There were rangers on hand to give out paper maps and answer questions at the beginning of the trailhead when I arrived. I did the almost three mile hike to Ouzel Falls. You pass by Copeland Falls and Calypso Cascades along the way. It is a beautiful hike and it made me forget how much of a pain it was to drive to this portion of the park. You can hike right up to the top of Ouzel Falls. I ended up hanging out for awhile and eating lunch at the falls. You can continue on the trail to Ouzel Lake or turn around and go back. Ouzel Lake is named after a North American species of bird. There are also other trails at Wild Basin that lead to Thunder Lake, Finch Lake, and Pear Lake.

Google it and you will find it. Our group arrived at 6 30 am on Saturday. The lower parking lot…read morewas full and ended up parking at the upper lot by the trash bin. As you enter thru the gate, there is a welcome kiosk and rest room to the right. No water or hand washing station. Detailed map will tell you all about the area. This is a starting point to many trails that go deep into the Indian Peaks Wilderness area. On our visit, we got to see mooses, very close to the end of the lake. You can do the loop around the lake. At the end of our visit, there were cars parked along the side of the road. Very popular area. Lots of canoes, paddle boards. No bike allowed!

The trail is quite popular, parking lot is not too small, but in a good day, still challenging to…read morefind one. The trail is basically flat, plus photo and water breaks, it took us almost 2 hours. I enjoyed the hiking, the lake is beautiful. The only regret is that we and all other hikers heard the moose moo but no one saw it. On return to the parking lot, I met father-son who carried backpacks ready for 5 day trip in the mountains, it seemed exact father-son thing to do, I only wish I could do the same thing with my son earlier.

So pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this overlook in Rocky Mountain. The view of the park…read morewas nice - I found the view of the park better at the Alpine Visitors Center, but what I enjoyed so much here was the wildlife. We saw so many different animals here! Marmots were definitely the highlight and the most frequent visitors. We came in mid June, and it was very windy and cold here. So consider bringing a jacket. Surprisingly larger parking lot, had no problems finding parking. A great stop if you're looking to see some local wildlife.

This a great spot to get panoramic view at over 11,000 feet. I was enjoying my drive on Trail Ridge…read moreRoad and the views from it. I tried to make a stop at every overlook. Forest Canyon Overlook is a well-known stop that gives you sweeping views of Forest Canyon, Gorge Lakes and Hayden Gorge. There are so many trees across this Valley. It was nice to sit and relax and take in the breeze while enjoying this gorgeous view. Forest Canyon Overlook is located on the delicate alpine tundra in Rocky Mountain National Park. The parking lot is decent size and has a paved asphalt trail that leads to the overlook. The park ask that you stay on the trail to protect the fragile alpine tundra plants all around. They say that it takes decades for these plants to recover. Sadly, I saw some younger folks standing in the tundra just to take some selfies. Thankfully some old guy scolded them. There is a chance that you may spot some wildlife at this overlook. I saw a few marmots running around. Trail Ridge Road is a seasonal road and is only open during the summer months.

I stayed in site 66 which is mostly secluded, but you have to "pay" for that seclusion and great…read moreview. There is a pretty decent hill and trail to get to spot 66 so if you carry a lot of gear it can be a hassle (you can also drive around to the vault toilets and climb up from there which is shorter but still uphill). This particular spot also has zero shade so bring your own. The campsite in general was great because of its seclusion. There's a handy "general store" for firewood or things you forgot

Good campsites. Very clean- camp host was great! Sites can be close together and wish there was a…read morebit more space but overall would go back.

I was able to visit Chasm Falls over the summer. To get here, you have to drive on the Old Fall…read moreRiver Road that starts at the winter closure gate near Endovalley. This gravel road is one-way and only opens in the summer. The road eventually ends up at the Alpine Visitor Center. It is a 11-mile winding scenic road with Chasm Falls being a few miles into the drive. Chams Falls is a beautiful waterfall and is a short walk from the parking lot. The parking lot only holds a small number of cars. There is a viewing platform that you can watch the waterfall from. The waterfall drops 25 feet through a narrow granite chasm. There are also gorgeous views of a narrow canyon to the east of Chasm Falls. When Old Fall River Road is closed in the winter season, you can walk or bike the roughly 2 mile trail up and back to Chasm Falls from the winter closure gate. There is parking near the Endovalley Picnic Area.