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.

This area in Rocky National Mountain Park is really pretty. I like that it is a little less crowded…read morethan the other areas of the park. The road to Upper Beaver Meadows is over a mile long and can be a little rough because it is mostly dirt road and a little uneven. The Upper Beaver Meadows Trailhead is a loop and can be started in any direction. It is only about a mile and considered an easy trail. You can continue on beyond the loop trail if you want to make this hike a longer more challenging hike. Upper Beaver Meadows is near Moraine Park. I didn't see any wildlife, but I have read that you can spot elk out in the meadow area. It is a good bird-watching spot. Beaver Brook runs through the meadow. When I was here, it started to rain when I did the loop trail. This added a little adventure to my hike. The meadow is a gorgeous area to explore with the mountains in the background.

Gorgeous area (like the rest of the park) but a little bit less busy than other areas. They have a…read morelovely picnic area where you get expansive views of the valley and mountains; nicely shaded and well-kept. There are some nice hikes that leave from the area and further down the UBM road, most starting with a calm walk through the meadow and then picking up as you ascend the nearby vistas. You cannot go wrong!

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!

The Alluvial Fan in Rocky Mountain National Park is a cascade of water flowing down through a…read moreboulder field. It is located off the Old Fall River Road about three miles west of the Fall River Entrance Station. Both the East and West parking lots provide access to the Alluvial Fan. I parked in the East lot and hiked the easy 0.7-mile out-and-back trail that leads to the bottom of the cascading waterfall. The West parking lot has picnic tables and allows access to the top of the waterfall. There are more boulders to climb on this route. There is a 56-foot long bridge that crosses over the river that allows access to the East side. The Alluvial Fan was formed in 1982 when a dam breached at Lawn Lake and brought down tons of water, trees, boulders and other debris into the valley. This fan-shaped area was formed as a result of all of the debris that was deposited. Today, it is a beautiful waterfall that cascades over a field of boulders. I took my shoes off and enjoyed walking and soaking my feet in the crystal-clear water. The surrounding valley and mountain views make it a nice area to relax and enjoy. The Old Fall River Road closes during the winter season.

We visited the accessible Homestead trail at Lory state park and it was lovely! There are a couple…read moreof accessible parking spots with access lanes right in front, and an accessible outhouse near the parking lot. The trail is wide enough for a wheelchair and is packed gravel/pea sized pebbles. My travel power chair did great on it, a manual chair might have trouble getting traction. It's about a half mile loop, there are informational signs throughout and benches scattered along the way if you need a place to sit. There are audio description devices available at the visitor center. There are also grills and picnic areas that are available when there is not a fire ban. Beautiful views!

I visited Lory State Park for the first time today. Daily admission fee is $10.00…read more If you have the annual parks pass from registration renewal, there is no need to get a paper pass or placard from the Visitors Center to put in your car or hang on the rear view mirror. Your car license plates are sufficient. Park Rangers will check your plates to ensure you have the annual pass. The gentleman (volunteer) at the Visitors Center shared this information with me. I loved that he had a good sense of humor and was personable. We shared some good laughs together. I recommend going inside the Visitors Center to check out their wildlife display and to get helpful information for your visit to the park. There is also a small gift shop area to purchase books, maps and souvenirs. Staff will give you a free map of the park. There is also public restrooms at the Visitors Center. There is also a nice telescope inside the Visitors Center and a nice viewing deck with historical signage. I always enjoy reading this information for its historical value. I always learn something new. The roads in the park are all dirt so plan ahead for washing your car later. There are various parking lots to park your car before wandering off on trails. There are a lot of lovely views around. Have your camera or phone ready to take those landscape or perhaps wildlife photos. I didn't see any wildlife in the park today. I would've hiked various trails but I've been recovering from some injuries. Next time! I would love to return here. I very much enjoyed my visit to Lory Park. If you haven't been here, visit before the next snowfall! The weather was nice today so I felt fortunate. So glad I stopped here.

Great Trail for Hiking, Backpacking, Fishing, and Mountain Biking…read more Pretty easy trail to follow from the trail head. Plenty of campsites for overnight Wonderful hike to Snow Lake, Thunder Pass etc. Stunning views. Highly recommended

"Roof of the Rockies."…read more I stopped at every viewpoint on Trail Ridge Road when I was driving through Rocky Mountain National Park. It is the highest continuous paved road in the United States (48 miles). Rock Cut Overlook has an elevation of 12,110 feet and has parking on both sides of the road. They call it Rock Cut because of the large boulder that had to be cut into for the highway to go through. What I like about this stop is the amazing view of the mountains across the street. One of the mountains has a tarn inside of it. Tarns are small, mountain lakes or pools that formed in glacial basins or cirques. There is a short half mile trail called Tundra Communities Trailhead that you can walk on. It begins at the Rock Cut parking lot. Stay on the paved trail to protect the fragile tundra plants all around. It takes years for them to grow back. Trail Ridge Road is only open during the summer season.

The amazing snowy mountain views just keep coming with Rock Cut Overlook, you might spot the elk…read moreherd grazing on the grass nearby. From here Tundra Communities Trail starts (depending on the weather). Most people have never experienced the tundra wilderness before, which makes the opportunity to hike along this trail such an incredible and eye-opening adventure! Some amazing plants and animals have adapted to live and thrive up here. The Tundra Communities Trail is 1-mile roundtrip and paved with interpretive signs along the way. Be advised that pets are not permitted on this trail.

I enjoyed seeing this incredible mountain during my time here at Rocky Mountain National Park. At…read more14,259 feet, Longs Peak is the highest point in Rocky Mountain National Park. This flat-topped monarch can be seen from almost anywhere in the park. It is popular for its 15-mile hike that takes between 10 and 15 hours to complete. It is a complicated and challenging hike to do. I did drive up to the trailhead to get a feel for a future hike someday. Longs Peak Trailhead is about a 9 mile drive west of Highway 7. When weather conditions are favorable, many climb to Longs Peak's summit via the Keyhole Route. Here you will experience steep cliffs, narrow ledges and loose rock. There are other more technical climbs on Longs Peak in addition to the the Keyhole Route. The East Face of the mountain is steep and is known as "The Diamond" because of it shape. It is world-famous for its Alpine climb. Deaths on Longs Peak are an annual occurrence. This hike is definitely not for beginner hikers. Longs Peak is near another high mountain called Mount Meeker. The two mountains are sometimes referred to as the Twin Peaks. If you do not want to do the challenge to the summit, there are some less-involved hikes on the peak that are easier. If you just want a nice view of Longs Peak from afar, there are some pullouts on scenic Highway 7 that give you great views of this incredible mountain. There are a couple of full campgrounds near Meeker Park if you want to camp overnight. Popular nature photographer Ansel Adams photographed this mountain in 1941. Longs Peak is named for explorer Stephen Harriman Long who claims to be the first to discover this mountain.

Longs peak is notorious for being the most fatal 14er due to the exposure and risk of fatal falls…read more That being said, it was much easier than I thought-this was the most well maintained and well marked trail from start to finish that I've ever been on. Now this review is coming from a seasoned hiker. I'm crazy about 14ers and on my journey to do them all. I've recently moved onto to some of the harder peaks, with this being my 39th summit. I took all of the precautions recommended: I packed lots of food & water, started at 2am, checked the weather etc. I felt that I could have started later as it was only 8 hours of hiking at a brisk pace. I hiked under a full moon and watched the sunrise as I ascended the keyhole. The only part where you have to route find is the Boulder field and it was quite manageable, even in the dark. The rocks are large and stable and a nice perk is the bathrooms that have a great view. There also happens to be a storm shelter to the left of the keyhole if you find yourself in a pinch. The narrows and class 3 sections were actually very fun. You have a decent amount of climbing but there are nice little yellow & red dots on the rocks to guide you. The exposure is considerable so do what you can not to fall. I noticed lots of hikers without a helmet on which surprised me...it's a long way down so I would highly recommend wearing one for the last few sections and especially for the last climb up the rock wall. The summit is beautiful and catching the sunrise on my way made the lack of sleep and hours hiking in the dark worth every minute. The summit is HUGE! Lots of areas to explore and take in the vistas. Round trip was only 5K elevation and 15.5 miles. It sounds like a lot, but up until the Boulder field is quite easy and gradual. The park rangers at the trail head were lovely and more nice bathrooms await. I appreciated the smooth drive up the the parking lot and had no problem finding parking at 2am on a Wednesday. You don't need a park pass or timed entry if you go before 9am (?) and you should definitely start before then!