Just drove through the Rocky Mountain National Park last weekend, and had a great surprise. The Aspen are beginning to turn colors. There’s nothing as brilliant as an Aspen grove in full glowing gold. The drive up 40 through Empire affords leaf peepers great views of Aspen intermingled with the evergreen. Continuing on to the Park you will see some gorgeous views between Granby and Grand Lake.
It’s also the time of year for the elk to start making their way down into the valley. We were lucky enough to see a herd of elk way up at the top. The bull was gigantic and made the females run when he bugled. In the next few weeks, they should be down in the valley just inside the Park. It is a great place to view them, since they are very close to the road and not really bothered by people. Best time to go is early evening, just before dusk. Bundle up, it gets cold once the sun goes down and you won’t want to leave. September is a gorgeous time of year in Winter Park, be sure to make your reservation to come up and enjoy the colors and wildlife. Give us a call to book 877 329 1383.
With a signature from Woodrow Wilson in 1915 Rocky Mountain National Park was established. The tenth U.S. National Park is 358 square miles of lush green valleys and streams to the wind swept top of Longs Peak. Rocky Mountain National Park is a grand living display of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. From the wet grassy valleys to Longs Peak summit at 14,259 ft. the park is a visual masterpiece. If you have not visited the park I recommend you do so. The Rocky is just a short drive of about 40 minutes (25 miles) from Winter Park and Fraser. See map.
The activities are endless in the summer: hiking, fishing, biking, scenic drives, camping, and climbing and mountaineering. There is something at the park for everyone especially the kids. Activities in the winter are a bit more limited but just as fun if not more. And in the fall the buggling elk are something to behold. The park is open everyday of the year!
Park entrance fees are $20 per car and $10 per person on motorcycles, bicycles, mopeds and scooters. There are also camping fees for overnight stays.
A wonderful day trip can be had driving to Grand Lake for breakfast then a nice drive thru the park with a late lunch in Estes Park and a return trip back to Winter Park for dinner.
We packed up the twins last week and drove to Rocky Mountain National Park to hear the male elk call to the other male elk – something I guess that happens just at this time of year around dusk. What a sight! My photo does no justice to the scene – not even worth posting (thanks camera)! We got out of the car and there was a female elk right in front of us (a bit scary when holding an 11 month old). Then we saw a field of them and could hear the male elk calling the others for a “fight” I guess? An amazing thing to see even if you have to feed babies in the back of a car for 45 minutes on the way home.
Tips, Wildlife, rocky mountain national park | Amy | 
September 11, 2009 8:50 am | 
Comments (0) 
Subscribe
