Blyer Family National Park Tour
Day 19-
6/25/18
We packed up camp and headed to Trader Joe's in Colorado Springs. Time to stock up on some good groceries before heading into another park. We arrived at Estes Park, CO mid afternoon and set up camp for two nights. We then went to Rocky Mountain National Park, ate a picnic at the trailhead, and hiked Emerald Lake. The hike was beautiful and included high mountain lakes, wildflowers, waterfalls, and wildlife. We hiked late and began our return around dusk. On the return hike we came around a corner and were face to face with a large female elk (who appeared to be pregnant). She was standing on the trail with a rock cliff on one side and a lake on the other! We gave her space and climbed up on a rock to let her have the path. She decided that she wanted the rock and started to climb up. So, we moved across the path and stood on a log over the lake to give her more room. She continued up the rock path so we slowly moved below her on the trail. Luckily she did not have a calf yet so she remained calm and took her time eating while we waited. We finished the hike in the dark (in part due to our elk encounter!) but were rewarded with a beautiful sunset.
Mileage-179
Hiking- 3.6miles; Emerald Lakes, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Favorites- Emerald Lake hike and the elk encounter (all except Kristina who did not find being face to face with an elk to be a very fun experience!)
Overnight- Estes Park, CO
Day 20-
6/26/18
We started the day with a drive on Old Fall River Road in the park. This is one of the original roads in the park and remains a dirt road with switchbacks and no guardrails. The drive was beautiful and included more waterfalls and wildflowers. At one point I looked out my window to see an elk calf drinking in a small stream right beside us. We also saw several other female elk and calves. We then continued on Trail Ridge Road through the park and back. We planned to go on another hike but all had a bit of altitude sickness (our hike yesterday was at an elevation of over 10,000 feet and our drive today was over 12,000 feet at some points). Instead of a hike we walked the River Walk in downtown Estes Park.
Miles-110
Walking-1+ miles; River Walk downtown Estes Park, CO.
Favorites- Elk calves and the River Walk
Kristina Blyer
20 chapters
16 Apr 2020
Rocky Mountian National Park
June 26, 2018
Day 19-
6/25/18
We packed up camp and headed to Trader Joe's in Colorado Springs. Time to stock up on some good groceries before heading into another park. We arrived at Estes Park, CO mid afternoon and set up camp for two nights. We then went to Rocky Mountain National Park, ate a picnic at the trailhead, and hiked Emerald Lake. The hike was beautiful and included high mountain lakes, wildflowers, waterfalls, and wildlife. We hiked late and began our return around dusk. On the return hike we came around a corner and were face to face with a large female elk (who appeared to be pregnant). She was standing on the trail with a rock cliff on one side and a lake on the other! We gave her space and climbed up on a rock to let her have the path. She decided that she wanted the rock and started to climb up. So, we moved across the path and stood on a log over the lake to give her more room. She continued up the rock path so we slowly moved below her on the trail. Luckily she did not have a calf yet so she remained calm and took her time eating while we waited. We finished the hike in the dark (in part due to our elk encounter!) but were rewarded with a beautiful sunset.
Mileage-179
Hiking- 3.6miles; Emerald Lakes, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Favorites- Emerald Lake hike and the elk encounter (all except Kristina who did not find being face to face with an elk to be a very fun experience!)
Overnight- Estes Park, CO
Day 20-
6/26/18
We started the day with a drive on Old Fall River Road in the park. This is one of the original roads in the park and remains a dirt road with switchbacks and no guardrails. The drive was beautiful and included more waterfalls and wildflowers. At one point I looked out my window to see an elk calf drinking in a small stream right beside us. We also saw several other female elk and calves. We then continued on Trail Ridge Road through the park and back. We planned to go on another hike but all had a bit of altitude sickness (our hike yesterday was at an elevation of over 10,000 feet and our drive today was over 12,000 feet at some points). Instead of a hike we walked the River Walk in downtown Estes Park.
Miles-110
Walking-1+ miles; River Walk downtown Estes Park, CO.
Favorites- Elk calves and the River Walk
1.
Heading West
2.
Red Rock Canyon, OK (and more travel!)
3.
Wildlife and Dancing!
4.
Petrified Forest
5.
A Travel Break
6.
Grand Canyon
7.
The Wild West
8.
Zion
9.
Bryce
10.
Captial Reef
11.
Arches and Canyonlands
12.
Mesa Verde
13.
Silverton, CO
14.
Black Canyon and The Continental Divide
15.
Another Suprise Adventure
16.
Rocky Mountian National Park
17.
A Day of Rest
18.
Wind Cave and Badlands
19.
Homeward Bound!
20.
Trip Stats
Share your travel adventures like this!
Create your own travel blog in one step
Share with friends and family to follow your journey
Easy set up, no technical knowledge needed and unlimited storage!
