Estes Park, CO Elk Meadow RV Park

Rocky National Park

The road to Estes Park was scenic; however, it was long and windy even without a dually and 5th wheel. We were glad to see the first indication that we had made it. The town was a buzz with tourists busy strolling the sidewalks to shop and take in the sights; after all, it was Labor Day weekend. The Elk Meadow RV Park was very close to the park’s entrance, which was a plus for us. Our pull-through site had a beautiful mountain view, which welcomed us each morning. The campground had a pool, a lodge, and a laundry.

Due to the holiday, there were numerous activities. Lucky for me, there was an art show. Being a crafter, I was in awe of the talent displayed at the show. The photography was inspiring, and there were several unique artists I had never seen before. Purchases would have been made had we not had limited space in our fifth wheel. On our way back to the truck, we spotted several elk resting under the tree beside the sidewalk. It’s not an everyday occurrence.

Trail Ridge Rd to Alpine Visitor Center – The road is 48 miles long and traverses steep switchbacks, reaching the highest point of 12,183 ft above sea level. Several overlooks are along the way, and it was worth the trip. There were so many hidden lakes in the vistas that it soon became a game to see how many I could locate each time we stopped at an overlook. The Alpine visitor center had one of the best gift shops, and they offered a cafeteria if one was having a snack attack or, in my case, a reprieve. We had done so much hiking my feet were aching, and when Mitch wanted to climb the stairs to reach the top height, I told him to go by himself, and I enjoyed a hot cup of coffee.

Four Lake Loop Trail—Talk about a full day of hiking! We arrived at the parking lot while it was still dark, as this trail is popular and parking fills up quickly.

Bear Lake was our first stop. It is a relatively small lake, but it is serene even early in the morning.

Nymph Lake was next. This was a much larger lake and great for picture-taking as the sun slowly crept up to welcome the new day. We stopped to speak to a teen fishing to see if he had any catch for the day. Alas, he did not, but he seemed to enjoy the solitude and the prospect of landing a big one.

Dream Lake – The beauty of this lake was the waterfall gliding into the lake and the backdrop of the mountain. We stayed here for a while to enjoy the scenery.

Emerald Lake – The hike to see this lake was unusual. It was more of a boulder climb, and we often wondered if we went off-trail several times. Finally, we made it to the destination. Yes, there was a lake with mountain views, too. Snow was still seen at the top of a few mountains.

Mills Lake—We decided to add this lake to our already lengthy hike and are glad we did. This was the best of the best. The view of the lake was spectacular, with the majestic mountain in the background. We took our lunch break here and sat with gratitude for the beauty of the vista. We didn’t want to leave. Sometimes, you land on a spot where you think this is where you want to be for the rest of your life.

Quezell Falls via Calapsyo Falls – This was a comfortable hike through the forest. Calapsyo Falls was a prelude to the falls, which were picture-worthy. The Quezell Falls had a significant force as they cascaded down the rocks. The fall spray was far-reaching; if you were too close, be prepared to get wet.

Rocky National Park is a must-see in our books, and we hope to revisit it.

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