As the seasons change, mother nature takes center stage and shows her stuff! Late September thru late October is the time to watch this phenomenon take place. From emerald green to all the shades of fall, we’ll get up close and personal on this trip. Even the tundra above the treeline pops red to let you know it’s here for This window also features the elk rut, and we will see and hear elk from Estes Park to the high country. We hit all the “must see” sights that a proper Rockies trip should include- beautiful trails in Rocky Mountain National Park that include waterfalls, crystal clear lakes, old forests, waterfalls and mountain streams, wildflowers and opportunities to see other Rocky Mountain wildlife! Sleeping at a lodge allows our guides to dig into our camp-chef cookbook for trail lunches while dining out at mountain lodges and small town restaurants. Lodge trips provide all the creature comforts that help you feel good about adventuring, while still getting out on the trail. We’ll retreat to Estes Park each evening and head out to a great local restaurant dinner.
We will start our Rockies adventure by gathering at our Estes Park hotel and double-checking guest gear, pack fit, and supplies. After a delicious local breakfast to fuel us, we'll start with a hike close to Estes Park and acclimate to the elevation. Lumpy Ridge is an odd bulbous shaped million year old mountain that towers over the town. We'll hike up to Gem Lake and get a good view of the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, and enjoy a trail while viewing some snow topped 14ers. We'll head down to our hotel and get ready for dinner out on the town.
Before our first day out of town, a mountain town breakfast gets us ready for the day. We'll head south of Estes Park towards Wild Basin. A relatively easy hike by Rocky standards, we'll pass several falls on the way to Ouzel Lake. A nice beach lunch surrounded by granite peaks and a clear view of the Continental Divide. After hiking back to the trailhead, we'll stop at Meeker Lodge, a classic frontier hotel with ranch and western vibes, and head back to the lodge.
Today we'll hike in a beautiful mountain gorge carved by glaciers at the aptly named Glacier Gorge. A somewhat tame hike by Rocky standards, we'll hike to Mills Lake along a smooth trail and visit several alpine lakes that dot this area. We'll lunch below the tree line and take in the majesty of this gorge literally cut from granite. We'll head back, for a spin around Lily Lake, then home to prepare for another local feast.
Our last day brings some open meadows and the likely sound of elk. We'll head towards Cub Lake and get to witness burn scar regeneration. Wildflowers cover this area and make for a colorful landscape. Hiking along the Big Thompson River allows for many stops for pictures and incredible views of the valley below. We'll pick a shady spot at the lake for a trail lunch, and head back to Estes Park and say goodbye, for now.
