RMNP — Summer 2020 — a camping trip during a pandemic !! (first half)..
Colorado — a state which disappoints no one !! It has something to offer throughout the year. Of course, by now if you have read my previous posts, you know my love for road trips and national parks ;). So here we go again — A revisit to one of our “personal favorites” — Rocky Mountain National Park. It is one of the most visited national parks around the world and attracts millions of visitors annually in summer.
So what are you waiting for ??? Come and let’s explore without any further delay…just Sit back, relax, get some coffee and enjoy !!
Below is the detailed description about our week long trip at RMNP. Feel free to comment/ask questions/share opinions and hopefully you all will enjoy reading it :) and who knows if next year you decide to visit too!!!!
This summer was a bit different given the pandemic so before arriving, I did book a camping site at Glacier Basin campground (at RMNP) around mid-May and glad I did that as three out of five campgrounds were closed due to COVID and limited sites were available for online reservation.
Day 1-
We started our vacation by starting early (around 0630am) to drive towards RMNP, CO with a night stayover at Salida, CO . We drove 718 miles on day 1 to Colorado, through New Mexico. This was definitely a stretch for us on day 1 but we wanted to cover much of the distance on that day which in turn will spare us some more time on hand which we can spend at Independence pass on the way to RMNP enjoying it’s views and hiking.
SALIDA, CO — Known as the “Heart of the Rockies,” the mountain town of Salida has long been a hub of tourism, transportation and industry in the region.
The city sits at an elevation just over 7,000 feet, but it is surrounded by a large concentration of 14ers (mountains that are 14000ft high, commonly known as 14ers in Colorado).. The combination leads to gorgeous scenery, amazing opportunities for recreation, yet a surprisingly mild climate.
The beautiful Arkansas river flows alongside the road, carving the mountains in Salida, giving a beautiful scenic view which one can enjoy while driving. We decided to fix some quick dinner(on our Coleman two-burner stove) before reaching the hotel since it was already late evening and we were just 20 miles from our first stop at a hotel. We picked a site with a picnic table and the river flowing on one side, alongside the road. What an amazing way to end the day with dinner amidst mountains and a flowing river.
Tired from the drive, we slept well and then the next day headed to RMNP via Independence pass — the first scenic stop in our itinerary.
Day 2 -
INDEPENDENCE PASS , CO — Independence Pass, part of Colorado State Highway 82, passes over the Continental Divide between Leadville and Aspen, Colorado. Even though we have visited this pass in past, we still decided to take a detour to enjoy the beauty it offered as it was on the opposite way to RMNP. If you are near Aspen, CO, you cannot miss this picturesque drive. This drive will definitely leave you in awe!
We hiked one of the trails called Linkins Lake trail, a steep trail, giving first hand views of Alpine views. This was the first hike of our trip. Wow, the hike left us winded but we still enjoyed the beautiful views of the Linkins lake, Alpines and the swaying wildflowers along the trail.
En-route to Glacier Basin campground, we stopped by a very small town called Twin lakes for lunch. The town has some rich history but given we had another 4–5 hours to drive, we just breezed through it.
Finally around late evening we reached Glacier Basin campground, which is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with a tip of Longs peak in view (one of the 14er’s ) from our campsite. We quickly set up our tent, had a quick dinner and watched the evening sun go down bringing in the cool air. Soon many stars, along with Big Dipper were in view with clear skies, slightly blurred by the moonlight as it started to appear. The weather was just perfect, to sit, relax and soak in all.
Day 3 -
The fresh morning air, the warmth of sunlight, the mountain views, the chirping of birds…. What a beautiful experience! So we are all ready for another adventurous day!! Yayyy…. The agenda for that day were a few hikes along the Bear loop road which were near our campsite. We wanted to take it easy for the first “actual day of hikes” and slowly break into it since we come from a region (Texas) which is flat and have hardly done any hiking ;)
Our first stop was Sprague lake loop which is a quiet, one mile loop with reflection of mountains in the clear water of the lake. Due to the pandemic the trails were not crowded as usual which gave us a chance to take it all in and enjoy it to the fullest.
Next we headed to Bierstadt lake hike which was 2.4 miles roundtrip. Bierstadt Lake fills a shallow depression in a lateral moraine north of Bear Lake Road. A moderately steep climb on well-crafted switchbacks pass through open hillsides to a heavily wooded moraine-top and Bierstadt Lake. The trail climbs methodically on long-leg switchbacks through open hillsides of sage, grasses, and wildflowers. Travel around Bierstadt Lake is easy and well-maintained, with numerous marked and unmarked spurs leading to its damp, sedge-lined shore. After enjoying the views of the lake we headed down and decided to drive to Bear lake, the end of Bear loop road.
Bear lake in itself is a very famous tourist stop but as we have visited it in the past, we decided to bypass the lake views, had our quick sack lunch and headed over to the other end of this “loop road” which had some more lake hikes.
The next hike was a 3-in-1 deal as it covered three beautiful lakes just in 3.6 miles round trip, indeed a treat to all!! This is a well maintained trail and modest climb, which leads to this trio of upper-montane lakes in Tyndall Gorge.
The first lake along the route was Nymph lake,a whimsical spot for an afternoon of exploration. It’s covered with tiny lily pads which looks like something straight from a fairytale.
The next, aptly named was the Dream lake , which comes true to its name. The views are surreal and one has to experience this as words fall short to describe it. We spent some good time just sitting, staring at the calm and bathing in the views of beautiful mountains surrounding it.
Finally, the trail culminates at the Emerald lake and its name says it all. Nestled 10,000 feet high in the mountains, Emerald Lake boasts beautiful, emerald green waters and phenomenal views of Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak.
Wow, what a day to end with some candid pics and beautiful views captured in our memories forever to cherish. After a tiring day headed back to our nest to enjoy the campfire under the blanket of stars. Forgot to mention but yes, it gets cold at night in RMNP , around high 40s in summers too, so incase if you plan do pack up some winter clothes (specially if you are from a place which doesn’t experience harsh cold winters). Let not summers deceive you.
