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October 23, 2024
In all my visits to Colorado and Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park over time, I’d by no means seen aspens turning gold or elk bugling. Now I’ve, because of a late September journey. Twice we drove from Denver into the mountains to hike trails underneath shivering golden leaves and shiny blue skies. I soaked up the wonderful autumn surroundings a great two months earlier than we will anticipate to see any (meager) fall colour right here in Austin. Right this moment I’m sharing my favourite leaf-peeping and wildlife sightings in and close to Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park.
Lily Lake
At Lily Lake, aspens in tawny meadows fluttered their leaves like pennants towards stern grey cliffs.
Butter-yellow leaves towards a bluebird sky
An previous lodge sags underneath the load of years, surrounded by glowing aspens.
“Eyes” watch you from ghostly aspen trunks.
These aspens weren’t at peak colour but, however shut.
A lady sitting on a rock, propped on one arm, evokes an Andrew Wyeth portray.
There’s gold in them thar hills.
Strolling round Lily Lake, we loved aspens nearing peak colour.
The path provides views of Longs Peak, Mount Meeker, and Twin Sisters.
Humbler views are good too, like these cottony seedheads in a meadow.
Lily Lake
Peak to Peak Scenic Byway
Someday we drove the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, a 55-mile route from Estes Park to Central Metropolis, stopping at pull-outs to admire views like this.
Wonderful!
We noticed 5 moose at the present time — bulls, cows, and yearlings — together with this cow I photographed from a secure distance.
Look what a breeze does to those swish bushes. There’s a motive they’re referred to as quaking aspens.
Fall River space
One morning in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park, we explored the Fall River space. Heads up, guests: you need to get hold of a timed-entry allow to enter sure areas of the park, like this one, for a lot of the yr. Plan forward.
Aspens have been lighting up the forest edge.
Meadows have been beautiful too in shades of brown.
A grand previous tree
Bear Lake
Bear Lake is a well-liked place to hike within the park, so we began early. The lake is beautiful in fall with yellow aspens zigzagging down the mountain and reflecting within the water.
Yellow and orange aspens
The path across the lake provided extra golden views.
I like this Lincoln Log-style bench.
Alberta Falls Path
The path as much as Alberta Falls is one other fairly hike.
Aspens aren’t the one fall colour within the Rockies. Ferns have been turning rusty orange…
…and pale yellow.
That is my favourite spot alongside the path, which I remembered from a earlier go to years in the past. I’d thought then, this have to be unbelievable within the fall, when the aspens flip. And now right here I used to be, strolling by a cathedral of gold.
Try my video of this aspen grove.
Towering aspens alongside the path
And finally, the waterfall!
Sprague Lake
Sprague Lake was new to us, and we took a nice stroll round it one afternoon.
We seen a cow elk wading throughout the shallow lake…
…after which moseying towards us. We have been standing on an overlook with a sturdy rail, however I did surprise if she deliberate to come back proper to us.
She saved on going, finally exiting on the finish of the lake and ambling throughout a bridge to rejoin a herd we’d seen earlier.
Golden grasses outlined the lake.
Alongside a path to a tenting space, we noticed extra golden aspens.
Gold on gold
Autumn hues
Elk at Estes Park
Whereas we noticed elk within the park, we didn’t hear any bugling there. So earlier than heading dwelling, we joined a quiet crowd of elk watchers on the Estes Park golf course, the place elk collect on the garden every night. A giant bull was always patrolling to maintain his harem of cows away from stressed bulls on the perimeter.
Right here he’s rounding up a cow that was grazing farther than he preferred. Discover as he saunters onto the bridge, a couple of folks scatter. He’s large.
As darkness fell, I lastly heard what I’d come for: an eerie, teapot scream — a bull elk bugling. My fall go to to the Rockies was full.
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Digging Deeper
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