One Perfect Day in Rocky Mountain National Park

Estes Park, CO

10.26.2015 - 10.26.2015

Eric and I spent a few days in Denver while I was there on a work trip. We were tight on time and wanted to get a taste of the Rocky Mountains up close so we joined a tour group. It turned out to be a fantastic day. The weather was perfect and the tour offered a great overview without having to navigate unfamiliar territory on our own.

On our way to the park, we passed through Estes Park and saw the Stanley Hotel...inspiration for Stephen King's "The Shining."

Bear Lake

Bear Lake has a short hiking loop around it that's less than a mile long.

Scenic views around the park

Horseshoe Park

We stopped in Horseshoe Park to see the alluvial fan created when the Lawn Lake Dam failed in 1982. The event released 30 million cubic feet of water into the river valley. 33 years later, the debris is still evident and the boulders that are strewn about make for fun climbing and exploring.

Lol...poor Eric almost fell into the little stream.

So he decided to stay put.

Then, on our way back to the shuttle bus, I spotted him.

Wow...I couldn't believe our luck! I had been looking for wildlife all day, so to be this close to a deer was fantastic. There were others on the hillside above him but they were somewhat hidden by trees and brush.

Estes Park

We had lunch in Estes Park with a little time to explore the main strip of this cute mountain village. Lots of the usual touristy fare...fudge and icecream shops, t-shirt shops, and jewelry stores.

Our day ended where it began at Union Station in downtown Denver. It's an historic train station that has been restored and is filled with shops, bars, and restaurants. We were too tired to explore but I imagine it would be a neat place to grab a drink and people-watch.

The Oxford Hotel right across from the station had the most interesting window display. To me, it looked like Day of the Dead meets Mardi Gras. Simply gorgeous! Because of the way the sun was setting, I was disappointed that I couldn't get better pictures but here's what I have: