Hiking Adventures in Rocky Mountain National Park

Greetings, Earthlings!

I hope you're as excited as I am for another adventure. Writing these travel posts brings me so much joy; it's truly a privilege to be able to speak to you all about my favorite topic imaginable.

So, where are we going today?

Well, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Let's take a trip to an outstanding region in Colorado:

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Rocky Mountain National Park

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Sunset in RMNP

Back in July of this past summer, right at the beginning of our crazy RV adventure, RMNP was the first National Park that we had the pleasure of visiting. It feels like a lifetime ago, but the memories we created there will never be forgotten.

My family has always held this deep-seated connection to Colorado as a whole. Before making the move to the lovely state of Texas (sarcasm alert), we were actually living in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado. We have a history there, so every time we visit, it can be a bit emotional. Alright, I don't really hate Texas that much, but it certainly can't beat the Centennial State.

Beautifully green pines cover the entire lower level of the park

A craggy hillside in the light of sunset

Having previously lived in the northern half of Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park was roughly two hours away, which allowed us to visit multiple times. It may have not been our first time there, but that never detracts from an experience in a National Park. There is simply so much to see. It's nearly impossible to see everything the park has to offer in a whole lifetime, let alone three separate trips.

As soon as we crossed the border of the park, I couldn't contain my excitement. My stomach started getting butterflies, my hands were tingling; I wouldn't be able to hold in my excitement if I wanted to! I was unquestionably eager to see things, but I was more excited to feel everything. Moving throughout the park in the confines of a car is a curse! When I'm surrounded by beautiful features of Mother Earth, I have this need to fully connect with the environment. Hiking is an absolutely great way to connect to nature in a more personal way.

The first trail we hiked

As soon as we spotted a decent trail going off away from the road, we parked, got our gear, and headed out. This first trail that we hiked wasn't planned in any way. Once we're in the middle of a park, spontaneity is always a great choice. By moving away from planning and organization, surprises and unexpected experiences are given room to materialize. If I have one tip for anyway that is planning a trip to the great outdoors, it would be "let it happen". I'm aware this is rather cryptic, but think of it as a way of saying "don't be afraid to not have control". These two quotes are ideas that I have been pondering for a very long time. I can have some trouble with being a "control freak", which is never good for living in the moment.

We didn't walk on the trail for too long, but we did get to see some amazing sights...

A male elk, posing for the camera

A large group of elk grazing

Simply sitting and observing wild animals is a remarkably relaxing activity. I find that watching the way the natural world functions is a great way to release some stress that may have accrued over the day. These beautiful creatures undoubtedly made our first expedition in the park worthwhile.

I decided to name this elk Helga :-)

For our next trek, I was searching for a trail that was of moderate difficulty that also offered incredible views. Eventually, I ended up deciding on a hike that goes to a lake called Timber Lake near the top of Mount Ida. It was probably one of the most amazing hikes I have ever been on, but it was HARD.

Hiking up the trail

A flowing cascade we passed on the way up

Roundtrip, the hike was only about ten miles, but the elevation change along the hike is what made it so difficult. We certainly weren't expecting the excursion to be so strenuous (or time-consuming), but the reward made it all worth it. Right as we crested the hill at the end of the trail, our eyes fell upon the beauty of Timber Lake.

Timber Lake

Nestled in the mountains, with the glorious Mount Ida looming over the back, this lake felt like a once in a lifetime view. Everything around me felt pristine. Nature has the strange ability to be absolutely perfect without even trying. It was truly an emotional experience, having almost quit on the hike up, afraid we would never be able to make it down.

We just sat there, listening and observing, for a little while. Everything else in my life was utterly unimportant in that moment.

My dad taking some pictures of the lake

After sitting by the water for the some time, I turned around to look at the way we came in. On the way up, I didn't (or maybe couldn't) pay much attention to my surroundings, because the exhaustion I was experiencing was only allowing me to walk.

Step by step.

When I took the time to look, I saw that there was this little stream cutting through the field, carrying water from the lake down the mountainside, feeding other streams and rivers, creating an ecosystem full of life. It made me realize that even when I was feeling down and incapable, all of the natural world was steadfast in its being. From this seemingly simple realization, I gathered profound meaning: if I can tap into the stillness of nature, my life will be more blissful.

Up until this point I was certainly carrying a deep love for the natural world, but I never saw it as a backbone in my life until the end of that hike.

The small stream

Right as we were getting ready to leave, dark clouds were beginning to roll in. We were on top of a mountain, and that's not exactly the best place to be during a storm. We hurriedly hiked down the trail, not stopping to bask in the beauty around us. We had to get down as soon as possible, so there was no time for any messing around. Even though the trek down was fast, my mind continued to feel the stillness around me. No longer would I ignore the grandeur of Mother Nature; she was here to stay.

The beautiful alpine region in RMNP

Rocky Mountain National Park is full of features that are hard to imagine. Everywhere you choose to go in the park, you're sure to find some truly magnificent bits of nature. Whenever you have the chance to be in Colorado, RMNP is a great place to get a feel for the many environments the state has to offer. We might get the chance to be back there in December, so keep an eye out for some pictures of the winter wonderland I'm sure it will be!

Thank you for taking the time to read about my travels! If you would like to stay updated on my family's travels around North America, follow me! There are many more beautiful places to see, and I will certainly be sharing them with you all :-)

~ Josiah T. B.