After paddling Monarch Lake and before leaving the Grand Lake area, we had to spend some time in Rocky Mountain National Park. During our visit in the summer of 2021, timed entry is a requirement due to overcrowding in the park. We stopped in at 6pm, the cut off time for timed entry so we were able to roll right in. Below is a gallery of our Rocky Mountain National Park experience.
This is another national park that does not provide much wiggle room when it comes to dogs. Dogs are only allowed in parking areas so we stayed close to the Trail Ridge Road and took turns on short hikes while the other stayed with the dog.
Our Park Highlights:
The Tundra: Neither of us ever experienced the “above the tree line” tundra environment. The wind, the views, and the colorful, resilient plants of the tundra. We got to see a few pika while we were up there too.
Trail Ridge Road: 48-mile road connecting Grand Lake and Estes Park. Twisting and turning through the mountains and tundra. 12,183 ft elevation at the highest peak provides stunning views.
The wildlife: Elk, deer, pika, and yellow-bellied marmot were pretty easy to spot since we were driving through in the early evening and again at night
Night driving: After traveling to the end of the road, we needed to come back. The sun was setting and we drove most of the Trail Ridge Road’s sharp turns, inclines and hills in the dark.
The margaritas on the other side: In Estes Park, we grabbed some vegan food and margs at Ed’s Cantina & Grill.
