Rocky Mountain National Park Hiking

by Rachael
(Brighton, CO USA)

Last spring, my family and I spent the weekend at a beautiful resort in Estes Park, Co. While there is an abundance of shopping, dining, and sightseeing within the city limits of downtown Estes Park, one of the best places to visit while in the area is Rocky Mountain National Park.

Even if you are not a fan of hiking or walking, the scenic drives alone are spectacular. We hiked one of the easier trails in the park, which went to The Pool. My six-year-old son was a true trailblazer. His first time hiking, he managed the nearly six mile hike from the trail head, all the way to the pool, and back again. The scenery was stunning.

Since it was still early spring, much of the trail was still covered with snow and ice. In places where the snow and ice had melted, it was very muddy. Still, the scenic views were breathtaking. Snow-capped mountains around every corner made postcard-like views a reality.

There was also plenty of wildlife to be spotted along the way. There were several foxes and coyotes which were near the trails. One fox actually came so close to my family, it had to be scared off with stones tossed in its direction.

While the trail was too challenging for my two-year-old son, he had a wonderful time near the trail head, looking for rocks and worms and seeing what kinds of critters lived underneath the stones. And the biggest reward was making the final stretch back to the car where a cool drink and a hearty snack were waiting.

As we were leaving the park, we spotted a herd of elk, as well as a herd of big-horned sheep right along the road's edge. It was amazing to see the wildlife so close, yet still surrounded by their natural habitat. Overall, it is one of the best days my family has ever spent together, and I am looking forward to making the trip again soon.