Rocky Mountain Splendor

Our trip to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado was truly incredible. We had views of these spectacular mountains from our campsite and literally everywhere we went by bike, foot, or car. The highlight of our trip was definitely visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. Fortunately, we were able to visit early in the morning and in the middle of the week, so it wasn’t too crowded for our initial hikes. The lakes and streams were so clear, and believe it or not many of the trails were still snow covered in mid-July! Driving on Trail Ridge Road allowed us to stop and view many overlooks to experience the subalpine and alpine worlds and to ascend to an altitude of over 12,000 feet. We were really hoping to finally see Big Horn Sheep in their habitat while visiting this park, unfortunately, they continue to evade us! We did see several marmots and lots of hungry chipmunks while we were in the park.

We camped at St. Vrain State Park in Firestone, Colorado. It is a small park, with nice large RV sites, multiple ponds, and hiking trails. The sunsets were especially beautiful and we even saw a double rainbow after a storm. The location was great and had many nearby attractions and outdoor activities. We had a fabulous mountain bike ride on the Hall Ranch Trail with challenging hills and fantastic views. We stopped in adorable Lyons, CO and had a delicious mexican lunch and did a little shopping. The nearby St. Vrain Greenway connected to several other trails which made for some fun runs and bike rides. We also enjoyed the Lo-Bo trail, and biked from Longmont to Boulder.

Next stop, the Royal Gorge Region of Colorado!