🌎 RMNP Photo dump...

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

A few phone pics from Rocky Mountain National Park… overall, not as badass as Yellowstone was but still a really cool place. And as always, I encourage you all to visit our National parks when/if possible.




Bear Lake...





Stopped here for lunch one day, can't see it but there is a picnic table about 5 feet from where I took the photo. A really nice little spot.


The Alpine Visitors Center, elevation 11,800 feet. The massive logs are arranged on the roof like that because in the winter, the building and area is abandoned and snow covers the entire building(s). The logs keep the roof from collapsing.

A view from the parking lot at Alpine Visitors center...


A marmot that was following me around for a bit...



A couple of different elk... they were all over the place.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Alluvial fan area of the park…





Little hard to see, but a moose…







Not technically in the park, but a cool place… St Catherine of Siena Chapel (Chapel on the Rocks)…

 

[rick4bama]

look like the family had some fun!

 

[OldPlayer]

There are a lot of people looking at these photos and saying, “l’d love to build a house there.” But, then it wouldn’t look like it does.

 

[Krimson]

Great pics. How were the crowds?

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Great pics. How were the crowds?

It really wasn't bad, though I hadn't really thought about it. But I never went into a parking lot in the park without available spaces, like Bear Lake for instance (which is apparently an issue at times). Even Estes Park... it was busy, but not overly crowded. Now the traffic in and around Denver and the 10,000,000 bicyclists I had to navigate around on mountain roads... that got aggravating. LOL

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

There are a lot of people looking at these photos and saying, “l’d love to build a house there.” But, then it wouldn’t look like it does.

I was surprised at how many cabins there were inside the park.... and many others that had been removed over the years. There was one area in the park called Hidden Valley that used to be an old ski resort many moons ago, but it was now a ranger station and picnic area... no trace of the resort, cabins, and ski lift.

This is the area that the resort was in…


Here's an article on the ski resort...

Hidden Valley, Colorado: RMNP’s lost ski area and the lessons it taught us

The simple pleasures that are enjoyed these days at Hidden Valley in Rocky Mountain National Park are informed by a much more complicated past.

www.denver7.com

 

[alabama mike]

Thanks for sharing. Beautiful country!

 

[Krimson]

It really wasn't bad, though I hadn't really thought about it. But I never went into a parking lot in the park without available spaces, like Bear Lake for instance (which is apparently an issue at times). Even Estes Park... it was busy, but not overly crowded. Now the traffic in and around Denver and the 10,000,000 bicyclists I had to navigate around on mountain roads... that got aggravating. LOL

I've about given up on national parks in the summer, crowds are too much for me. Figured that one would be pretty bad.

 

[sean]

Love that area of the U.S. And I love nature and the wild outdoors. I hope to one day visit there, The Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, etc., etc., etc.

 

[footballer]

Do you still have to make reservations to RMNP? And some other crowded parks as well?

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

I've about given up on national parks in the summer, crowds are too much for me. Figured that one would be pretty bad.

I'd much prefer to go either in May or late September/early October to some of them but it'll be several more years until the kid is out of school, so can't be as flexible now. Going in July sounds miserable, but after being at Disney last year in July, no way it's worse than that.

Love that area of the U.S. And I love nature and the wild outdoors. I hope to one day visit there, The Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, etc., etc., etc.

Yellowstone is far and away the best I've seen in person so far, but I know some people who like Glacier better. I doubt I will, but hope to find out in the next few years. Here's some Yellowstone pics from 2 years ago....

Do you still have to make reservations to RMNP? And some other crowded parks as well?

Yes, if you go during peak season (summer) you have to get timed entry passes. But it's an easy process as long as you know far enough in advance you're going and get them the morning they release them (which was early May in my case). If you wait, you're screwed. If you are just visiting on a whim, also screwed.... but you can enter the park very early (up until 6 am maybe?) or late in the afternoon (after 4?) without a times entry pass (still need a park pass though which you can buy any time).

 

[Krimson]

I'd much prefer to go either in May or late September/early October to some of them but it'll be several more years until the kid is out of school, so can't be as flexible now. Going in July sounds miserable, but after being at Disney last year in July, no way it's worse than that.



Yellowstone is far and away the best I've seen in person so far, but I know some people who like Glacier better. I doubt I will, but hope to find out in the next few years. Here's some Yellowstone pics from 2 years ago....



Yes, if you go during peak season (summer) you have to get timed entry passes. But it's an easy process as long as you know far enough in advance you're going and get them the morning they release them (which was early May in my case). If you wait, you're screwed. If you are just visiting on a whim, also screwed.... but you can enter the park very early (up until 6 am maybe?) or late in the afternoon (after 4?) without a times entry pass (still need a park pass though which you can buy any time).

Yeah online school helped with that a lot. We left yellowstone early a couple years back because of the crowds and Glacier was worse. Planning to go back to yellowstone next August, never been that time of year, for 3 weeks or so.
Yellowstone is my favorite because of variety and size but I was very impressed with Yosemite and the Grand Canyon.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Yeah online school helped with that a lot. We left yellowstone early a couple years back because of the crowds and Glacier was worse. Planning to go back to yellowstone next August, never been that time of year, for 3 weeks or so.
Yellowstone is my favorite because of variety and size but I was very impressed with Yosemite and the Grand Canyon.

I agree... Yellowstone is like 5 parks in 1. All that I've been to are fun and unique, but Yellowstone is just different. We will go again in a few years, but probably enter from the east side this time. Thinking about linking it with a trip to the Dakotas and hitting the main spots up there first... Rushmore, Badlands, Wind Cave, Deadwood, etc... Then again, may just do the Dakotas on their own, seems plenty to do there. But next time I do Yellowstone, I want to stop and spend a day/night Cody either way.

I haven't been to Yosemite yet.

 

[Krimson]

We're planning to include the Dakotas in our next visit with a couple weeks in SD and a week at Theodore Roosevelt NP. ND is one of 3 states I haven't been to yet. I've really liked most places I've been to in the West.
Yosemite is a must see imo but whatever you do don't go in prime season. 2 weeks after we left there were 4 hour waits to get in. Almost empty when we were there.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

We're planning to include the Dakotas in our next visit with a couple weeks in SD and a week at Theodore Roosevelt NP. ND is one of 3 states I haven't been to yet. I've really liked most places I've been to in the West.
Yosemite is a must see imo but whatever you do don't go in prime season. 2 weeks after we left there were 4 hour waits to get in. Almost empty when we were there.

Thanks for the tip. Make sure and give updates and post photos on the Dakota stops.

 

[Krimson]

Thanks for the tip. Make sure and give updates and post photos on the Dakota stops.

Heading to the ozarks this year so it'll be a while

 

[footballer]

I hear that Custer State Park is as good as some National Parks. South Dakota.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

I hear that Custer State Park is as good as some National Parks. South Dakota.

It's right there by everything else too... I have it saved on my travel map, so we'd definitely hit it if/when we go.

 

[Bamabww]

Thanks for sharing your pictures. We visited there a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Custer State Park was nice. We stayed in one of the cabins and were woke up by bison rubbing against the corner of the cabin.

If you're in the area, don't miss the Little Big Horn park. Very interesting.