CO – rocky mountain tot

Discover Mount Audubon: Trails and Tips

Mount Audubon is a Colorado 13er with unbelievable mountain views and beautiful wildflowers. The trail is roughly 8 miles round trip including the scramble up and exploration of the top. The hike gains 2,680 ft. in elevation.

When to hike Mount Audubon?

Our family recently hiked Mount Audubon for the first time on Monday, July 7th. I’m being specific because this is a popular trail, so we picked Monday to avoid some weekend crowds, and we went in early July after checking trail conditions. The high elevation parking lot isn’t open before July.

We started our hike around 7 am so that we could get to the summit before noon. We enjoyed bright blue skies and clear views. It’s important to start early because much of this hike is above the tree line. Afternoon storms rolled in soon after we finished our descent.

Tips for Hiking Mount Audubon

We purchased a parking reservation on recreation.gov for the Mitchell Lake trailhead which is located within the Brainard Lake Recreation Area near Ward, Colorado. Hikers follow the Beaver Creek Trail to the Mount Audubon Trail and then spot cairns leading to the summit. Loose rocks make good hiking boots a must.

Is Mount Audubon Kid or Dog-Friendly?

We took our 10-year-old and 8-year-old daughters on this hike. This was their second 13er this year. Dogs are allowed, but we elected not to bring our Australian Shepard, although we saw several dogs making the journey.

The hardest part for me was hiking back down through rocky terrain. To take pressure off knees and ankles, I highly recommend trekking poles, which I sadly forgot to bring. Despite the challenge (or perhaps because of it), my heart overflowed with gratitude for the time we had together as a family and for the beautiful scenery that I am so lucky to witness. I’m aware that the physical ability to make this hike is a blessing worth treasuring.

yellow Wildflowers blooming along the trail up to Mount Audubon in Colorado.

We typically get the girls trail tags when they complete new hikes. This hike isn’t in Rocky Mountain National Park, so we couldn’t find a badge to add to their collection – bummer! Instead, we celebrated our long hike with a family dinner at Poppy’s Pizza in downtown Estes Park and topped it off with a scoop of ice-cream at Hayley’s.

I’d love to hear if you’ve hiked in this area and what you thought. And do you have fun ways that you celebrate long hikes? Please share in the comments.

Top 12 Women’s Hiking Essentials for Your Rocky Mountain Adventure

I’m working on my packing list for our upcoming summer trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, and I thought it would be fun to create an Amazon ‘moodboard’ of some of my favorite hiking essentials in a capsule-style format.

Packing List for Rocky Mountain Hiking Trips

Blue-green long-sleeve workout top features UPF 50+ protection and quick-drying material. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, UPF measures the amount of UV radiation that can penetrate fabric and reach your skin. Plus, it’s on sale!
Racerback Cotton T-Back Bralette. These are good for low-impact activities. They might not be the best option when you need more support.
Women’s Trail Running Shoes. I have these boots from La Sportiva in a different color, and I love them because they support my feet even when crossing sharp rocks. The trail running shoes are lightweight compared to other boot styles. These were recommended by a local shop in Estes Park called Plum Creek Shoe Station, where you can try on before you buy if you are in the area.
Garmin vívoactive GPS watch. We like the look and functionality of the women’s Garmin vívoactive GPS watch. After a lot of research and debate, we recently purchased these for our daughters (ages 8-10). The adjustable band fits even on their small wrists.
North Face capri wicking jogger pants. I have a similar pair in Asphalt Grey. I like the capri length and I’m considering buying another pair in the Summit Navy color.
Hydration pack. This Camelbak is technically made for mountain biking. It holds 100 oz of water. According to REI, you generally need ‘a half-liter of water per hour of moderate activity in moderate temperatures.’ This pack should get you through 6 hours of hiking, but we always bring an extra bottle just in case.
UPF 50+ Sunprotection hoodie. I’ve seen fellow hikers wearing similar hoodies, and I want to add one to my wardrobe. I’m a fan of the thumb hole design and pockets.
Loose Fit short-sleeved t-shirt. This top is also UPF 50+ and comes in a variety of pretty colors.
Racerback tank tops. These would be good layering pieces, especially on warmer, lower-elevation hikes this summer. I like that they are quick-drying, which is useful for afternoon pop-up storms that are common in the mountains.
Workout sports cap. I feel like buying hats that look and fit right is tough, but this Adidas women’s hat is adjustable and has great reviews.
Lightweight mid-rise hiking shorts. I like that these have a zipper pockets.
Merino wool hiking socks. A good pair of hiking socks can make a huge difference in your day. These are not only cute, but I like that they have good cushion and are breathable for the summer months.

Capsule Wardrobe for Outdoor Activities

Shopping for clothes and gear to wear hiking can be a little complicated because we want a lot out of the outfit. It needs to be functional, comfortable, durable, and hopefully a little stylish. Trust me, I often don’t hit the mark on stylish, but I’m hoping my hiking moodboard will inspire me as I make future purchases.

Should I do a capsule for my husband or kids? Let me know if that would be helpful. I’d love to hear what you are packing for your summer adventures. Share your favorites and tips in the comments!

That’s it for today. I better get back to packing. Thanks for reading!

A New Era in Family Hiking, The Best 3 to 6 Mile Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park

This summer we reached a turning point. Gone are the days of baby packs, kid carriers, and short strolls with preschoolers. We will look back on our early years of hiking with fond memories. But let’s be real, hiking with very young children is challenging!

This summer our seven-year-old and five-year-old daughters exceeded our expectations by hiking several of our favorite three to six mile hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park on their own.

Mills Lake

A hike to Mills Lake marked the first big trek of the summer. Mills Lake is in the Bear Lake Corridor of Rocky Mountain National Park. The hike begins at Bear Lake trailhead (9,475 ft elevation). The trail passes by the iconic Alberta Falls. The total distance is 5.6 miles roundtrip.

Looking Back: 2017 post, Seeking Serenity in the Mountains

EMERALD LAKE

Hiking with best friends was the secret to our successful hike to Emerald Lake. Our group hiked 3.6 miles with an elevation gain of 650 ft. The hike to Emerald Lake is one of the best hikes in RMNP because you pass by Nymph Lake and Dream Lake on your way up. Like Mills Lake, this hike also starts at the Bear Lake trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. We didn’t get to enjoy the views at Emerald Lake for long before a sudden hail and rainstorm had us heading down the mountain. By the time we reached the parking lot, the sky cleared, and we saw the most spectacular double rainbow.

Looking Back: 2018 post, Breathtaking Hike to Dream Lake

Young Families in Rocky Mountain National Park

gem lakE

Gem Lake is in Rocky Mountain National Park’s Lumpy Ridge area. The hike is 3.6 miles (1.8 miles each way), gains 1,000 ft of elevation, and features unique rock formations like ‘The Boot’. Rock steps lead to the small mountain lake. These steps are moderately challenging for me. For the girls and their shorter legs, the climb required an extraordinary effort.

Looking Back: 2015 post, Rocky Mountain Tot Goes to Gem Lake

Ouzel Falls

Ouzel Falls is located in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park where abundant wildflowers bloom beside rushing waterfalls. This area is often less crowded and is lower in elevation compared to the Bear Lake area. The hike to Ouzel Falls begins at 8,500 ft of elevation and gains 950 ft. The total distance is 5.4 miles (2.7 miles/way). Before arriving at Ouzel Falls, the trail passes Copeland Falls and the Calypso Cascades which are both beautiful destinations on their own.

Looking Back: 2015 post, Into the Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain National Park

Deer Mountain

The trailhead for this summit hike is located off of Deer Ridge Junction, a few miles west of Rocky Mountain National Park’s Beaver Meadows entrance. The 10,013 ft. summit features sweeping views. The hike is 6 miles total distance (3 miles/way).

Looking Back: 2017 post, Deer Mountain – a Family-Friendly Summit Hike In Rocky Mountain National Park

Deer Mountain, good spring summit hike for families in Rocky Mountains

Blue lake in indian peaks wilderness

Unlike the other hikes in this post, Blue Lake is located in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area rather than Rocky Mountain National Park. The recreation area is located approximately 1 hour 20 minutes from Denver, 50 minutes from Boulder, and 50 minutes from Estes Park. The hike is 6.2 miles round trip and gains 1,250 feet in elevation. The trail passes several mountain lakes including Mitchell Lake. We spotted several moose along the trail.

Looking Back: Post from 2016 hike, Add This to Your Hiking Bucket List, Blue Lake in Indian Peaks Wilderness.

The fact that we were able to experience six world-class hikes as a family fills my heart with gratitude. To celebrate, we purchased the girls’ hiking badges for each destination they reached.

I can’t wait to see which badges they will add to their collections next!

Outdoor Fun with our Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board and Kayak

School is back in session and tonight’s post is a bit of a ‘brain break’ for me. Starting a new school year is bittersweet because I love spending time with my girls during the summer, they are at such fun ages. One of favorite outdoor activites was taking out our new inflatable stand up paddle board and inflatable 2-person kayak.

SUP is short for Stand Up Paddle Board, but I don’t feel hip enough to use the term ‘SUP’.

I received an EvaJoy Inflatable Paddle Board as a gift for my birthday. The paddle board came with a hand pump, repair kit, fin, paddle, and dry bag. The paddle board is big (10’10″” long by 32″” wide) which means that I could paddle in the back and have one of my daughters sit comfortably in front of me.

I’ve heard that paddle boarding is a good exercise for core muscles, but for me, the workout starts before we hit the water. Inflating the board with the hand pump is a lot of work! After several uses, I’m having a hard time keeping the hose connected while I pump so it usually takes two of us to inflate the board. Once inflated, the board feels very sturdy.

We purchased a Star 2-person inflatable kayak similar to this one. We also purchased kid-sized paddles. Our girls are learning how to steer and turn. This kayak has worked well for our family on lakes this summer, but I think it will perform even better for floating the river next spring.

We took both the board and kayak to several lakes in Colorado including Lake Estes and Grand Lake. We’ve also enjoyed paddle boarding and kayaking on lakes in Arkansas including Beaver Lake and Greers Ferry Lake.