adventure – 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!

Use Rocky Mountain National Park’s Free Shuttle for an Epic Thru-Hike from Bear Lake to the Fern Lake Trailhead

Did you know that Rocky Mountain National Park runs a free shuttle service to many of its most popular destinations from May 23 to October 19? Last summer, our family decided to use the shuttle to hike from Bear Lake to the Fern Lake Trailhead (9.2 miles), and we hopped on the shuttle to ride back up.

Rocky Mountain National Park Shuttles

The Bear Lake Route includes stops at Park & Ride, Bierstadt Lake Trailhead, Glacier Gorge Trailhead, and Bear Lake. You can expect buses to arrive every 10-15 minutes from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm.

The Moraine Park Shuttle Route includes stops at Park & Ride, Sprague Lake/Glacier Creek Stables, Glacier Basin Campground, Hollowell Park, Tuxedo Park, Moraine Park Campground, Cub Lake Trailhead, and Fern Lake Bus Stop. Buses run every 60 minutes.

For this route, we parked our vehicle at the Park & Ride lot, hopped on the Bear Lake Shuttle and got off at Bear Lake to begin this hike. At the end, we walked from the Fern Lake Trailhead to the Fern Lake Bus stop and took the Moraine Park Shuttle back to Park & Ride. You can find maps and more information here.

Bear Lake

Bear Lake is an iconic and popular destination. The elevation at Bear Lake is 9,475 ft. Although the Bear Lake area is very busy, this route down to Lake Odessa can be much more peaceful.

We veered off the Bear Lake loop trail towards the Flattop Mountain and Odessa Lake trail. This part of the trail gains elevation. We followed the signs towards Odessa Lake.

We hiked on July 13th. Our daughters were happy to see a few spots of snow to slip around on, but mostly the trails were cleared of winter snow. The National Park website warns, ‘This trail often has treacherous snow fields into late-June and early July. Ask a Ranger about trail conditions before committing to this hike.’ There are ranger stations at the park entrances as well as at Bear Lake.

With the snowmelt, we encountered pesky mosquitoes on this section of the trail.

Two Rivers Lake and Lake Helene

Rockymountainhikingtrails.com describes this somewhat confusing section of the trail, ‘Roughly 3.2 miles from the trailhead hikers will arrive at an unmarked side trail that leads to Lake Helene on your left. Immediately past this junction the main trail makes a sharp turn to the right, and begins descending rapidly. If you’ve reached this point you’ve obviously gone too far. It’s unclear why the national park doesn’t have a trail marker here, but Lake Helene should not be passed. If anything, this is a great place to take a short break.’

We decided to take their advice by adding Lake Helene on as a short snack break spot.

Rocky Mountain National Park Hike to Alpine Lake

Heading Down Odessa Gorge

Family on Rocky Mountain National Park Hike to Alpine Lake

Lake Odessa

This is the first time we hiked to Lake Odessa. We loved the wildflowers along the trail leading up to it, the wooden bridge we crossed on the way, and the clear waters of this alpine lake. It was a serene, magical spot.

Lake Odessa in Rocky Mountain National Park

Hiking along Mountain Stream from Lake Odessa in Rocky Mountain National Park

At this point, we could turn back up toward Bear Lake, and the hike would have been 8.8 miles round-trip. We decided to continue down toward Fern Lake.

Fern Lake

I’m posting this picture of the ‘Privy’ or outdoor basic toilet we found near Fern Lake because if you’ve ever hiked with kids, you know it is always helpful to know where to go.

Damage from East Troublesome Fire

Around Fern Lake, there is visible damage from the 2020 wildfires. We enjoyed the beautiful wildflowers that flourish in the burn area; however, this part of the trail felt very hot from the lack of shade.

Wildfire damage near Fern Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

Fern Falls

I love Fern Falls, you can feel the cool mist as the water pours down the mountainside. It’s such a welcome feeling!

The Pool

The Pool felt like the (almost) finish line. From here, we had 1.7 miles to the trailhead. One additional feature to look forward to on the way is Arch Rocks.

Once we got to the Fern Lake trailhead, we had to walk along the road for nearly a mile to the Fern Lake bus stop and wait for 30-50 minutes for the shuttle. A year later, I can’t remember exactly how long we waited, but it felt like a long time! We were hot, dusty, and exhausted at this point.

Overall, this hike was a wonderful way to see Bear Lake, Lake Helene, Lake Odessa, Fern Lake, Fern Falls, The Pool, Arch Rocks, and more in 9.2+ (mostly) downhill miles.

What’s your favorite hike in Rocky Mountain National Park? Please post in the comments about the hikes we should try this summer.

Helpful Links & Gear:

RMNP Maps

AllTrails.com

Hiking Backpack with Hydration Pack

UV Protection sunglasses

Hiking Wheeler Peak: A Family Adventure in New Mexico

We started our summer on a high note by climbing to the highest point in the state of New Mexico. We hiked to Wheeler Peak via the Williams Lake Trail, located near Taos, New Mexico, an area known for snow skiing and hiking.

This hike starts at 10,200 feet and gains 2,961 feet over 4.1 miles. We acclimated to the high elevation by staying a couple of nights in Santa Fe, New Mexico, before attempting this trek.

High Elevation Hiking Tips:

If you are from a lower elevation state like we are, make sure to start out slow. Don’t attempt a high elevation hike without acclimating.
Make sure to bring lots of water, snacks, and sunscreen. We also wore hats and long sleeves to protect from the elements. Layers are always helpful.
Check the weather conditions before going. We checked recent trail reports on Alltrails.com to see if the trail had wintery conditions. It’s also a good idea to start hikes early in the day because afternoon storms pop-up in the mountains. When you are above the tree line, lightning storms are dangerous.
Don’t be afraid to turn around if conditions don’t feel right. You can also choose a shorter hike. For example, I would love to complete the shorter hike to Williams Lake in the future.

The well-defined path follows the Williams Lake Trail, but veers off before arriving at the lake. (We visited the lake on our way back down – pictures below). You traverse several scree fields on the way up, so horses aren’t allowed on the trail, but we saw many families with dogs.

Despite being acclimated, this hike felt very challenging due to the quick elevation gain. Alltrails.com rates this hike as ‘hard’ while the Forest Service rates this hike ‘Intermediate to Expert’.

We completed this hike in early June. We lucked out on the weather with a calm, blue sky, warm day. There were just a couple of snow patches that we had to navigate. As the afternoon went on, the snow melted and made it harder to pass without losing a hiking boot.

My older daughter (age 10) says this hike is ‘hard, but a great accomplishment.’ Her advice to kids wanting to hike it is ‘keep looking up because soon you will be at the top. Don’t give up!’

I agree this was a great accomplishment for our family. This is the highest summit we have hiked together so far. We felt confident they could do it because of the hikes they’ve completed in the past in Rocky Mountain National Park and other destinations.

At the top, we made sure to sign the register log and take a picture by the summit marker.

As I mentioned above, we stopped by Williams Lake on our way down the mountain to get a snack and spot wildlife. PS: I recently got Invisalign, and snacking while hiking with my new braces was not an easy task.

There are a lot of things to love about this hike, and I’m not ashamed to admit that one of my favorite things was ending at this Bavarian Lodge and Restaurant!

They even served Andechs beer, which is brewed in a monastery near Munich, Germany. We were able to ‘hike’ to the monastery a decade ago, so it holds a special place in my heart. Check on their site if you are interested.

Another reason this hike was very special was that my family and I hiked up these mountains when I was a kid. I had fun reminiscing with my Dad and looking at old maps and pictures.