‘He put an arm around me and we looked out, feeling the mystifying affinity with the universe that mountain trails can bring.
“When we get back home and life gets busy again, we have to stop and remember how we feel right at this moment.”‘ – The Gratitude Diaries
Hiking pre-children with my husband.
Do you dwell in your favorite vacation memories? Today, I’m stopping and remembering what it is like to hike a long mountain trail with my husband. We are lucky to go to our favorite place (Rocky Mountain National Park) pretty often. I’m glad we get to share these experiences with our little ones. We can’t hike as far, but it’s a new adventure each time.  I’m counting down the days until our family is back breathing in the mountain air!
In my last post I mentioned that crowds were one of my least favorite parts of our July trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. One of the solutions for us was finding less popular trails. One morning we woke up a little late and couldn’t find parking at Bear Lake, Glacier Gorge, Bierstadt or even the Park and Ride. I’m glad we didn’t give up looking, because we eventually found a spot near Sprague Lake.
We decided to give it a go and hike from Sprague Lake to the Glacier Gorge trailhead via the Glacier Creek Trail. If you are in the parking lot and looking towards the lake, you will find the trailhead to your right. From here, head uphill and follow signs leading to Bear Lake.
The further we hiked, the prettier this trail became. Two miles in we discovered a little lake covered in lily pads blooming with yellow flowers. My daughter nicknamed it Minnie Mouse Lake.
We also passed over a wooden bridge with a roaring mountain stream classified as a ‘loud waterfall’ by our toddler.
We turned around 2.8 miles into our hike. If we continued we would have made it to Bear Lake or Alberta Falls in less than a mile. The return hike was even more enjoyable because it was a downhill slope.
We really enjoyed our hike and will keep this less trafficked trail in mind for days when the park is busy!
If you are looking for another less crowded hike, I also recommend checking out Hollowell Park.
Hiking Gear Highlight – Hiking Boots: The dusty first section of this hike inspired me to ditch my running shoes and buy new hiking boots with good wool hiking socks. In downtown Estes Park I noticed a sale sign on the window of Plum Creek Shoe Station. The selection of boots and customer service was amazing. I was given options in my price range that fit the hikes we go on. I’m so glad I bought from a local shop so I could ask questions rather than buying online. Having good hiking boots and socks that fit makes a world of difference!
If you are planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park this summer, you are going to create wonderful family memories. Our whole website is dedicated to how amazing we think Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park are. However, it’s also helpful to know the less than spectacular parts of a destination that might come up so you can plan ahead.
#1: Crowds
Tourists come when it’s most convenient – on holidays and weekends. During these busy times, we have to wake up super early to get our bags packed and the kiddos fed so we can get into the park before 7AM. That sounds terrible, but it’s worth it, especially if we are trying to find a parking space near some of the most popular destinations like Bear Lake and Alberta Falls.
How to avoid the crowds in Rocky Mountain National Park:
hike in less popular destinations such as the Wild Basin or this trail less traveled.
help lines run faster by asking questions at the visitors centers instead of the park entrances
ride the free park shuttles
#2 Mosquitoes
During summer months, mosquitoes are common on hikes around lakes and rivers. If you have babies or are breast-feeding, don’t forget to pack sprays without DEET like this one.
#3: Carsick Kiddos
Winding mountain roads sometimes make our toddler car sick. Here are some ideas on how to avoid carsickness and make cleanup easier if it happens.
My Dad always said planning a trip is sometimes more fun than the actual vacation itself. I don’t know if that’s always the case, but I love to research fun, new activities to do on our famiy’s trips to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. I never run out of options because there is so much to do in this quaint mountain town and in the nearby National Park. Here are some of the top things on our Estes Park Summer Bucket List in 2017:
Eat an ice cream cone at Hayley’s
The delicious smell of waffle cones wafts out the door as you enter our favorite ice cream shop. It’s tiny inside so we choose our favorite flavor and take it outside on a stroll down the river walk. Hayley’s is located at 102 W. Elkhorn Avenue in downtown Estes Park, Colorado.
Pikas in the Park
What’s cuter than a pika? nothing! I’m so excited to participate in this new scavenger hunt activity. Just download an activity guide at visitestespark.com and start looking for 12 bronze pika sculptures in downtown Estes Park.
Be a Junior Ranger
We will head to the Fall River Visitor Center to pickup the Junior Ranger packet for kids 5 and under (they have packets designed for older kids too). The visitor center is open from 9am-5pm every day during the summer. You can pick up packets at any of the park’s visitor centers. Here is a link for more information about Rocky Mountain National Park visitors centers locations and hours. You can find more information about their Junior Park Ranger program here.
Bonus: While we are at the Fall River Visitor Center, we will enjoy a delicious breakfast and spectacular views at the attached Trailhead Restaurant. After dining, we will let our toddler play at the little playground right outside to burn off some endless energy.
Go on a boat ride
We want to spend some time on the water. Last year we rented a pontoon boat for a half hour ride on Lake Estes. This short amount of time was perfect for our little one’s first boat ride. Lake Estes is beautiful, conveniently located and rentals are fairly inexpensive. The marina website has rental information listed.
Another option is to drive over Trail Ridge Road to get to Grand Lake. The drive could take an hour or two depending on traffic. The boat rentals seem to cost a little more on this side of the mountain and I haven’t found rental options for under an hour. But, it’s always fun to try something new and we could easily make this a full day trip with stops along Trail Ridge Road and visiting attractions in the town of Grand Lake, CO. Two marinas we are considering renting boats from are Trail Ridge Marina  or Grand Lake Marina.
Enjoy a Rocky Mountain waterfall
There are many amazing waterfalls in Rocky Mountain National Park. This year Chasm Falls is on the top of my list. The falls are located right off of Old Fall River Road, a one-way gravel road which travels all the way up to an elevation of 11,796 ft at the Alpine Visitors Center. The road is scenic and enjoyed at a leisurely pace (15 miles per hour speed limit). It’s a good idea to check park Road Status Reports before heading up.
Gaze at the stars
One of the best things about being further away from the city is being able to see stars light up the night sky. We are excited to attend a “Stories Behind the Moon & the Stars” program at the Moraine Valley Visitor Center in Rocky Mountain National Park. The events will take place around 8:00 on Fridays June 30, July 7, August 4 and August 11 in 2017. You can learn more at angelsabove.org
Hike to a mountain lake
It’s hard to pick a favorite mountain lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, but this year we are going to attempt a family hike to Mills Lake. The roundtrip journey is roughly six miles. We can start at the Bear Lake trailhead and pass by Alberta Falls on our way up.
Watch fireworks
We are going to grab some lawn chairs and watch a spectacular fireworks show over Lake Estes on July 4th. The event begins at 9:30PM.
What are you looking forward to this summer? I’d love to hear about your bucket list!
rocky mountain tot 