In a remote corner of western Montana, a jagged mountain range rises above the pristine lakes
and rolling prairies that surround these peaks.
Their origins can be traced back through the mists of time to a time a billion years ago
when the land was covered by a prehistoric ocean.
Today, these mountain peaks still pierce the clouds that frequently surround and swirl
about them.
Come celebrate this land where hundreds of rushing streams carrying ice blue water from
melting glaciers plunge through narrow gorges and over spectacular waterfalls to silent
lakes and the valleys below.
This is indeed a rugged land.
A land where stony sentinels pierce the clear blue firmament, soaring majestically above
the canyons and valleys of this big sky country.
This is a landscape that began over a billion years ago as layer upon layer of sedimentary
rocks were laid down on the shores of a prehistoric ocean.
Some 50 or 60 million years ago, these layers of rock were thrust skyward by tectonic forces
from deep within the earth.
In the past three million years, a series of glaciers covered this land with masses
of ice several thousand feet thick.
The broad strokes of the glaciers of the last ice age, just 10,000 years ago, carved the
landscape into the lofty peaks and broad valleys that survive today.
During each ice age, glaciers attacked the land mass from many directions, resulting
in sharp peaks that rise majestically out of valleys that nearly surround them.
This distinctive shape is referred to as a horn, as in the famous Swiss Matterhorn.
The massive glaciers of the last ice age have retreated.
Change is imperceptible now as wind and water slowly erode the rock that remains.
Today, the force of tons of water rushing down these steep mountainsides has little
effect on the scene before us.
This is still a vast wilderness, home to an array of wildlife unmatched in any region
of the lower 48 states, including stately mountain goats, majestic bighorn sheep, and
even powerful grizzly bears.
Most of this land remains undisturbed by its modern day visitors.
Those who come to these mountains seeking the solitude and beauty of the wilderness
certainly find it here.
Nearly a century ago, an early preservationist named George Bird Grinnell called this region
of northwest Montana the crown of the continent.
Other conservation-minded individuals lobbied Congress for action, and in 1910, nearly 1,600
square miles was set aside for future generations with the formation of Glacier National Park.
Today, even though the park is removed from large population centers, it is easily accessible
to the thousands of visitors who come here annually.
The heart of the park is traversed by a roadway which represents a phenomenal piece of engineering.
The thin white line on the side of the mountain marks the 52-mile long Going to the Sun Highway,
which opened in 1933.
Numerous turnouts along this narrow roadway provide spectacular views for motorists as
they travel through the heart of the park.
Heaven's Peak is beautifully framed by an opening in a short tunnel on the western slope
of the highway.
Because the roadway is so narrow, vehicle size limitations are in effect at all times,
and bicycles are restricted to non-peak hour usage.
Both shuttle buses and open-air Jammer buses operate during peak visitor seasons, allowing
travelers to concentrate on the scenery without having to worry about watching the road.
These colorful red buses were built in the 1930s.
Supposedly, the name Jammer comes from early drivers who allegedly jammed the gears as
they drove to the top of Logan Pass.
Just beyond the highway, even more spectacular scenes can be found all along the many miles
of hiking trails that traverse the park.
All of the trails highlighted in this program are accessible from the Going to the Sun Highway,
either by private cars or by shuttle buses operated by park concessionaires.
For casual-day hikers, the highway is really just an access road to reach the magnificent
wonders of this mountain wilderness.
The first hike profile is one of the most beautiful, as well as one of the most popular
trails in the park.
The three-mile round-trip Hidden Lake Trail begins at the Logan Pass Visitor Center and
climbs almost 500 feet to cross the Continental Divide to an overlook above Hidden Lake.
The initial portion of the trail follows a short paved section through a meadow at the
foot of Mount Oberlin.
The paved section soon turns into a boardwalk that crosses the Alpine Meadow with its carpet
of wildflowers.
The trail heads toward the rocky peak of Clements Mountain.
Off to your right, small streams fed by midsummer snowmelt trickle off the face of Mount Oberlin.
In the distance, the steep face of the thin spine of rock known as the Garden Wall lies
in deep early morning shadow.
All along the trail, a midsummer blanket of wildflowers such as these yellow glacier lilies
delights the eye and provides a rich source of food for scores of small birds and animals,
including this ptarmigan still showing some white winter feathers, the Colombian ground
squirrel and the golden mantled ground squirrel.
The boardwalk continues on upward for about one-half mile.
Even in midsummer, lingering snowfields can cover the path.
A series of poles set into the snow marks the trail.
As the trail approaches the foot of Clements Mountain, hikers can observe the mountain's
peak reaching into the atmosphere where turbulence causes passing Pacific moisture to condense
into thin, wispy clouds.
Beyond the boardwalk, the trail skirts a bald mound of loose aggregate that is washed down
off the cliffs of Clements Mountain.
Make sure that when you pause to get your breath, you utilize the time to take in the
striking scene all around you.
Down in the valley below, three bighorn rams graze on the lush greenery.
Near the top of the trail, watch for mountain goats perched on rocky shelves on the mountainside
to your right.
These sure-footed goats can easily pick their way down rocky hillsides.
Goats shed most of their long winter coats by midsummer.
The tattered remains of the long coat imparts a ragged look to this otherwise handsome animal.
The trail passes through a windblown stand of subalpine fir next to a small pond fed
by melting snows.
In the distance, the flat-top peak of Bear Hat Mountain rises above the scene below.
A final rise takes the trail over the continental divide at Hidden Lake Pass.
Just beyond the pass, a short set of stairs leads to a boardwalk overlook.
The alpine slopes draw your attention to the beautiful Moraine Valley.
Hidden Lake lies at the foot of Bear Hat Mountain, which towers 2,300 feet above the clear blue
lake.
The trail does continue another mile and a half down to Hidden Lake, but the trail is
often closed because the valley is prime grizzly bear country.
Return via the same mile and a half trail to the trailhead at the Logan Pass Visitor
Center.
Turn now from the steady climb of the alpine meadow to a level wheelchair accessible boardwalk
through a deep cedar and hemlock forest.
The trail of the cedars begins just across the Going to the Sun Highway from the Avalanche
Picnic Area.
This loop trail follows a half-mile boardwalk and paved path that first loops around and
then follows the banks of Avalanche Creek.
Benches and trailside exhibits provide hikers with both a place to rest and a chance to
gain an insight into the nature of this superb example of a mature forest.
The boardwalk winds through lush stands of hemlock and western red cedar.
Ferns and other shade-tolerant plants grow in the protection and nourishment provided
by decaying red cedar tree trunks.
At one point, the path surrounds a magnificent red cedar that stretches more than 100 feet
into the clear air above the boardwalk, a sight hundreds of years in the making.
The trail continues along the banks of Avalanche Creek for a short distance until it comes
to a bridge over a small gorge.
This small-slot canyon continues to slowly expand as the creek-draining Avalanche Lake,
located some two miles farther up the mountainside, cuts into the bedrock.
Just past the bridge, a separate trail branches off to Avalanche Lake.
This trail will be profiled shortly.
The boardwalk ends at the bridge over the gorge.
From this point on, the trail of the cedar's loop is paved as it returns to the roadway.
A short-paved spur leads to an overlook on the banks of the creek where the rushing water
blocks out all other sounds.
Beyond this overlook, the trail is more open.
Sunlight penetrates the canopy as the cedars and hemlocks give way to spruce and Douglas
fir trees.
Motionless shadows of the still forest mingle with moving silhouettes of passing hikers.
The trail passes an open area near the Avalanche campground.
This small amphitheater includes wooden benches for nature programs.
One last short section of boardwalk takes hikers back to the starting point of the hike
at the Avalanche picnic area.
A longer variation of this hike begins back near the bridge over the gorge.
The trail to Avalanche Lake is a four-mile round-trip hike with an elevation gain of
500 feet.
The first portion of the trail parallels the small gorge cut by the creek that is fed by
runoff from Avalanche Lake.
The section just above the gorge follows a rocky path alongside the creek as the trail
rises toward the lake.
Within a quarter-mile, the trail leaves the banks of the creek and heads off into the
hemlock forest.
Boardwalks provide a dry passage over areas prone to collect moisture from snowmelt and
runoff from heavy rains.
The path is generally smooth, partly as a result of the thick soil base built up from
shade-tolerant vegetation growing in a rich compost of decaying plant matter.
The sound of running water bubbles up from tiny streams that nourish this vast blanket
of plants covering the forest floor.
A word about bears.
The trail to Avalanche Lake traverses a deep forest that is more to the liking of black
bears than grizzly bears.
Glacier National Park is bear country, and all bears are wild, unpredictable, and therefore
dangerous.
Hikers must be aware of proper precautions when hiking and remain alert at all times.
Many hikers utilize bells attached to a walking stick or to their shoes to avoid surprising
hikers.
However, talking, clapping, and other human noises are probably much more effective.
The first look at Avalanche Lake is across a log jam at the outlet arm of the lake.
Two of the three streams that feed the lake are visible cascading down the sheer cliffs
surrounding the lake.
These streams carry water from melting snows and glaciers that remain in lush alpine valleys,
some 2,000 feet higher than the elevation of Avalanche Lake.
Benches along the shore provide an excellent place to rest while marveling at the beauty
of this remote lake that fills the valley carved out by immense glaciers during previous
ice ages.
From here, return to the trailhead by the same route.
On the eastern side of the park, a number of waterfalls can be reached by a series of
interconnecting trails that originate near St. Mary's Lake, one of the most photographed
features in the park.
The Sunpoint Nature Trail begins at the far end of the Sunpoint parking lot.
This trail, which starts out along the shores of St. Mary's Lake, will take us to Bering
Falls and via a short side trip to the narrow confines of Sunrift Gorge.
A quarter of a mile from the parking lot, the trail heads off into the deep evergreen
forest surrounding the lake.
The trail passes a junction with a side trail leading up to Sunrift Gorge, which will be
visited on the way back to the parking lot.
Just over a half mile from the trailhead, the trail crosses a bridge over a small creek
carrying water from Bering Falls.
The falls originate in a small crack in the rock wall.
The water washes across the layered rock wall with its protruding ledge before tumbling
over the polished rocks in the stream bed below.
Return to the trail junction you just passed for a short uphill hike to Sunrift Gorge.
The trail parallels the stream bed as crystal clear water passes over tumbling cascades
and small waterfalls on its way down from Sunrift Gorge.
The gorge itself is just a few feet uphill from the going to the sun road.
This narrow crack in the earth's surface channels the water through its narrow confines to a
right angle curve before surging on down to Bering Falls.
Since both Sunrift Gorge and the Sunpoint parking lot are stops on the park shuttle
system, hikers can either return to the Sunpoint parking lot via the same route or take the
park shuttle back to the trailhead.
A mile up the road from Sunrift Gorge on the way to Logan Pass, a sign marks the trailhead
to St. Mary's Falls.
This pleasant three mile round trip takes hikers first to the base of St. Mary's Falls
and then on to Virginia Falls.
The initial part of the trail crosses a small meadow as it heads toward the foot of Citadel
Mountain.
Although the full length of the trail gains 500 feet in elevation, the first quarter mile
is mostly downhill.
At the bottom of this hill, there is a junction with the Pagan Pass Trail that comes in from
the left.
A few hundred feet from the first junction, the trail split again with the trail to St.
Mary's Falls now heading off to the left.
The trail starts up through a dense stand of Douglas fir trees interspersed with occasional
aspen.
As the trail passes a rock wall on the right, the sound of rushing water from the St. Mary's
River breaks the stillness of the forest.
A little less than a mile from the trailhead, the trail passes over a bridge at the base
of St. Mary's Falls.
Here, crystal clear water from glaciers high above rushes over and through a narrow crevice
in the rock wall.
Virginia Creek joins St. Mary's River just below the falls.
The river then continues its way down the mountainside to feed St. Mary's Lake.
Beyond the bridge at St. Mary's Falls, the trail continues its way up the mountainside
to Virginia Falls.
A few hundred yards after leaving the St. Mary's River, the trail reaches a rocky overlook
at the edge of Virginia Creek.
Some visitors mistake this section of the creek for Virginia Falls.
The rushing water follows a fault in the stream bed as it slowly deepens the slot.
The stream continues on its way through layers of sedimentary rock as it surges to the valley
below.
Beyond this overlook, the trail heads off to the right of the creek.
The last segment of the trail becomes much narrower, an indication that this section
of the trail is not widely traveled by hikers.
Just a mile and a half from the trailhead, the trail crosses another small bridge that
takes you across Virginia Creek to the base of the beautiful cascade that is Virginia
Falls.
The sound of rushing water fills the air as tons of water pour over a series of rocky
steps to briefly rest in a crystal clear pool at the base of the falls.
The trail to Pagan Pass is a strenuous nine mile round trip hike with an elevation gain
of just over 1700 feet.
The top portion of the trail follows a narrow path across the barren face of Mount Sayah
on its way to the pass.
The trailhead is two miles east of Logan Pass at a point where Sayah Creek passes under
the Going to the Sun Road.
The lush greenery along the creek is accented by wildflowers such as this clump of Indian
paintbrush.
The trail leaves the creek and heads into deep forest.
The craggy pinnacle of Reynolds Mountain looms in the western sky.
Soon the breaks in the trees give way to small meadows that dot the mountainside as the trail
continues its upward climb toward the treeline.
The tumbling waters of Sayah Creek cross the trail just beyond the halfway point of the
hike.
A sturdy bridge carries hikers over the stream to a slightly steeper section of the trail.
As the trail nears the treeline, summertime meadows full of glorious wildflowers board
at the path.
As the trail breaks out of the trees and onto the bald southern face of Mount Sayah, a rocky
outcropping in the foreground frames the jagged outline of the distant garden wall.
Often on this southerly facing slope, it's not uncommon to encounter small snow fields
at these higher elevations.
Colorful ground-hugging alpine plants quickly flower to complete their life cycles during
the short summer months.
The lack of physical reference points makes it difficult to judge distances.
The open section of the trail is more than a mile long.
From the top of the pass, hikers can marvel at the east face of the garden wall and look
down into the valley and the continuation of the trail that leads to the swift current
lake area.
Few hikers make this strenuous trip, but you are not alone up here.
The animal kingdom is well represented by marmots scurrying about the fallen rocks and
the regal symbol of this high mountain region, a small herd of bighorn sheep rams.
From the top of a rocky mountain pass to the cool depths of a mature forest, Glacier is
truly a natural wonderland.
We are indeed fortunate that visionary pioneers saved this land on the crown of the continent
for future generations to enjoy.
It is our duty to preserve this legacy for generations of day hikers yet to come.
Thank you.
The American West mentioned this topic and two images immediately come to mind.
Cowboys and mountains.
The cowboys of folklore, legend and motion pictures have faded from the scene.
But the mountains remain.
The forces of nature relentlessly tear at these rocky sentinels.
But changes in the granite walls are imperceptible to the human experience.
Tall mountain peaks composed of barren rock are most impressive in their stark grandeur.
But these mountains, home to narrow canyons, lush forests and broad valleys, are not only
impressive but breathtakingly beautiful.
This is a special reserve, a place for visitors to come in celebration of the majesty and
beauty that is preserved within the borders of Rocky Mountain National Park.
These are relatively young mountains.
The land was uplifted and worn away a number of times before the forces that created the
present day Rocky Mountains began, just 18 million years ago.
In the past two million years, after the land was forced up thousands of feet above the
surrounding plains, a series of glaciers eroded the peaks.
These gigantic ice fields scoured the peaks and carved out lush valleys.
Even after the glaciers that eroded these peaks have disappeared, the remaining mountains
are still a high alpine environment.
The thin air at these high altitudes can cause headaches, nausea or lightheadedness.
Hikers should protect themselves from the increased ultraviolet rays at this altitude
with long sleeve clothing and UV blocking lotions.
Be prepared for changing weather conditions anytime you are in the park.
Weather changes can be abrupt and severe.
The mountains are far from the moderating effects of an ocean.
As westerly winds carry moisture against the mountains, the air is lifted, cooled and water
in the air condenses and falls as rain or snow.
In contrast to the age of the mountains, the park is less than 100 years old.
It was established in 1915, becoming the 10th park in the national park system.
Today, more than 3 million people visit Rocky Mountain National Park each year.
Many of them simply drive across the park and never leave their cars.
For these visitors, Trail Ridge Road crosses the park from east to west.
It crosses the continental divide on a windswept tundra that is often blanketed with clouds.
The impact of the automobile on the park cannot be overstated.
Sweet tasting antifreeze from overheated cars near the top of Trail Ridge Road attracts
these bighorn sheep.
Cars stopped on the roadway to watch wildlife create long traffic jams.
Through it all, these car bound tourists miss the true experience of the mountains, an experience
which is readily accessible just beyond a parking lot.
One of the most exciting and enjoyable aspects of a visit to Rocky Mountain is the chance
to observe wildlife in a completely natural setting.
Elk, the largest mammal in the park, is also one of the most abundant.
It's easy to spot a couple of young bulls or a herd of females with their calves moving
through the underbrush along a trail in the late afternoon light.
You are less likely to see a coyote, an animal that may well survive the coming winter by
scavenging off the carcass of a young elk that can't survive the rigors of the cold
and snow that lie ahead.
Observe and photograph wildlife with binoculars and telephoto lenses.
This is too close.
These young bull elk are still wild and unpredictable animals.
If you want to see sheep, there's no better place than Sheep Lake in Horseshoe Park.
Late afternoon brings a flock of ewes and their lambs to feed on the lush greenery at
the shore of this small lake.
At some unknown signal, the herd leaves the lakeshore and heads for higher ground.
The parade continues on the slope above the lake as the herd heads across a bald rock
face on the way to higher pastures.
While the ewes and lambs feed at lower elevations, these bighorn rams are content to stay high
above the tree line.
Back down in the valley, late afternoon sun shimmers off the waters below a small but
highly effective beaver dam.
Wait until dusk for a good look at these industrious creatures feeding on willow shoots along the
bank of their pond.
A young beaver known as a kit swims by under the watchful eye of its mother, never on the
lookout for any signs of predators in the area.
After circling to make sure that the pond and its shoreline is clear, the large female
neatly slips beneath the surface of the pond.
The best way to see wildlife and experience the tranquility of a wilderness setting is
by leaving the car behind and exploring the park on hiking trails.
Before setting out on a hike, stop at a visitor center for literature and information on weather
and trail conditions.
The first trail is a half-mile wheelchair accessible boardwalk over the Hidden Valley
beaver ponds.
The parking lot at Rainbow Curve on Trail Ridge Road provides an overview of the series
of beaver ponds that line the floor of Hidden Valley.
This complex of boardwalks gives hikers an intimate view of the life of a beaver pond.
Multiple small dams, all in perfect repair, create a whole series of shallow ponds throughout
the valley bottom.
Some of the dams are quite complex, reflecting a degree of engineering skill that is hard
to attribute to such a small creature.
When was the last time you got a good look at a brown trout right below your feet?
Still cameras, video cameras, no camera at all.
The scene before you is magnificent, and no tools are necessary to capture it.
Watch as a mallard probes the bottom of the dam for tender green shoots to feed on, then
swims away with the bright sunlight reflecting off his brilliant green feathers.
Meanwhile, a female mallard preens and splashes in the crystal clear water provided through
the industrious efforts of the beaver colony.
This boardwalk is just one of the projects undertaken by the Park Service to increase
accessibility for handicapped individuals throughout the National Park System.
The boardwalk section of the trail heads back over a marshy area before returning to the
trailhead via a smooth path along the shore of the pond.
In the southeast corner of the park, a complex of trails begins from the parking lot at Wild
Basin Rancher Station.
The hike to Calypso Cascades is a three and a half mile round trip with an elevation gain
of 700 feet.
The initial portion of the trail is a broad path through a deep forest of pines intermingled
with smooth barked aspen trees.
Just a quarter of a mile from the trailhead, the trail passes close to a turbulent cascade
on St. Vrain Creek.
Water passing over the rock structure at the head of this section of rapids forms a beautiful
small waterfall known as Copeland Falls.
A short distance upstream from the falls, the water cuts its way through a narrow channel
between massive boulders.
All along the trail, moisture loving ferns and wildflowers carpet the forest floor.
Alders and aspen intermingle with spruce and fir trees in this magnificent setting.
Portions of the trail leave the deeper forest to follow the banks of the creek as the trail
gradually rises from the trailhead.
Here a massive granite outcropping slopes down to form one side of the creek bed.
A mile and a half from the trailhead, a hiker stops to photograph the creek from the vantage
point of a sturdy log bridge.
The white water course of the creek bed below the bridge is definitely worthy of his attention.
Beyond the bridge, the trail rises much more steeply as hikers ascend a series of stair
steps on the way uphill.
The steeper section of the trail is matched by the rushing stream now located more than
20 feet below the trail.
One more level section takes hikers across a small bog full of ferns and marsh marigolds.
A signpost and another log bridge marks the destination of this hike, the calypso cascades.
The boulder strewn hillside that forms the calypso cascade nourishes ferns, mosses and
even large evergreen trees, precariously balanced in the middle of the stream.
From here hikers can continue another mile up to Oozle Falls or return to the trailhead
by retracing their steps.
The trail to Cub Lake begins in the beautiful meadow near the Moraine Park campground.
The trail is a pleasant four and a half mile round trip with an elevation gain of 540 feet
that begins at a bridge over the Big Thompson River.
The first portion of the trail crosses the river and then heads into a small stand of
ponderosa pines.
The early morning calls of scores of small birds fills the air.
The path then crosses a meadow littered with large boulders deposited by the glaciers that
form this valley.
Soon the trail turns up the valley toward the snow capped peaks that frame the spectacular
landscape.
The still waters of a beaver pond double the beauty of the scene as the mountains appear
reflected in the quiet pool.
The beauty of the grand scope of the valley is also present in a smaller scale like the
bloom of a wild rose growing alongside the path.
The trail leaves the bottom of the valley and heads up the hillside into a forest of
spruce, fir and an occasional ponderosa pine.
The evergreen forest closes in as the trail steepens on the final ascent to the level
of the lake.
A small trail sign that marks the side trail to the Cub Creek campground is an indication
that the lake itself is just ahead in the lush subalpine valley.
Cub Lake is a small clear lake surrounded by deep forest and covered with thousands
of yellow pond lilies.
The tranquil waters of this beautiful lake reflect the snow capped peak of Stone Mountain
rising majestically in the distance.
Continue up the hillside for an overview of this remote alpine gem nestled in the beautiful
valley below.
From this point hikers can return to the trailhead to complete the four and a half mile hike
or if time and energy permits they can continue on via a connecting trail to make a more interesting
loop trail.
On this hike the trail will continue another mile and a quarter to the Big Thompson River.
Then take a two mile round trip up Fern Creek to Fern Creek Falls.
Then return to the original trailhead via the Fern Lake Trail.
This variation adds four miles to the Cub Lake Trail making the total distance for this
hike approximately eight and a half miles.
After crossing the ridge just beyond Cub Lake the rocky trail heads steeply downward.
Openings in the evergreen forest provide views of the snow caps of Stone Mountain, the depths
of Forest Canyon, the source of Big Thompson River and off to the east the rocky cliffs
of Beaver Mountain.
On the way down into Forest Canyon a bridge crosses one of the many small streams that
drain the mountainside.
In the moist banks of the stream a solitary Columbine exhibits the beauty that makes it
the state flower of the state of Colorado.
A mile and a quarter from Cub Lake the trail reaches a bridge over the Big Thompson River.
The river's roar blots out all other sound as it cuts its way through an aero chasm in
the granite rocks.
From the river follow trail signs leading to the path that heads back up the side of
the canyon toward Fern Lake.
The steep trail follows the banks of Fern Creek.
This hike will just go up one mile to Fern Falls then return to the Big Thompson River.
Fern Falls is littered with boulders and weathered logs that have been carried downstream by
this small but powerful creek.
It's a good place to stop and rest before returning three and a half miles via the Fern
Lake Trail to the original trailhead for Cub Lake.
Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States.
It provides superb access to a windswept tundra that would otherwise be out of reach except
for a few adventurers.
Bristle cone pines distorted by the gales that blow across the mountaintops lie almost
parallel to the ground.
Holes that do remain upright take on a flagpole appearance testifying to the power of the
prevailing westerly winds.
The parking lot just beyond the rock cut near the top of Trail Ridge Road is the 12,100
foot high start of the tundra trail.
This self-guiding half mile round trip with minimal elevation change can still be a challenge
because of the thin air at this altitude.
The trail rises steadily toward a rocky outcropping at the top of the ridge.
Even at this altitude, a broad assortment of wildflowers bordering the path provides
a beautiful counterpoint to the broad barren feel of the tundra.
Near the top of the ridge, strange rock formations show the effects of differential erosion.
The white rock at the bottom of the column eroded more quickly than the harder red rock
capstone.
The result is this mushroom-shaped formation sitting high atop a mountain ridge.
Pay close attention to crevices in the rock formations.
It's a great place to see marmots scurrying about in search of their next meal.
From this elevated viewpoint, hikers can look back across the paved trail toward the trailhead
and beyond to the majestic snow-capped mountains at the crown of this wonderland.
One from the windswept reaches of the tundra to a popular but much lower destination.
The trails at Bear Lake can be reached via a shuttle bus that takes visitors to the trailheads
at this popular alpine destination.
Just beyond the parking lot, an information station and restrooms provide a jumping-off
point for day hikers.
The 3.5 mile round trip to Emerald Lake has an elevation change of just 600 feet.
The point to remember, however, is that the trailhead is 9,500 feet above sea level.
The trail will take hikers past Nymph Lake and Dream Lake on the way to Emerald Lake,
a small lake at the base of a rockfall below a small glacier.
Just a half mile from the trailhead, the small lake known as Nymph Lake lies nestled in an
evergreen forest.
The trail skirts the shore of the lake and resumes its uphill direction.
From a clearing on the north shore of the lake, the rocky cliffs that surround the lake
pale in comparison to the rocky summit of Hallett Peak off in the distance.
The trail is definitely uphill all the way.
Be sure to take your time.
Stop to get your breath and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you.
A great place to stop is the bald rock overlooking Nymph Lake.
From here, the foothills of the rocky mountains stretch out to the far horizon.
Just beyond the bald rock, a trail sign marks the way to Dream Lake, the second lake on
this rocky trail.
A small footbridge carries hikers across a small stream that courses through a grove
of evergreens at the base of towering granite cliffs.
Just beyond the evergreens lies Dream Lake, a small alpine pond framed by Hallett Peak
on the left and Flat Top Mountain on the right.
The trail skirts the shoreline as it continues its way upward, now nearly 10,000 feet above
sea level.
The last portion of the trail is also the rockiest and the steepest.
It climbs over rocks that flaked off the surrounding cliffs and are beginning their ultimate journey
down toward the valleys below.
Finally, the trail ends at the shore of Emerald Lake.
The rocky walls that surround the lake rise abruptly from the shoreline toward the rock
saddle between the towering mountains that contains a small glacier.
For individuals unable to make the moderately strenuous climb to Emerald Lake, the one-half
mile Bear Lake Nature Trail is a perfect alternative.
This half mile loop on a relatively level path can be navigated by persons in wheelchairs
as long as they have some assistance.
Bear Lake is another crystal clear alpine lake carved out by glaciers that also form
the other lakes below the sharp cliff of Hallett Peak.
The trail follows the shore of the lake, gently rising and falling with the terrain surrounding
this idyllic body of water.
A convenient bench is a perfect place to sit and take in the magnificent scene, dominated
by Long's Peak, the highest point at the left of the picture.
At 14,255 feet, Long's Peak is the highest mountain in the park.
The beautiful scenes found all along the path are the reasons this hike is one of the most
popular hikes in the park.
A granite outcropping on the northern shore of the lake is a spectacular sight for a little
refreshment.
At the far shore of the lake, the trail squeezes between the shoreline and a tall granite wall
that extends almost down to the waterline.
The path returns to the starting point of the loop after passing a field of boulders
left in random places by ancient glaciers.
The vast majority of visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park arrive during the peak summer
months.
There is another, perhaps even more beautiful season.
Autumn colors bring a fantastic change to the mountains.
Aspen turn from silvery green to a brilliant gold.
Elk begin to gather in herds as bulls collect and prepare to fight to protect their harem.
Here a magnificent bull elk, showing the typical herding posture with the head held high and
the antlers parallel to its back, rounds up two more cows for his harem.
There is no doubt that he is the master of this herd.
Changes also grip the valleys as grasses begin to brown in preparation for the season that
is to come and come at will.
Soon the land is locked in the frozen mantle that will hold it until the warmth of spring
returns to renew this magnificent wilderness.
Rocky Mountain National Park.
© relieving conduct.