I had invited a friend to join me in Rocky Mountain National Park back in May but he was unable to make it work. He has never been and was excited about exploring the park, so I head back again for a few days before the 4th of July. We met up in Denver and then drove to Grand Lake.
Once again, Colorado showed her beauty. I typically try and avoid the summer crowds, so don't go to the park this time of year. It was so green, making the landscape even more beautiful. The weather was perfect.
While there were hints of snow still, I missed the snow covered mountain tops. I also missed the peace and quiet of Grand Lake and the park pre-memorial day. It was definitely much more crowded this time of year. But we tended to go into the park early in the morning and later in the day. This allowed for better wildlife sightings and avoided the timed entry reservation requirement between 9a and 2p.
The wildlife was not as abundant as it was back in May. The elk herds had moved to higher elevations. So we only saw a few up in the tundra.
We did luck out and had some great moose sightings! The calves were already getting so big.
All in all it was a great trip. It was wonderful to share this place with my dear friend. Now I have to convince him to come back again in the fall, when Grand Lake and RMNP show their true colors!
