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| The Road to the Wild Basin Trailhead |
We only had ONE day to see as much of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado as we could. AND--we certainly saw as much as possible that day!!!!!! This was during our trip out west in June, and this date was June 25. If you want to see more posts from this wonderful 3 week trip, go to my side bar and scroll down to labels. Click on Western Trip 2011.
AND--in order to see much larger pictures of this post, click on each picture.
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| We had to cross the creek several times along the path. |
Late in the afternoon on the 25th, we headed south from Estes Park on Scenic Highway 7. (This is where I found that adorable chapel I blogged about before. Click
HERE if you missed that post.) Anyhow---after leaving the church, we found a neat little lake (Lily Lake) where we stopped and took some pictures. That will be in an upcoming blog post.
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| This is what our trail looked like.. SO enjoyable!!! |
On the road between Meeker and Allenspark, we turned into a road which took us to the Wild Basin Trailhead. This trailhead provides the outdoor lovers (like us) the opportunity to get into the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park, and the chance to enjoy the natural beauty surrounding us.
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| Lower Copeland Falls |
Located in the southeast corner of Rocky Mountain National Park, Wild Basin is drained by the North St. Vrain Creek and its tributaries. The road going to the trailhead is gravel and narrows to one lane in many spots. This is a great hiking area --and there are several waterfalls along the way (which is what caught our attention in the first place).
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| Doesn't the water look just like silk???? So pretty--and peaceful to listen to!!! Be sure to enlarge the photos. |
I enjoyed the drive into the woods --and then the trail was in great shape and so enjoyable. After being in the hot sun and desert climate in Utah and Arizona, this was a wonderful change for us to get back to some SHADE and TREES.... We only had time for a short hike --- so we hiked to Lower Copeland Falls and to Copeland Falls... WOW--what beauty!!!
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| This is Copeland Falls. It was much larger than the Lower Falls. |
If you ever get to the Rockies and enjoy hiking, we can recommend this area. The trail goes on for miles and miles---and it also joins up with other trails for lots of back-country hiking.
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| Betsy enjoying Copeland Falls. |
Both Lower Copeland Falls and Copeland Falls were very pretty--but what made them special is the setting this far back in the woods... By the way, this area is at 8500 feet in elevation, and it wasn't hot at all that day. YEAH!
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| This entire hike was awesome. That is a gorgeous area of Colorado. |
Finally here is a distant picture of the area --including the falls.. As you know, we didn't see too many waterfalls on this long trip, but we did see a few --and loved them all very much. We recommend this hike (and a longer one on this trail) if you ever get to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Hugs,
Betsy
44 comments:
It does look like a beautiful hike! I've always liked Colorado.
Yes Colorado is gorgeous, we lived there for a year, and seen more beauty than you could imagine, the blogs seems good now too, hugs my dear friend.
THe beauty is stunning.I have driven through this area,but that is all.We never used to stop and do any hiking,which I now regret.Thanks for sharing these gorgeous scenes.
"I'm so confused" as Vinnie Barbarino would have said. I saw the false alarm on Sunday but it was an old post.
Anyway,those are my kind of hiking trails. Just beautiful. Looks cool and refreshing.
Hope blogger straightens you out soon.
This looks like a wonderful hike. The trail looks more level than I would have expected in the Rockies. Beautiful photos, and I enlarged each one for a better look.
That looks like wonderful country...I really like some of these enlarged...specially the one showing what your trail looked like!
I especially like the photo of you by copeland falls. and cool temps, how wonderful is that? so much beauty it is hard to encompass.
Beautiful!! I really wanted to explore Rocky Mountain NP on our trip west last spring. But the majority of the roads were still closed for the winter. May is still winter at elevation, who knew?!? :)
Looks like a place one would want to spend a few weeks at doing explores - and at different times of the year too.
Hi Betsy, What a beautiful hiking trail, I love all of your pictures! I haven't blogged on Desert Colors for a while as I've been visiting family in Wisconsin. I'll see you on Facebook! :)
Aaah! I do so miss the western mountains! The waterfalls are beautiful, as is all the surrounding country. What a serene-looking trail. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos.
Just gorgeous, Betsy! I know you and George had a great time!!!
Hi Betsy, How stunningly beautiful is that Nat. Park! Wew! I have never been there. It looks like a place I should visit. Thanks for sharing the views and review. Have a super day!
Hi Besty
What a beautiful looking area of God's creation. The falls are fantastic! Rocky Mountain National Park looks like a great place to visit. Thanks for the pics and the info :-)
~Ron
Good morning - what a great way to wake up looking (lol) at the Rocky Mountains - I'd love to go there sometime myself.
Hey if you blog by accident - what you have to do is go back and save it and then repost it - there has to be a save in there.
Love,
sandie
Great images,wow......I was just passing through and popping on blogs that I've never been on before. So greetings folks from Lebanon county's Amish community. Richard
If I ever get to the Rockies! I would love hiking in this area. Beautiful.
I definitely would enjoy the scenery, but not sure about the hiking. When you are as out of shape as I am, I might go a mile. Glad you both are still able to do this and keep it up. Once you start slowing down, it is hard to pick up speed again.
I've been to this same spot! Rocky Mountain NP is about 45 minute drive from my son's house. It's so beautiful and peaceful and usually full of wild life. My husband and I are excited as now he qualifies for free lifetime admittance in all National Parks as a senior citizen!
Looks like most of the falls you saw on the trip would have been here! And that bridge looks very interesting and sturdy. Perhaps the only one that I wouldn't be afraid to cross!
Wow, Betsy, that's one beautiful hike you did. The scenery is stunning. Love the "silky" waterfalls. Blessings and hugs. Jo
What a beautiful place Betsy. Love the waterfall and the great pics of you and George.
Gorgeous Betsy. My 2nd brother was in Colorado while at the AF Academy.
Sounds like you and George had a wonderful trip, Betsy!
So much more green than most of the other parts of your trip!!!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Beautiful!!! You must take notes about what you see . . . I would have forgotten half the details!!! Tennessee has been a tad cooler this week...wonderful...
the falls are just spectacular! :)
Very, very nice Betsy and I love the bigger pictures!!!!
Very pretty...Over the years we have hiked a lot of the trails (not the real long ones) just inside the the eastern side of the park, but I don't think we have ever been to this one. Glad you enjoyed it..We have so many fond memories from the Estes Park area. It is a great place to go horseback riding.
BTW Betsy, we saw that same little chapel but didn't stop to take pictures because we in kind of a hurry to get to the park.
Great scenery and that hiking trail looks so inviting.
The trees and river make the area look so cool and refreshing. I know it was a nice change after the desert. I really like your shots of the falls. That one does look like liquid silk, beautiful!
So many pretty sites you saw! xo Catherine
That looks like a fun hike. As usual the photos are delightful. Peace
What a lovely area. I'm glad you found some pretty waterfalls there. I've only been to Rocky MT NP once. Your pics make me want to go back.
Oh lots of waters and falls again, i am sure they really complete your travels. This end of the month we will be visiting another falls again in the south of the country, another difficult travel maybe: taxi, tricycles, motorcycles, vans, planes, etc, no horseback though! LOL
Betsy,
Boy oh boy what you miss when you stay on pavement. We certainly missed this awesome falls. Incredible pictures. Lot the pics of both of you at various places. That is Rocky up close and personal to be sure. Fantastic!
Blessings,
Lynn
Hi Betsy, You two manage to find scenic falls wherever you wander.. Rocky Mountain National Park is exceptionally beautiful. Colorado is a beautiful state, I wish I could see it in person someday.
Hugs,
Pam
I DID miss this one! Love the waterfalls!
The water is so real that I feel like I could touch it! Colorado is beautiful also....
That hike does look beautiful...I can only imagine how the weather must have felt: glorious!!!!
xo
Love those waterfalls! Great job on capturing the flows!
I love Rocky Mountain National Park. Your photos are just wonderful. We need to get up there again. The last time we were there, we didn't get to hike around. I will remember this and try to get hubby up there for a hike. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Today I managed to remember what I had long wanted to ask you. Did you always take a dip or swim at the waterfalls? It must be too chilly to swim. Over here, the weather is so hot and almost everyone would dive in. We have very few nice waterfalls compared to US.
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