On the morning of September 17, 2012, we headed back from our motel in Fort Collins to the ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK. We had tried to go up the unpaved Old Falls River Road when we were there in 2011, but it was closed last year due to snow. This year, we had had a little snow the night before we drove up that road ---so we were afraid that the road might be closed again... BUT--luckily for us, it was open!!!!
This is OUR type of road, a non-paved road up the mountain with many pull-offs along the way to enjoy the surrounding area. We don't like crowds --and we love 'back roads'... This was OUR type of road. For that reason, I will have TWO posts showing you the area.
Hope you enjoy our photos. Be sure to click on them for enlargements. IF you have missed other posts from our latest trip out west, go to my sidebar and scroll down to Favorite Sites and click on West Trip 2012...
The picture above shows you what the OLD FALLS RIVER ROAD looks like... More pictures are below.
BEFORE we got to the the Rocky Mountain National Park, we were driving along one of the beautiful Colorado scenic roads... GUESS what we saw that morning???? Some BIGHORN SHEEP !!!!!!
Of course, we stopped and both of us took alot of pictures of them.. The neatest thing to me was seeing them climb those STEEP rocks/cliffs.... AMAZING!!!! (It was steeper than it looks!)
Once we got on the Old Falls River Road, one of the first things we stopped to see was of course a WATERFALL. "Chasm Falls" is another one of our NEW waterfalls on this trip. However, the main trail to the falls is being renovated --so George did ALOT of bushwhacking in order to get pictures of several of the drops of that beautiful waterfall. Above is only one of several he saw.. I think he called this one "Lower Chasm Falls".
The views going up the mountains were awesome... The weather had started out cloudy (since they had had some rain/snow the night before)---but it gradually cleared up so that we could enjoy a fabulous day!
One can get an 'up close and personal' view of the ROCKIES from the Old Falls River Road. I love seeing those peaks!
We actually took a short hike in this area---enjoying the beautiful Lodgepole Pines and a small creek, complete with some cascades... It was so pretty.
George is on the trail where we took a hike. It was such a beautiful area --even though it was getting cooler and cooler---the higher we got up that mountain!!!!
Look at this pretty MOSS. Everything looked so green and lush up here.
Higher and higher we go!!!!!! WOW---look at that!!! Betsy sees some SNOW on the mountain!!!! WOW!!! Isn't it pretty behind those beautiful blooming ASPENS????
MORE to COME!!!!! Hope you are enjoying seeing photos from this marvelous trip!!!!
I also hope that each of you had a fabulous THANKSGIVING. We ALL do have much to be thankful for... Beauty is all around us!!!!! Thanks be to God.
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| A Happy Mom on Thanksgiving --with son Mark and family at Fall Creek Falls |
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We had a nice Thanksgiving this year --enjoying FAMILY, FOOD, and FELLOWSHIP --plus being together with my Sweetheart, and continuing our wonderful life together.
Hugs,
Betsy
60 comments:
Beautiful photos from the waterfalls. The shot of George on the trail is great and I love the family shot. You have lovely family, Betsy. You are blessed! Have a happy day!
This is certainly beautiful countryside. Great colours too.The sheep are amazing climbing the steep cliffs. The last photo and text just oozes love and happiness. Good luck to you all. Life is precious, enjoy every minute of it.
Wow Betsy, that unpaved road through the fir trees, is exactly how Grant and I hiked through the Outeniqua Mtns in the Cape. The trail path where George is standing and the greens and lushness of the next photos is so much like our Drakensberg in Natal. I LOVE your family photo - what love and happiness glowing from each person in it. Thanks for your beautiful comment on my post about the loss of our old Tigger. Bless you, Betsy dear (((Hugs))) Jo
lovely shots. guess that is why i love zion park because we got to see bighorn sheep there. such amazing creatures. great family photo. love the snowy mountains. great trip! ( :
Love that moss photo Betsy! And how wonderful that you got to spend Thanksgiving with your son and his family. That's what it's all about isn't it? Wonderful!
xo Catherine
Seems you have enjoyed a lot... Nice shots...
Lovely family photo!!!
Love those bighorn sheep too. Lovely views Betsy.
I'm glad you had Thanksgiving visitors....so wonderful.
Is that your Son/granddaughters from TX??
XO
These are beautiful, Betsy! We didn't even notice the pullout for Chasm Falls, but probably wouldn't have taken the hike anyway. So it's nice of George to do the bushwacking for us so that we can see his pictures. :)
I love that shot of that sheep climbing those rocks!!
Oh Betsy, everything is just so beautiful. Am so glad the road was not closed.
Wonderful shot of the Bighorn Sheep. If I have the chance , hope to go there too
As often as we have been there, we never took that road beyond a place that we stayed on one of our visits. It is wonderful. That first mountain picture you showed looks like a watercolor. Wow! We enjoyed seeing more snow on the mountains when we were there in October too, but we didn't go back to the Rocky Mountain Natl. Park area this time.
Glad to see you were able to be with some of your family for Thanksgiving. Looks like it was a happy day.
Great pictures of the waterfalls and the Bighorn Sheep Happy you were able to spend some time with your family.
the sheep are too cool! some of these shots look like paintings. just beautiful!
I would have missed the rest of the trip because I would still be sitting there madly snapping those sheep.
When I visit you, I fell I have just had the most wonderful vacation. Your devotion to your family and travels is an inspiration to others. Glad you had a nice trip and back safely.
Nice photos Betsy and aren't those sheep amazing to watch!? I love the shots with the color of the trees and snow on the peaks. My faves!
Beautiful photos. I love the bighorn sheep. I am glad you had a great hoiliday. We were blessed to see our youngest grandson. He is growing so fast we really missed him.
Wonderful captures of a gorgeous park, amazing waterfalls and a beautiful, happy family!! Just doesn't get any better than that, Betsy!! Thanks for sharing it all with us! Have a wonderful week as we start the countdown to Christmas!!!
Picturesque sheep and stunning views and colours - life couldn't be any better than in these lovely shots!
I adore that photo of the white mountains with the yellow of the aspens in front. Gorgeous.
Glad you had a great Thanksgiving! I LOVE those bighorn sheep! How cool!
Somewhat envious as on both our trips to RMNP, Fall River Road hasn't yet been opened for the season. We have hiked up the closed road to Chasm Falls and yes, it is beautiful. Guess we'll just have to return one of these days. Still more hiking to be done there!!
Glad you had a lovely Thanksgiving with family. Also pleased for you that the Old Falls River Road was open with places to stop, marvel at the wonderful views as you went higher and then take that trail.
Beautiful pictures, Betsy. I've never been to that part of the country, and probably never will go.
Beautiful photos as always. You make me want to be there.
Fantastic pictures!! Gorgeous scenery! And I'm so happy yu were with your son and his family for Thanksgiving.
OH WOW, these are great! Love the bighorn sheep! Taking the road less traveled is great, except when it's raining, muddy, slick and scary. Looks like it was a-okay for you!
That's a gorgeous family photo Betsy with that backdrop - beautiful! What stunning scenery and of course waterfalls! The bighorn sheep are most intriguing - I wonder what classes them as a sheep and not a goat? They are so goat-like in looks.
x
Some of that scenery is so spectacular. I love those jagged peaks and then the Aspens with the snowy mountains in the background. It can't get much better than that.
All your pictures are fantastic.
Love the bighorn sheep climbing up the rocks. I would never have thought of them as sheep.
We have a herd that lives in the canyon below us (the Roubidoux) They are delightful to watch!
Linda
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what an awesome place.Love every pictures and your life Betsy:) You are an inspiration.
Gorgeous scenery Betsy and how cool spotting those big horn sheep.
Love the family shot at the end.
Looks like a great little drive Betsy.
Once again, beautiful images Betsy!!! But, what I can't understand is the shorts?!!!! I would've been freezing.
Glad to year you had a great Thanksgiving. We just returned, I'm gonna catch up on visitors before I post some of the trip photos. Three days in Texas Hill Country. Beautiful time of year.
Glad you had a good Thanksgiving !
We are going into a spring weather pattern with temperatures around 60 by the weekend, hope we don't pay for the nice weather later !! I've been getting out Christmas decorations and at these temps it feels funny putting up Christmas trees !!
Blessings
Marilyn
How thrilling to see those bighorn sheep!!! And the moss is so beautiful. I love how it hugs the rocks over the side. Glad you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that you got to spend it with family.
Beautiful photos, Betsy. I am glad you got to be with family on Thanksgiving. Sarah and Lo came here, but her daddy had to work.
Christmas our other daughter will come home!
Old Fall River Road is so amazing. Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos. It really is an adventure and not all the traffic to worry about.
Glad you had a good Thanksgiving.
Somebody here had a great Thanksgiving week! You looked like it anyway. Family. Traveling. And hubby - doesn't get better then that and I am so glad for you.
Those 'BIGHORN SHEEP' just amaze me.
Love, sandie
I love to live vicariously through your photos! So many beautiful pics - especially love the one of you with your family. You look great!!!
hugs from Michigan!
Shelley
Thanks for the virtual thanksgiving tour - how can one not give thanks!!!
Beautiful family photo! I really loved seeing the bighorn sheep and the gorgeous waterfall, too!
And that road, wow, are you two ever brave! What would you do if you ran across a big ole bear while hiking?
Have a great week!
Unpaved is my kind of road too, as I have told already. The bighorn sheep resemble our state animal Nilgiri Tahr, which also sighted near cliffs and a specific kind of grasses! The trail route seems wonderful and fascinating with cascade falls and snow view. I enjoyed all the pics Betsy; hope u had wonderful Thanksgiving holidays :)
Beautiful scenery. I'm glad you and George took the back roads. Thanks for sharing the gorgeous things you two saw.
As always my friend, beautiful shots and colour and great for get-2-gethers also.
Morning Betsy...
You sure have a beautiful family there. You and George are certainly Blessed. Absolutely breathtaking shots. I can almost smell the scenery in each of these photos.
Hope your day is great..it's cool here. Stay warm!
Shug
Dear Betsy, despite the differences in our lives, all of us have so much to be grateful for. I posted a video on my blog about gratitude that you might enjoy. It sums up for me the gratefulness with which I want to live.
Peace.
Hi Betsy, Glad you and family had a wonderful Thanksgiving together. Those falls are beautiful. My thanks for sharing your journeys.
Hugs
You have a beautiful family, Betsy!
I love Rocky Mountain National Park and I'll be excited to see more of it when I live in Colorado. It is gotrgeous in all seasons but autumn is especially beautiful!
My kind of road too Betsy. Such a lovely path through the trees.
Great shot of the sheep climbing on the rocks!
So glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family!
I had kids and grandkids for the better part of a week. It's a little too quiet now. :)
Really impressive how those sheep can climb those rocky cliffs! Great pictures, Betsy! What a lovely place to visit.
...glad you had a great time. Love those bighorns too!!! You all look so happy in your photo....beautiful!!
It is nice to see your kind of dirt road...looks like what I grew up with. Amazing is the right word for the sheep climbing like that
Beautiful views, I love those pine trees and how thrilling to see bighorn sheep! Great family picture, everyone looks so happy. :D
What beautiful views of the Colorado Rockies! You had great weather and very clear skies, and the waterfalls were beautiful, too.
Glad you were able to be with your son and family on Thanksgiving.
Those scenes are incredible! We're definitely going on that road if we ever go back out there!
AMAZING photos, Betsy! I remember seeing some incredible views in Colorado...sure would love to get back there! How wonderful you got to spend such a sweet Thanksgiving celebration with your son and his family! I am so happy for you! Ours was great too...at our daughter and SIL house with the grandson and SIL's brother and his two kids. It was VERY nice!
Very beautiful! That moss is just awesome. Nice family picture, too. Lots to be thankful for, for sure. Have a good evening and a nice week ahead.
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