Tuesday, June 4, 2019, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO

We headed into Estes Park, CO, today. There are two entries into Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes, but first, we spent a little time at the welcome center and walking around a few of the shops. There was a nice, dog-friendly trail along Big Thompson River and lots of art on display - some of it was interactive.

Traffic was somewhat hampered as they were repaving Elkhorn Ave (highway 36). Joani had planned on entering the park by way of the Fall River Entrance but some driver error and the paving detour led us into the park through the Beaver Meadows Entrance. Both roads join inside the park and we didn't miss anything we had planned to see.

Beaver Meadows Visitors Center

Cyanocitta stelleri, Steller's Jay

Trail Ridge Road was closed at Rainbow Curve since all of the snow had not yet been removed at the higher elevations. We had to wait for a parking spot to open up at the Rainbow Curve Overlook and the Rangers did a great job of managing the traffic. Once we were parked, we were free to hike along the road beyond the barrier. We didn't go far since I was in a T-shirt and shorts and the wind was cold! It also did not help that we were hiking uphill at 10,800 feet above sea level and the air was a bit thin. We were wimps!

This might be Mummy Mountain.

David is so good about doing this service and people are so appreciative. I bet he has done it a hundred times across the country.

Sam had no interest in the snow - he did not want to touch it, lick it or step in it. I think that look was asking why we didn't just leave him in the car.

He did take joy in licking the melter water running along the side of the road.

I believe we were seeing Ypsilon Mountain (left) and Mummy Mountain (center) in the distance.

I heard some insistent chattering in the rocks above the roadway. It took a while but I finally spotted this little Pika.

Nucifraga columbiana, Clark's Nutcracker

As we headed back down Trail Ridge Road, we took a left at Deer Ridge Junction. 

That lead us out of the park by way of the Fall River Entrance. On the way, we passed Sheep Lakes where we watched a sizable herd of Elk for a while before heading home for the evening.