Seeing some meese (yes I know, that’s not actually the
plural of moose) has been on my outdoorsy bucket list for well over a year. It
first started when I went to work an event in Vermont and realized that was
prime meesey habitat. After leaving Vermont without seeing so much as a
squirrel, I shelved my moose ambitions and thought I’d wait until next year.
Until I moved to Colorado. Seeing moose was now a real
possibility again, and when my boyfriend returned from REI with a trail that all
but guaranteed a moose sighting, I was thrilled. We were going camping for the
weekend just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, and the lovely volunteer
at REI had pointed out a few trails just inside the park that were extremely meesey.
After breaking camp at Shadow Mountain Reservoir (learn more about the campground here), we headed into the park for the day with our fingers crossed to hopefully
spot a moose. I have a slight huge obsession with animals, so I was on
the edge of my seat with my head swiveling around in hot pursuit of a moose.
And then I saw him. At first, I thought it was a large horse, but upon
realizing it had antlers and was most definitely a moose, I let out a
high-pitched shriek for my boyfriend to pull over. His ear drums were a necessary casualty. It was a REAL. LIVE. MOOSE.
Ultimately, we ended up seeing five moose all from the
safety of our car – except for the last one that came casually charging out of
the woods just as I stepped out of the car to look at a moose I thought was
far away. If seeing moose is high on your to-do list while you live in or visit
Colorado, than you don’t really even have to go looking for them – just watch
for the herd of stopped tourists!
We entered on the west side of the park in Grand Lake, CO,
off of Route 34. The drive is gorgeous and a pretty easy two hour drive from
Denver, especially if you incorporate camping into your weekend (which I highly
recommend!). We explored the Kawuneeche Valley area, which offers a
ton of great trails and obviously great moose watching! Most people enter the park on the eastern side in Estes Park, but Grand Lake and the western entrance are equally convenient and definitely worth seeing.
To find the secret moose trail our REI friend recommended, continue
approximately four miles into the park. After passing the Onahu trailhead on
the right, there will be an unmarked dirt road to the left. Turn left and you
will find a small parking lot right on the bank of the Colorado River. The
trail goes off to the left over the river (there is a bridge, don’t worry) and
continues west towards the mountains. The volunteer at REI says he has never
taken that trail without seeing moose, so if you want to do some exploring, go
for it! One thing - when you get to the fork in the trail early on, continue straight. Going to the right takes you to someone's private residence (whoops!).
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| In the off chance you don't see any meese, you've got these awesome views! |
We had our sights set on some other trails since we had
encountered a moose before even getting to this spot, so we walked around
briefly before heading farther into the park. Keep in mind that moose can
become aggressive without much warning, so if you ever run into one in the
wild, get a safe distance from it as quickly as possible. They can cover ground
at the speed of a galloping horse, so do not get close to them! For more moose
safety tips, go here.
We did a little trail-hopping for the rest of the morning
and afternoon, which was a blast! We attempted to reach the Alpine Visitor
Center, but the drive up (VERY high up, few guardrails, lots of wind) proved to
be too daunting. We did get out of the car to take in the vista and immediately realized that being above the treeline would not make for a very fun hike. It was freezing and extremely windy, although
very beautiful. If you’re not big into heights, this is fair warning
that the drive gets very intimidating once you’re through Milner Pass.
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| Officially in the Alpine Tundra |
Milner Pass does serve as an excellent place to stop,
though, especially if you want to see some Bighorn Sheep! We only spotted them
from far away, but it was very cool to watch them come right down the extremely
steep embankment that was still covered in snow. Yes, snow in June! Milner Pass
is also special in the fact that it is located on the Continental Divide,
which makes for a great photo op. Hiking around the area was still difficult
even though it’s almost July, with much of the trail still covered in snow. It’s
a lot of effort for not a lot of views, so I would suggest stopping to see the
Bighorn Sheep and moving back down to one of the trails you pass on the way up
(also north).
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| Photo Op! Yes, that's snow behind me. |
Irene Lake is a great little trail that is just below Milner
Pass. The lake is small, but I can never get enough of mountain
lakes regardless of size. This trail could be challenging for some, since it is uphill on the way
back (although this could mean it goes down to something cool!). We did a quick taste test of this trail and then decided to try out the
Colorado River Trail since we were determined to see the river after getting a sneak peek on the meese trail. Quick FYI - it gets a LOT warmer in this area. After hiking all bundled up like you see in the above picture, we stripped down to shorts and t-shirts and were still sweating! It was also right around noon by that time, but regardless it will always be warmer since it's lower elevation and less exposed.
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| On the banks of the 'Rado River! |
Despite the very steep grade when you first begin, the
Colorado River trail is still relatively easy. You follow the river for part of
it and there are several stopping points at varying distances. We almost made
it the Shipler Cabins, which is 2.3 miles one way. If you’re up for a
big hike (keep in mind you’re at 8,000-10,000 feet), the trail that goes to
Lulu City (an old mine) and through Little Yellowstone is supposed to be
stunning. It is definitely on our to-do list for the next trip!
If you just want to do a couple miles, you’ll still get plenty
of bang for your buck. You go through a gorgeous clearing, have plenty of views
of the surrounding peaks and forest, and an up-close and personal look at the
Colorado River.
On all the trails I've mentioned, keep in mind you need LOTS of water as you’re hiking at
elevation, so make sure to pack plenty and bring a few gallons with you to stay
on the safe side. All of the trailheads do have vault toilets (better than just
a port-o-potty, but still no flushing).
You will also see plenty of elk in addition to some regular
deer (deer are so boring at this point!) while enjoying some of the best
scenery Colorado has to offer. There are also plenty of short, easy trails like
the Adams Falls Trail in Grand Lake (you hike into the park), so there is
really something for everyone in the area. The trails are very well-maintained
and usually nice and wide, but this is a place that will definitely make you
appreciate a good pair of hiking boots (learn how to pick out your first pair
here).
To get into the park, you do have to pay a fee, but remember
that these fees are what make this and the rest of our fantastic national parks
possible! Fees pay for up-keep and improvement of the park, and I have
absolutely no problem with giving parks my money.
A day pass is $20 and is good for seven days, but an annual
pass is only $40, which is really the better deal. If you see a lot of national
parks in your future, I would also suggest shelling out the $80 for an America
the Beautiful pass. This gets you into any national park in the country for an
entire year. It’s also free for active duty military and only $10 for a
lifetime pass for senior citizens (62 and over).
Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park is an experience I
recommend to everyone, regardless of whether you live in Colorado or just plan to
visit one day. You will be hard-pressed to find better scenery or wildlife
spotting, and there are nearly endless amounts of trails to explore – the ones
I talked about are only a small part of this massive park. I look forward to
working my way through the rest of the park – hopefully I’ll see you out there!
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| Is it still creepy to take pictures of people from behind if you know them? |
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