Estes Park, ColoradoRocky Mountain National Park
September 22, 2008
Estes Park, Colorado, in the Rocky Mountains, our last destination prior to boarding the California Zephyr again for our final leg of the trip, was truly the icing on the cake. We had made the Montana Rockies our first stop on our Western Adventure, and we are now making the Colorado Rockies the last place for our final days of viewing fantastic scenery. Less than a two hour drive from Denver, the town of Estes Park, at the entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park, was our destination. 
Bristlecone Inn, the bed and breakfast we were heading for is known as “Estes Park’s newest historical treasure.” Built in 1909 and recently restored to its former grandeur, the inn features craftsman style furniture. After checking into the inn, we set out into the park—a pristine playground for elk and mule deer as well as hundreds of other wild animals and birds.
Bristlecone Inn, the bed and breakfast we were heading for is known as “Estes Park’s newest historical treasure.” Built in 1909 and recently restored to its former grandeur, the inn features craftsman style furniture. After checking into the inn, we set out into the park—a pristine playground for elk and mule deer as well as hundreds of other wild animals and birds. 
We had less than a half day to begin our explorations of the Rocky Mountains, where we found towering snow-capped peaks, more trees than you can imagine, water cascading over rocks in rivers and streams, shimmering lakes, bright yellow aspens, glacier-carved valleys—many of which you will view in our photos. 
After asking advice from a park ranger, we 
planned time to take a drive to Bear Lake—not only for the lake itself, but for what we might see along the way.
planned time to take a drive to Bear Lake—not only for the lake itself, but for what we might see along the way.
Often to see various natural 
attractions one must 
attractions one must 
hike long distances on steep or rocky trails. What a surprise to find that Bear Lake could first be viewed after walking only 256 feet from the parking lot! The views across the lake were spectacular! We could have stayed there for hours. The changing golden colors of the aspens added variety to the panorama. 
Being in a national park, one never knows which wild animals might be around the next curve in the road. When we were in Glacier National Park earlier in the month, we came upon a grizzly bear; in this case it was elk—sometimes alone and sometimes in a herd.
Being in a national park, one never knows which wild animals might be around the next curve in the road. When we were in Glacier National Park earlier in the month, we came upon a grizzly bear; in this case it was elk—sometimes alone and sometimes in a herd.
Judy was taking the photos, and one time she came running back to the car when a bull elk turned aggressive.
He pawed the ground and snorted…not good signs for the photographers. We missed a photo, though, when two bulls quickly locked horns in quite a show of strength. An interesting phenomenon that we witnessed was the bugling sounds that bulls were making as they communicated with each other. Near sunset we were able to photograph the two highest mountains—Long’s Peak at 14,259 feet high and Storm Peak at 13,326 feet.
We departed the park as evening fell, continuing to stop to view the elk herds in the meadows along the road. We can hardly wait to spend the entire day in the park tomorrow!
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