Worth the Hike

Emerald Lake is a magnificent glacial lake at the base of Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak. Still chilly in June, the hike was obscured in some places by snow and ice.

A moderate 3.8 mile round trip hike, the elevation at the Bear Lake trail-head is 9,500' and this point is approximately 10,100'. For those not acclimated to the elevation, it will take about 4-5 hours to hike the trail, take pictures, and enjoy the scenery. Take plenty of water, some snacks, and wear layers.

This image is a composite of nine photographs, capturing the natural green color of the water, as well as the late afternoon sun behind the clouds. If you get a chance to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, I highly recommend this hike!

Dividing the Nation

Hallett Peak sits on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, on the Continental Divide.

This view, from Emerald Lake on the eastern side of the mountain shows the prominent cliff face, cut by Tyndal Glacier and Tyndal Creek, which feeds both Emerald and Dream Lake before cutting Tyndal Gorge and flowing through Glacier Gorge to join Glacier Creek.

Hiking to this point from the Bear Lake Trailhead is not difficult, provided you are acclimated to the elevation (I wasn't on this, my first day in Rocky Mountain National Park). After the 3.1-mile hike and we were back in our vehicle, both my wife and I admitted to each other we were smoked about 1/4 mile in, but didn't want to admit it to each other, so kept on going.

Just be prepared that even in early June there is still considerable snow on the trail, and by mid-day it's very slushy and difficult to traverse in normal hiking boots. But, as you can see, the payoff at the end of the hike is well worth the effort.

This panorama is a composite of 53 images, and has exquisite detail up close, showing Tyndal Creek falling through the trees, and all the detail of the rocks, ice, and trees.

Golden Hour in the Rocky Mountains

From this vantage on the Emerald Lake Trail, the Front Range summits of Long's Peak and Half Mountain appear orange in the late evening sun. While the forest below begins to quickly transition toward blue hour.

Emerald Lake is a magnificent location in Rocky Mountain National Park with a well-maintained trail from the Bear Lake Trailhead, that passes both Nymph Lake and Dream Lake and meanders along the Tyndall Creek, as seen here.

Even on the first of June (when this image was taken), daytime high temperatures were in the mid-50s at these elevations (around 9900'), which was comfortable for the hike, but became chilly as the sun lowered and darkness set in.

Chasm Falls

The name is self-explanatory. The location, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), Colorado.

Just about a mile and a half up Old Fall River Road, the first motor route across RMNP, this 25' waterfall steadily cuts granite, creating a path for the annual glacial runoff during the spring and summer months. This is near the transition between the Montane (5,500'- 9,500') and Subalpine (9,000'-11,500') zones, an area rich in animal and plant life that can survive in either zone.

When this image was taken, in early June, the road (still unpaved since it was built in 1920) was still closed due to snow at higher elevations. Chasm Falls is a nice hike from a picnic area at the start of the road.

Mushrooms in Thin Air

Mushroom Rocks alongside the Toll Memorial Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park.

At roughly 12,200' in elevation, there's about 35% less oxygen in the air than at sea level. This is the alpine tundra, which has rich soils and dense sedge/grass turf, which provides food for the few animals that live here year-round - marmots, pikas, ptarmigans. Although this was June 3, there was no frost on the tundra. The summer here is very brief, about 40 days long, and the area spends about 5 months of the year in temperatures below freezing.

This rock formation is nearly half a mile from the trailhead. The rock to the right of the frame is about 10-12' tall. The panoramic view of the surrounding Rocky Mountains is worth the short hike from the parking lot.