Timing is key. To this point all of Rocky Mountain National Park had been open and this included Trail Ridge Road which run the length of the park along part of the Rockies’ spine. As I pulled in to Estes Park after a long day it started to rain. By morning Trail Ridge Road was closed for the season as the roads were impassible due to snow. Timing is key.
What to do?
Thankfully there were still many options; snow at the lower elevations had melted. I had long planned to hike to burn off energy after so many days behind the wheel. Back home I had researched this outing and selected a 9+ mile hike which would take me to six lakes. An overview of the area can be seen here; I visited Bear, Dream, Emerald, Haiyaha, Mills and Jewel lakes and in that order. It turned out to be a simply glorious day for hiking and in the Rockies no less! Timing is key.
The next day a snow storm hit. 
Time to leave but not without driving around and taking in a bit more of the Park. Winters must be harsh here but skiing for the Boulder and Denver areas must be magnificent and easily accessible. I came away with that sense of awe so common to National Park visits. I’ll be back.
Rocky Mountains National Park
Natural beauty was everywhere. I especially loved the mixture of lakes and mountains and trees with just a frosting of snowy weather. Fortunate was I to have such a beautiful day in October.
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