Pretty much the second we left Colorado in 2015 we were already planning our next trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. We decided on the summer of 2016 and this time we planned to spend much more time in the park. To make this trip even better we added camping and some company.
A quick How To on booking campsites
We knew we wanted to camp on this trip and we also knew July in Rocky Mountain would be a very popular destination. First and foremost, we needed to secure a camping spot. Not knowing much about the different camping areas around the park, we took to the internet. There are quite a few options from the numerous campgrounds around the park and the ones located around Estes Park. We definitely wanted to stay inside the park. The number one website for finding your perfect camping spot is recreation.gov. This is where you can find all of the campgrounds in and around every park. If you want to camp in any state or national park this is your first stop. You can also go to nps.gov and get the same information; this site will redirect to rec.gov for booking. Some of my favorite features of this site are the photos and reviews. You can pick a specific spot in a campsite and oftentimes there will be a photo of that exact spot. This comes in handy if you travel with a larger vehicle or have a specific set up in mind. Being able to see the spot, you can visualize exactly what you will have. Almost all sites within a campground will have the same features but if there is a sharp turn or steep slope it may not work for you. Also, you can see how close you will be to the bathrooms. This is key. The site will also have all of the latest updates on closures and changes. Not every campground is available to reserve through the site but most will at least be listed. You can see how close or far certain sites are from the sites you want to see or trails you would like to hike. We use this site to book/find every campsite we use. After lots of searching we finally settled on a spot in Glacier Basin Campground. This is on the east side near Estes Park.
It is important to book early for really anytime of year; especially peak season, summer into fall. Late fall and winter may have more availability but more of the campgrounds will be closed and some are first come/first serve so you will need backups. We will talk more about this in a later blog.
Good friends make for good times
Like I said one of the changes we made this time, besides camping, was bringing along some company. Jake and I luckily have almost always had a friend or two in the Denver area. My best friend’s husband, boyfriend at the time, was working in the area and it made for a perfect getaway and opportunity for her to see him. We also had friends from high school who were living in an apartment near downtown. They were very accommodating and enjoyed showing us some new restaurants and areas we had not yet explored. Also, they are outdoorsy like us! This is so important as you will find out in a later blog. So Jake and I and my best friend loaded up into my mom’s jeep, which we borrowed for this trip, and headed to Colorado. Again, about a 12-13 hour drive.
Let’s try Pike’s Peak one more time
We had already been in Denver for a couple of days before we were going to the park but Jake and I had one more thing on our Colorado bucket list, Pike’s Peak. If you read the first blog post then you know this is not our first attempt. The first time we tried Pike’s there had been a huge snow storm the night before and we were only able to make it about half way up. With it being summer, we knew this would not be an issue. Jake and I took some time and drove to Colorado Spring’s to make the trek. As was the case before, the journey up to the top is just beautiful. There are plenty of opportunities for scenic lookouts and pull offs on the way up. Also, once you get to the top there is a cute shop with souvenirs and treats. You get a 360 degree view from the top and every angle offers something different. There are plenty of mountains, valleys, and miles of open space. While, we loved this experience and the journey I cannot say we will go out of our way to visit Pike’s on very trip. It does take some time and we enjoy exploring new areas. That being said, if you have never been it is a must see.
Estes Park
We grabbed our friends and all of our camping supplies and made a bee-line for the mountains. Now, I don’t think we really touched on all the wonder that is Estes Park in our last post. After miles and miles of windy wilderness you turn the corner on a little piece of mountain paradise.
First things first, shopping. Estes park has everything you need, grocery store, outdoor supplies, restaurants, cabins, campgrounds, and much more. We usually go to the SafeWay in town to load up on food. Things are a little more expensive but really not too bad. Anyway, we made it to the campground and, y’all, it was gorgeous! I would try to describe but I think only pictures could do it any justice. If you are planning to camp inside RMNP I would highly recommend this campground. We have camped in two other sites around the park that were also amazing and we will provide photos and info on those in later blog posts.
Campfires and Altitude Sickness
We got to the campsite pretty late so all we really had time for was setting up, dinner, and a few drinks by the fire. Jake and I have had the same Wenzel tent for about 7 years and we absolutely love it, it is kind of big for us two but it allows for multiple couples or separate sides for items that get dirty (I will put a link to our tent in the specifics below). On this trip we also brought an air mattress….we used to be high maintenance. While air mattresses sleep great, they are pretty bulky and take some time to inflate. Most campsites in this area come with bear boxes, use them. These keep your food and supplies safe from wildlife and dry. I also feel that I should share my personal experience with altitude sickness. This was not something that I had encountered on our last trip and honestly this is the worst I have ever had it. In my non-medical opinion I believe it was because in one day I did Pike’s Peak and then sat in a car for about 4 hours and went back up to elevation. Long story short, I’m not sure if it was the nap, the water, the non-USDA backed altitude sickness pills from SafeWay, or the beer, but something made me feel a lot better. I’m sure you’ve heard but if you are not used to altitude, drink lots of water and take frequent breaks from lots of movement. Once you feel sick, the only thing that will make you feel better is to get to a lower altitude. The first night we had campfire hot dogs, my personal fav, and sat under the stars, also my fav.
We weren’t ready for the hike
On our first full day we did a 12 mile hike that included Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, and Lake Haiyaha. We also added on Alberta Falls. This hike was absolutely beautiful and we had actually done a portion of it on our first trip. Seeing this in a different season with no snow was surreal. We realized how deep the snow really was and we had actually walked straight over frozen lakes. Most of this hike is listed as difficult and strenuous, the heat did not help. Also, Jake decided to bring a heavy camera and that is not what you want on these trips. Our iPhone cameras since this trip have been more than enough to get some good shots. We did make frequent stops for lunch and snacks and just looking at the scenery. However, most of us were exhausted by the end and did not want to think about another day of this. Tips: wear layers, pack light, and bring plenty of water.
A good mountain storm
A nice storm rolled in as we were going and we ended up getting almost caught in it. We probably ran the last 2 miles back down the mountain. Which was fine because going down is much easier than going up. We barely made it back before the thunder and lightning hit. Something to note, storms in the mountains come fast and without warning. Four of us climbed into Jake and I’s big tent to play cards and drink wine while it poured around us. The other two ran into town to grab dinner. While not ideal, I had so much fun playing cards in the mountain rain with my friends and our tent held up wonderfully.
The storm gave way to a clear night of dinner around the fire and more star-gazing. It’s safe to say we all slept great that night and enjoyed a big pancake breakfast the next morning. We decided to just do some driving around the park the next day since we were still pretty tired, before we headed back to Denver.
Nothing cures the leaving Denver blues like Whiskey
When we got back to our friends apartment, besides a shower, we thought drinks were in order. The boys really enjoy Whiskey so we found a tour available at Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey. This tour was great and gave way to the single best photo of me and my best friend.
Seriously, if you are looking for something to do in the Denver area, put Stranahan’s on your list. They give lots of samples. Besides Rocky Mountain this was a big highlight of the trip.
Debrief
- Book your campsites early! Like, as soon as you know you are going, or six months in advance.
- Wear/pack layers. Summertime in the mountains brings a variety of temps and as you hike up a mountain it will get chilly.
- We will say this on every post, do not overpack. Especially when hiking, you do not want to travel with 12 lbs of camera and other items you will not use on your back.
- WATER. Have at least two liters of water per person or one liter per two hours of hiking. I suggest investing in a large water bottle and maybe a camelback. We usually travel with one of each.
- How to avoid altitude sickness. If you are not used to altitude you most likely will get at least light headed at some point. This can also cause nausea and stomach sickness. Drink lots of water, do not over exert yourself, and if you are sick move to a lower altitude.
- Plan your hikes ahead of time. Mainly you will want to know what to be prepared for and make sure you do not over or under-pack.
Specifics
Campsite: Glacier Basin
Our Tent: https://wenzelco.com/pine-ridge-5/
Places Visited:
- Pike’s Peak
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Alberta Falls
- Dream Lake
- Emerald Lake
- Lake Haiyaha
- Estes Park
- Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey
Must Dos:
- Denver in general is a must do, plenty of awesome restaurants and great places to check out.
- If you can’t make the trip all the way up to Lake Haiyaha, which you should, but if not at least do to Emerald Lake. Jake and I visit this trail every time we go and never regret it.
- We honestly recommend this entire trip, maybe just split up the hiking a bit.
Again, we learned a lot on this trip and this set us up for our first real test the Utah Mighty Five!
OFF THE CLOCK CAMPERS 