I mean, it looked like a trail!!!
We drove up through Estes Park to the Rocky Mountain National Park today. We were determined to go on a hike. We used to hike quite a bit but as time has gone on – not so much, so we wanted an “easy” hike no more than 3 miles to get back to it.
The one we picked was the hike to Gem Lake. It was family friendly, easy and apparently VERY popular. (ED. NOTE – People and their kids, man, whatcha gonna do?!?!?!) By the time we got through the gates, stopped at the Visitor’s Center to get directions, the parking lot was full and we were told not to park on the road. I was ok with chancing it (for a change) but the hubs was not. (ED. NOTE – Yes, this was a weird role reversal!!)
We decided to drive on to another hike – Alberta Falls. On the way to the Bear Lake trailhead, we pulled off on at a small parking area to see what was there and could hear water rushing nearby. (ED. NOTE – We stopped at the Glacier Gorge lookout!) There was a wobbly wooden rail fence with a sign that said “Don’t get too close to cliff edge” (ED. NOTE – Which is smart if you think about it because if you leaned on the railing you would fall over the edge!!!) and we could see a trail heading down one side and decided to follow it. It was a skinny, downhill, over rocks trail but did lead down to the creek below. 
It was beautiful, as all of the areas near water seem to be here 😊. The hubs decided the trail went off by the creek and started off. I followed slowly because I wasn’t sure this was actually a trail. 
When he jumped over a rock inches from the river, I decided it was time to turn around. We walked back to the bottom of the original trail and the hubs decided the trail went off that way – again, BARELY a trail. It led away from the river but through the woods. It was quiet and isolated but we discovered poop – elk poop! (ED. NOTE – So, technically I was right, it was a trail, an animal trail!!!)
There was TONS of it – some dried and some fresh! I thought it was pretty exciting – again, small, unusual things excite me! Finally, we decided that what we were following was an animal trail not a people trail, so we turned around and climbed back up to the parking area. This was only about half a mile but seriously uphill and downhill climbing. My legs were tired…
Alberta Falls!!!
We drove on until we came to the Bear Lake trailhead parking lot which is where several trail heads started. There was a small ranger station and bathrooms and a lot of people. (ED. NOTE – The signs kept saying the lot was full. It was not, but thank you, National Park Service, for scaring the other folks off!!!) We headed off to Alberta Falls. This is one of the more popular hikes in the park. The falls are named after Alberta Sprague, the wife of one of the original settlers in the area, Abner Sprague, who was the first visitor to pay an entrance fee at Rocky Mountain National Park in 1939.
Like being in a fairy glade!!!
It is at an elevation of 9240 feet and around 1 ½ miles. As we followed the trail, other trails would break off so it didn’t seem as crowded as it could have. The trail had steps (I believe that’s why it qualified as “easy”) and was pretty wide which was good for letting those faster pass by. However, the trail has an elevation gain of 200 feet. I know that doesn’t sound like much but for us “not-in-great-shape mid-50 year-olds” it was pretty tough. (ED. NOTE – It was fine – nobody passed out!!!!) (There WAS a lot of heavy breathing though!)
The views surrounding us made it all worth it! The forest was lovely. We walked through a gorgeous stand of aspen trees – it was like being in fairyland! We could hear the water as we got closer to the falls and it did become more crowded. There were large boulders to climb up to get closer to the falls and I was so happy I had worn my trusty 30 year-old Vasque hiking boots. (They still fit great, are comfy, grip really well and have an ok tread left.) The top of the falls was beautiful and loud and we were happy to have made it to the top.
What goes up must come down!!!!
You’d think the way to the falls was all uphill and we’d only have downhill on the way back but it didn’t work that way – up and down both ways. We took a little breather on the way back by turning down a trail heading to a bridge over the Glacier Creek. We were standing in the middle of the bridge looking at the creek when the hubs looked off to the other side and spotted an elk. We moved over to get a better view and it just continued to munch on grass. Talk about some up close animal watching! 
It’s the DollyWorld of Rocky Mountain!!!
We left and went back through Estes Park. By then the people were out in droves! It reminds me of Gatlinburg, TN. 
I mean, there are wild animals there!!!
Unfortunately, but understandably, pets are not allowed on the trails in the Rocky Mountain National Park. So, after we got back from Alberta Falls, we took Alice and Rosie for a walk around Lake Loveland. (ED. NOTE – If the Alberta Falls hike was that hard we wouldn’t have been able to do this!!) The lake sits in the middle of town and we pass it anytime we come into town. It’s big enough for boats and fishing. There is a small beach area for swimming.
And now, perchance to dream!!
Needless to say, we took some naproxen before hitting the sack in anticipation of the soreness!