Many who don’t live in Colorado are scared of winter in this part of the country. Don’t be! Yes, we can get some snow, but it’s winter! Snow should happen! A bonus?: in winter, timed entry passes are not required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park. Here are some of our winter drives and walks.
December 25, 2023—A Winter Drive
We wished for a white Christmas and we got it! On Christmas Day, we hopped in the car and headed toward Evergreen just to get out of the house. A dusting of snow made the red rocks on either side of CO-58 pop. Before we could turn toward Evergreen on a county road, we noticed the layer of unplowed snow on the road and decided to abort mission. We jumped back on I-70 and headed to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. As soon as we turned off the highway, the roads got a bit tricky. We made a quick photo stop at Dinosaur Ridge, across from Red Rocks and turned around, jumping back on I-70, headed home. Even if we had to shorten our trip, it was wonderful to feast our eyes on the rugged scenery, softened by snow, and brightened by abundant sunshine.
December 27, 2023—A Winter Walk
Like I tell many of my friends who live in the South, usually on the Front Range, the sun comes up and melts the snow within a few days. Two days from our white Christmas, we basked in the sunshine as we took a long walk along the greenway to one of our favorite respite and refreshments spots, Colorado Tap House.
We walked past giant cottonwoods, under wispy clouds floating on blue sky, toward the mountains. Pairs of ducks bobbed gently over the cold and clear waters of Ralston Creek. A red-tailed hawk watched the open field, looking for scurrying snacks. Farther along the path, pine trees delighted passers by with their aroma and Christmas ornaments hung by neighbors. Happy dogs and their owners passed by—some just asking to be pet (the dogs, not the owners).
At the Tap House, we picked a sunny spot on the patio and savored a hearty Porter before heading back home.
December 28, 2023—A Winter Day in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)
Estes Park is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Although a bit touristy, I love this little town. It has quite a few things to offer to visitors. If you are coming in on US-36W, as soon as you pass the Estes Park rock welcome sign (a mandatory stop for selfies, although not offering the best view of the town), you come into town by Lake Estes (look up: often there are bald eagles perched on the utility poles). The Stanley Hotel (known for being the home of creepy ghosts from The Shining), is a beautiful historic hotel with an inviting front porch, ripe for relaxation. Behind the hotel, you can spot ancient rock formations named “little lumps” by the Arapahoe, and also known as Twin Owls, a rock climber’s delight. If you’re more like me, and enjoy walking rather than climbing, the riverwalk (along Big Thompson and Fall River) is a must-do. Of course, there are ample opportunities to shop and dine.
We parked behind the library and walked across to Alteatude, a tea and boba place, newly owned by a very sweet couple. Hot coffee warming our hands and souls, we walked out the back door and along the partially frozen river.
Next, we headed into RMNP. We didn’t need a timed entry pass but we made use of our America the Beautiful park pass (which I highly recommend having, especially if you know you’ll visit more than one park per year or enter one park more than once).
Along Hwy 34, we stopped to take plenty of photos of the snowcapped giants (several 13-eeners and one 14-eener, Longs Peak). We didn’t run into too many tourists, so that was a plus.
There are several popular lakes along Hwy 34, including Bear Lake (always crawling with tourists). We decided to visit Sprague Lake this time. Located on the south side of Glacier Creek, the lake features a long boardwalk and views of Flattop Mountain and Hallet Peak. The lake was mostly frozen, and I ventured on its solid surface for a few photos, while David was trying to find a parking spot, unsuccessfully. I didn’t stay long, snapped some photos, then met David just as he was coming around the corner, ready to head out and away from the crowds.
As we rounded a bend in the road, a shadow caught my eye: a beautiful elk was lounging under a patch of evergreens, while several elk cows were quietly grazing on the slope nearby—a classic RMNP scene.
Back in Estes Park, we looked for a place to have dinner. We both had a hankering for a juicy bison burger, so we settled on Elevations Eatery and Bar. Although I wouldn’t give it a 10, the classic bison burger was a solid 8—and we wolfed ours down without objection.
The walk back to the car was brisk, as the sun was going down. And speaking of that, the sunset was brilliant over the Rockies!
January 16, 2024—New Year, Fresh Snow
Shortly after the New Year, the polar vortex reached into the U.S., Colorado being no exception. We welcomed the snow but not the bitter cold (a low of -9F/-23C brr). Luckily, within a few days, the warm weather returned (40s and 50sF), and we were able to be outside once again, enjoying the sunshine, along with a couple of glowing sunsets and sunrises.
