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<\/a><\/p>\nThese small meadows seemed large to me, but the HUGE meadow we saw at the end of the trail was quite impressive.\u00a0 The picture doesn’t do it justice!<\/p>\n
I brought my binoculars hoping to see some wildlife in the meadow, but nada.\u00a0 We saw a game trail leading into the meadow, so we decided to walk along it, and found our first evidence of wildlife…..this dead elk. \ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n I didn’t get too close.\u00a0 We ended up reporting it to a Park Ranger later that day, and he seemed very interested in checking it out (he even pulled out a notebook and took notes!).\u00a0 He asked us if we might know the cause of death, but my National Park CSI badge is no longer valid, so I didn’t offer my insight.<\/p>\n The west side of the park is not the most exciting, as it doesn’t have the elevation of the rest of the park, sitting at around 8800 feet.\u00a0 The road heading up to the higher portions of the park is a fun one though, with several hairpin turns!\u00a0 As you near the top there is a pull out with incredible views of the Gore Range towards the west.<\/p>\n From there you cross the Continental Divide (at 10,759 feet), and then continue climbing!\u00a0 The road that leads to Estes Park on the east side of the park (Trail Ridge Road) is really something else.\u00a0 You truly feel like you are on top of the world!\u00a0 It’s hard to believe this road was originally built in the 1930’s.\u00a0 Here are some stock photos, as I was too busy driving to take my own pictures.<\/p>\n There are various pull outs (some with short hikes) along the way.\u00a0 I remember this one from a past visit as we hiked out to a lookout over the adjacent valley, and there were a ton of people who ignored the “stay on the trail” signs.\u00a0 I guess they finally had to shut it down.\u00a0 The high altitude tundra can be destroyed so easily, and takes years to recuperate from idiots.\u00a0 It’s truly sad that trails need to be closed due to their actions.<\/p>\n The next pull out turned out to be pretty interesting due to about a dozen elk in a meadow far below….all of them alive no less!\u00a0 Make sure you bring binoculars.\u00a0 Unfortunately they were too far away to get a photo.\u00a0 The pull out spot is pretty stunning regardless, being well above the tree line.<\/p>\n At the highest point on the road is a paved trail that leads through the delicate tundra at 12,300 feet.\u00a0\u00a0 This is the Tundra Communities Trail.\u00a0 It’s a short 1 mile hike, but at this elevation it can be pretty taxing if you aren’t acclimated.\u00a0 At this elevation you only get 35% of the oxygen you get at sea level.<\/p>\n There are interpretive signs all along the trail, which gives you a good reason to stop and catch your breath.\u00a0 It’s prettier in summer when the wildflowers are blooming, but regardless of the time of year the stark nature of this landscape is interesting.<\/p>\n The below picture is Mushroom Rocks, where the darker rocks on top are eroding more slowly than the lighter rock.<\/p>\n The view from behind Mushroom Rocks.<\/p>\n Driving down the east side of Trail Ridge Road leads to more incredible views.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n