We had planned on doing the Beaver Mountain Trail a month or two ago, but the road to the trailhead was gated due to the snowpack.
We decided to camp in the Park to test our systems before summer hits, and scored a sweet spot in the Moraine Park Campground. It’s impossible to get a campsite in high season, let alone one like this.
Deer,elk, moose, turkeys, everybody showed up for our morning walks.
Speaking of everyone showing up, the Beaver Mountain Trail had the highest concentration of wildlife of any trail we’ve been on, with all of the afore mentioned critters minus the moose.
This area was closed after the Cameron Peak Fire, and roughly a third of the trail goes through burn scar – blackened trees everywhere, but the ground cover is slowly starting to green back up where the ash isn’t too deep.
Because it’s out of the way of the popular hikes, we only saw two other people the entire loop, but that’s part of the attraction – you can be in the Park on a busy, beautiful day, and still find peace and solitude.
Sweet Spot Scored
Good luck getting ANY campsite in Rocky Mountain National Park during high season, let alone a sweet spot like this in the Moraine Park Campground.
Young Bull Elk
You know it’s going to be a good hike when there’s a huge amount of wildlife all along the trail.
Chilling Out
Like I said, lots and lots of wildlife everywhere.
No Horses
Seriously – who has a llama that they bring hiking?
Tiger Stripes
This tiger stripe tree is really cool in the burn zone, and the only one we saw like it.
Closer, Tiger
A closeup of the ash patches making up the tiger stripes.
Cute and Cuddly
These ground squirrels are a pain around campsites, but very cute when they’re in the woods.
Mountain Life
It’s a rough life living at altitude… And only the strong survive.
Below the Peak
Returning to the trailhead along Beaver Brook, you’re treated to beautiful views of Longs Peak, Mount Lady Washington, and Battle Mountain.
