Alpine Ridge Trail - 12,005'

We knew ahead of time that one day just wouldn't be enough in this, one of America's premier National Parks. We arrived early and entered the park from its quieter west side. We followed the Trail Ridge Road across the park stopping as much as time allowed to take in all the beauty. We made two short hikes along the way...one short walk near the Alpine Visitors Center and another mile hike along the Tundra Communities Trail. The weather was a constant threat as dark clouds were billowing overhead already before noon. We were originally hoping to head back across the park again on our way home but thunder and lightning were seen over the higher peaks as we reached the east side at Estes Park. We decided to call it a day but were hardly disappointed, what a day it had been...

Route Type: Out-and-back

Difficulty: EASY (Petzoldt Rating: 2.00 )

Mileage Hiked: 1.5 miles

Min. Elevation: 12,000'

Max Elevation: 12,355'

Trails Used (blaze color): Alpine Ridge (unblazed), Tundra Communities (unblazed)

7-1-2008

Rocky Mountain National Park (1.5 miles; d=2.00)

Rocky Mountain National Park "Hikes" Route Map
The approximate tracks of our two short walks, along the Tundra Communities and Alipe Ridge Trails, at Rocky Mountain National Park...
Rocky Mountain National Park Boundary - 8,500'
The western entrance to the park, just north of Grand Lake...
Grand Lake Entrance - 8,700'
You actually get a ways inside the park before you get the nice welcome sign...
Kawuneeche Valley - 8,850'
I believe this mountain is known as Mineral Point (11,488'). This is looking west from the Kawuneeche Valley...
Kawuneeche Valley - 9,350'
Looking back down the Kawuneeche Valley as the Trail Ridge Road starts to climb...
Trail Ridge Road - 9,600'
The road got increasingly twisty as we climb out of the valley towards Fairview Curve...
Fairview Curve - 10,120'
The Never Summer Mountains from Fairview Curve. The peaks here reach elevations just shy of 13,000 feet...
Fairview Curve - 10,120'
False Lupine lined the parking area at Fairview Curve...
Fairview Curve - 10,120'
Looking through the trees at the Never Summer Mountains from Fairview Curve...
Never Summer Mountains from Fairview Curve - 10,120'
The Never Summer Mountains. From left to right are Red Mountain (11,605'), Mt. Cumulus (12,725'), Howard Mountain (12,810'), Mt. Cirrus (12,797'), & Lead Mountain (12,537') which is the pointy one near the right-hand side...
Trail Ridge Road - 10,400'
Warning signs as we get closer to treeline...
Continental Divide - Milner Pass - 10,759'
Crossing the continental divide at Milner Pass (10,759'). All water to the right of the sign will eventually flow to the Pacific Ocean while water falling on the near side will end up in the Atlantic...
Milner Pass - Poudre Lake - 10,759'
Poudre Lake at Milner Pass with Trail Ridge Road to the left
Milner Pass - Poudre Lake - 10,759'
A lone Elk grazing in the tall grass near Poudre Lake...
Trail Ridge Road - 10,950'
Beyond Milner Pass the road continues its climb towards treeline...
Trail Ridge Road - 11,350'
Treeline along Trail Ridge Road with the Medicine Bow Curve area in the distance...
Trail Ridge Road - 11,360'
I can't imagine how much snow there was here back in March!
Medicine Bow Curve - 11,800'
We stopped to take in the panorama at Medicine Bow Curve. This view looks down the Poudre River Valley with Specimen Mountain (12,489') to the right...
Medicine Bow Curve - 11,800'
Looking north up the Poudre River Valley from Medicine Bow Curve. The high peaks to the right are that of the Mummy Range...
Alpine Visitor Center - 11,796'
The Alpine Visitor Center at the top of Trail Ridge Road
Alpine Visitor Center - 11,796'
The snow-covered tundra surrounding the Alpine Visitors Center
Alpine Visitor Center - 11,796'
The view down to Chapin Creek from the visitors center was amazing...
Alpine Ridge Trail Route Map
My hike up the Alpine Ridge Trail as depicted a la Google Earth...
Alpine Ridge Trailhead - 11,850'
I decided to make the quick hike up the Alpine Ridge Trail from the visitors center to see what I could see...