Day 3: Rocky Mountain National Park
Sprague Lake
On Thursday, September 15, 2022, I again had a 6–8am timed-entry reservation to Rocky Mountain National Park. I kicked off my day watching the sunrise at Sprague Lake, as I had read it’s one of the best spots in the park to capture it, and it did not disappoint. The Sprague Lake Trail is a pleasant, easy 1-mile loop. I arrived around 6:15am, about 30 minutes before sunrise, and wound up spending two hours at the lake, taking photos and walking around. It was a wonderful start to the day.
I had a reservation at National Park Gateway Stables for a two-hour horseback ride from 10am–12pm. But by the time I was done at Sprague Lake, it was only 8am. With time to spare, I drove to the Deer Mountain Trailhead to enjoy an hour hiking part of that trail.
Elk rutting season occurs in Colorado from mid-September to mid-October. During this time, the elk, particularly the bulls, become more active as they vie for the females. I was thrilled to see some elk out and about as I drove to the Deer Mountain Trailhead!
Deer Mountain Trail
The Deer Mountain Trail is a 6-mile out-and-back hike that begins in a valley and steadily ascends through a dense forest of ponderosa pines, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. I hiked about 1.8 miles of the trail, departing at 9:30am to ensure I had ample time to reach National Park Gateway Stables.
National Park Gateway Stables
National Park Gateway Stables offers a variety of horseback rides, ranging from two-hour rides to full-day rides lasting 8–9 hours. I opted for the two-hour ride, their most popular option. The route follows the Fall River to the base of Deer Mountain, passing through the Aspen Glen area into Lil Horseshoe Park and Hidden Meadows. It was a beautiful way to see the park.
Calypso Cascades via Wild Basin Trail
Rocky Mountain National Park features four entrance gates: Beaver Meadows and Fall River on the east side, Wild Basin in the southeast corner, and Grand Lake on the west side. Until that day, I had only entered through Beaver Meadows, so I decided to venture to the more remote Wild Basin entrance, about an hour’s drive from National Park Gateway Stables, to hike the Ouzel Falls Trail. This 5.3-mile out-and-back hike treats you to three waterfalls: Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades, and Ouzel Falls. I arrived at the trailhead around 1:30pm.
As it was an out-and-back route, I had the flexibility to turn around whenever needed. Upon reaching Calypso Cascades, I could feel the toll the long day had taken on me. Despite my goal of reaching Ouzel Falls, an impressive 40-foot waterfall, I decided to turn around at Calypso Cascades, making it a 4.4-mile round trip instead.
Lily Lake
Next, I drove back to the hotel, stopping at Lily Lake along the way to get some photos. While the Lily Lake Trail is an easy 1-mile loop, I opted to take photos from the trailhead instead of walking the full loop.
Satisfied with the few photos I took, I returned to the hotel around 5:30pm and settled in for the night.
