Rocky Mountain National Park, February 2026

My hike in Florissant last week was nice, but I needed more.  More wildlife, more scenery, and most importantly more snow!  So with a reluctant sigh I jumped into the car before 6 a.m. last Saturday for the drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park.  The plan: Hike to Emerald Lake.

It was nice to see a trio of big bull elk grazing on the side of Bear Lake Road on my drive in.  They were trying to graze, but I'm not sure how much success they were having.

The wind was already blowing pretty fiercely at Bear Lake.  The rangers confirmed it was even stronger up the trail -- 30 to 40 miles per hour -- and that making it to Emerald was unlikely.

This poor beer didn't make it.  Looked like the pressure got to it.

It did have a nice view for its final moments, though.

I love the views on the trail between Nymph Lake and Dream Lake -- scenic and sweeping.

As I'd been warned, conditions at Dream Lake were miserable.  The winds weren't just strong and constant, they were blowing directly in my face.  The effect felt like being sandblasted on my exposed skin.  Just like my attempt a little more than four years earlier, this is where I unfortunately turned around.  I didn't feel comfortable setting up my tripod and DSLR, but I at last had enough charge to get a shot with my phone.

The trail leading back to Nymph Lake again offered a spectacular view.

Icicles along the trail provided a striking scene.

And in a tree next to the icicles, a very chill Steller's Jay.  Probably hoping for a handout, but whatever the case he posed nicely.

Since I was well ahead of my planned schedule I stopped at Glacier Gorge and trekked out to Alberta Falls, which was too snow-covered to offer a particularly memorable shot.

Saw another grazing Wapiti near Sheep Lakes, who graced me with a mildly curious look.

Stopped at the Fall River Visitor Center to get my passport stamped, and took one last snap of this Black-Billed Magpie.

I got my wildlife and snow, so I'm calling the visit a success!

Related Links:

• Rocky Mountain National Park, January 2024
• Rocky Mountain National Park, December 2021
• Ouzel Falls Trail, December 2019
• Grand Lake and More, January 2019
• RMNP: Colorado River Trail
• RMNP Sunrise: December 2017
• RMNP: December 2015
• RMNP: December 2014, Part I
• RMNP: December 2014, Part II
• Timberline Falls
• Mills Lake
• Alberta Falls Plus
• Emerald Lake (Part I)
• Emerald Lake (Part II)