Brainard and Isabelle Lakes, July 2026

It had been four years since I'd been to Brainard Lake Recreation Area to take pictures of moose and hike to Lake Isabelle.  That was quite long enough in my opinion, so I talked a fellow photographer in the neighborhood into joining me for a trip up there this past Wednesay.

Setting the alarm for 3 a.m. turned out to be be the right call, because we got there just in time to catch this predawn color in the clouds.

Brainard Lake was noticeably lower than in the past, but no less beautiful during golden hour.

We scoured the willows on Brainard Lake's southern shore, but moose were nowhere to be seen.  So we were left with shooting reflections in the still waters at the lake's western edge.

Some driftwood in the water did its best to make up for the absence of moose, with compelling textures.

After giving up on the moose it was time for my favorite hike in Colorado.  My sixth time on this trail, and it never disappoints.  The wildflowers and cascades were as striking as ever.

The final cascade before reaching the lake was absolutely bursting with bluebells.

I have never not taken a picture at this spot in all my visits.  Why wouldn't I?

Like Brainard, Lake Isabelle was also lower than I've seen it in past years.  There was less snow on the surrounding peaks, too.

The outflow was likewise modest.

As we headed back, my buddy hiked a bit farther down along the cascade you walk across right before reaching the lake.  Not surprisingly, it's just as lush and picturesque wherever you look.

As pretty and plentiful as the wildflowers are along the trail now, I didn't find myself compelled to stop and shoot close-ups of many of them.  Just this lone Subalpine Fleabane poking from between some rocks.

Even without moose, the hike was as enjoyable as ever.  We covered 5.89 miles and 627 feet of elevation gain in a little more than  2 1/2 hours, not counting the roughly 45 minutes we spent taking photos.  A truly terrific morning!

Related Links:

• Lake Isabelle, June 2022: Part II
• Lake Isabelle, June 2022: Part I
• Brainard and Isabelle Lakes, July 2018
• Lake Isabelle, July 2015
• Lake Isabelle, August 2014
• Lake Isabelle, July 2012

Columbine Trail

Prior to today I'd gone hiking in North Cheyenne Cañon Park in Colorado Springs three times, and enjoyed every one.  So when I was looking for a place to hike today, I decided to make Trip #4!

The Columbine Trail was today's option, which was made even more attractive by the road being closed for construction so I wouldn't hear cars as I was enjoying my nature.  North Cheyenne Creek was looking pretty as I started off from the trailhead around 7 a.m.

It's not immediately obvious how big this waterfall is.  Not sure I can even call it a waterfall, since it's only about two feet tall.  Charming, though.

I'm getting some really nice sunburst shots with my new Nikkor 10-24 lens.  Possibly because it hasn't gotten sand and oil inside yet to add distracting lens flare?

Helen Hunt Falls were flowing more briskly than I'd expected.  I didn't lug my tripod with me, but handheld was still fine.

I lowered the ISO to 100 and shut down the aperture to f/29 to see if I could get that nice feathery look to the water.  This was the best I could manage, which tells me that if I intend to shoot waterfalls in the future I should bite the bullet and carry the tripod to get the longer exposures.

I did the 9.18 miles and 1,674 feet of elevation gain in a tidy 4:06.  Apparently I can hike faster with only one camera body, a smaller lens, and no tripod. :)

Related Links:

• Mount Muscoco
• Kineo Mountain via Seven Bridges Trail
• St. Mary's Falls, April 2024

Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, June 2026

I made my eighth trip to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge earlier this week to take some animal photos.  Full disclosure: None of these trips have been great.  I haven't gotten that amazing Bison photo, or even seen Burrowing Owls, much less a Black-footed Ferret.  That said, I've also never had a bad trip.  Taryn joined me a couple of times when she was young.  I've seen (and shot) pretty sunsets, feeding hawks, baby owls, and plenty of deer and prairie dogs.  This visit was another good one.

A leisurely circuit around the Wildlife Drive was all I had planned.  This White-Tailed Deer doe showed only mild interest in me before returning to her grazing.

This doe seemed even less intrigued, which I honestly find kind of impressive.

Western Meadowlarks are pretty much another slam dunk on a RMANWR visit, though I usually see them closer.

The Black-tailed Prairie Dogs never disappoint.  These scuffling youngsters were especially adorable.

This Grasshopper Sparrow had a song in his heart that he was only too happy to share with the world.

Desert Cottontails are also just about a lock to spot.  Munching greens was just as important to this rabbit as it had been to the deer.

I hope one of these two can be the first to say that they're sorry.

Prairie dogs eating > Rabbits and deer eating, because prairie dogs grab their food in their cute little paws.

Like I said, another good visit!  I did see the bison herd, but they were a good distance away and backlit.  No owls or ferrets.  I imagine I'll take another shot soon!

Related Links:

• Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, April 2025
• City Park & Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, July 2019
• Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR: Mule Deer and Sunsets
• Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR Hawks: December 2015
• Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR: November 2014
• Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR: May 2014
• Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR: October 2012

Cheesman Canyon

My hike to Elk Falls made me optimistic that there was more water still to be seen.  I decided to give Cheesman Canyon a shot and see how the South Platte River was doing.

Good news.  The river was doing quite well. :)

There weren't too many wildflowers blooming just yet.  Lambert's Locoweed was the first I saw.

As the morning warmed up, the Prairie Lizards came out to soak up some sun.  Most were really tiny.  This guy was the biggest I saw, and roughly a whopping six inches or so from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail.

I spotted a mother Common Merganser with a small crew of babies on the river.  Unfortunately, she spotted me as well and hastily took her brood downstream to safety.  The only shots I got were from quite a distance away and not well exposed, so I decided to get creative with my favorite of the bunch.  I'm not disappointed with the result!

Most of the canyon trail is up above the river, providing some great overlooks down to the water.

The ruggedness of this stretch of the river is special, with sizable boulders sprinkled liberally in the water.

I was delighted to see a pair of American Dippers working on a nest in one of those boulders.  The light unfortunately frustrated me in getting great shots of the birds themselves.  But it was really cool to see them taking turns gathering moss and adding it to their home.

I had never heard of Blue-Water Speedwell before uploading this image to iNaturalist, but I loved seeing this flower blooming right in the river.

The clouds started to gather as I made my way back to the trailhead, but just enough to enhance the views of the river.

I didn't notice all the Blue Columbine along the trail on the outward portion of my trek, but was delighted to see them on my way back.

I did notice this sad-looking Fragrant Evening Primrose, and made sure to capture it in all its wiltedness.

Exactly six miles (AllTrails, as usual, underestimates the trail at only 5.6 miles) in a leisurely 2:31, and I thoroughly enjoyed all of it.  I look forward to coming back, possibly in winter to see its beauty in another season!

Elk Falls

Given our dry winter, I'm really glad I did my Great Colorado Waterfall Tour last year.  But I figured if I was going to have any chance of seeing a waterfall in the state actually flowing briskly this year, now was it.  So I headed to Staunton State Park to hike to Elk Falls.

You have to want to see this waterfall; the hike is nine miles with roughly 1,500 feet of elevation gain.  It starts steep, with nice views to the southeast.  The mountain in the distance with just a bit of snow still remaining is Pikes Peak.

The sun did eventually come out, but temperatures stayed cool.  Really perfect hiking weather.

I'd hiked to the Elk Falls Overlook with Zak and Ginny 12 years ago, but not to the falls themselves.  Elk Falls Pond is en route to both.

The final stretch of trail is a very steep third of a mile that even has a chain to grab onto for assistance at one point.  The payoff, fortunately, is worth it.

The waterfall is pretty (duh, it's a waterfall).  And once I got back to the pond I ended up essentially retracing the steps I'd taken with Zak and Ginny a dozen years earlier back to the parking lot.  A solid and beautiful workout on a late spring day!

Kountze Lake, May 2026

After a wonderful morning at St. Vrain State Park, I had the time and inclination to see more!  Another photographer mentioned there being American Avocets at Kountze Lake, which was arguably on my way home.  So Kountze Lake it was. :)

Pond Sliders were taking full advantage of the warm, sunny day.

So was this monstrosity.  I'm fascinated at how this Common Snapping Turtle has so much algae growing on it.

I only found a pair of Avocets, who stayed frustratingly far from shore.  I do love how elegant they look with those long, curved beaks.

While there may have been disappointingly few Avocets, there were an abundance of babies!  Mallards...

... and Canada Geese.  Almost teenagers, really, though still patiently escorted by Mom and Dad.

The Mallard babies -- like most kids -- were having big fun playing in the mud.

I could followed these little ones around for hours, but eventually bid them farewell.  Delighted, though, to have made two photos stops before lunch!

Related Links:

• Kountze Lake and South Platte Park, December 2019
• Kountze Lake, June 2015: Part I
• Kountze Lake, June 2015: Part II
• Kountze and Harriman Lakes

St. Vrain State Park, May 2026

Since moving back to Colorado from Texas, one of the things I've been delighted to recommence is my membership in the Mile High Wildlife Photography Club.  The monthly meetings provide a wonderful opportunity to meet other photographers, view gorgeous images and learn the stories behind them, and improve my craft.  And yesterday, it also provided the chance to get out in the field with other shutterbugs as the club arranged an outing to St. Vrain State Park.

I'd never been to St. Vrain, and was slightly surprised by the park's proximity to I-25.  You could not only hear the traffic, but also see vehicles whizzing by from the park's eastern boundary.  But the park is chock full of ponds, which attract birds like this Great Blue Heron in abundance.

This particular heron was the star attraction on Sandpiper Pond for a while, hunting along the shoreline.

Most of the folks in attendance were hoping to get a shot of one of the resident Osprey diving for fish.  I don't think that ever happened, but it was great to see one fly by with a meal.

I left my second camera body with a wide-angle lens and tripod that I use for landscape shots in the car, thinking the hand of man was too visible.  Then I went for a walk on one of the trails and took in this view up Boulder Creek.  Well, telephoto landscape shots aren't all bad.

A leg of the trail dead-ended at a nesting platform with another watchful Osprey that didn't much seem to want me hanging around.  So I took a couple of quick shots and gave it back its privacy.

This Barn Swallow stayed on its millet perch long enough for me to get a solid capture.

I saw American White Pelicans on Blue Heron Reservoir.  Not on Pelican Lake, presumably because birds can't read.

Canada Geese may not be rare, but they are almost always willing subjects.

After one pelican flew by...

...it found some of its friends for some synchronized formation work.

Returning to Sandpiper Pond brought me into contact with another hunting heron.  Or possibly the same one as before, for all I know.  Whatever the case, he kindly passed closely by (but not without some side eye).

A really great morning chatting and shooting with other MHWPC members and making my inaugural visit to another of our wonderful state parks!