Share Album Published April 19, 2019 Lake Haiyaha Trailhead: Bear Lake Via: Dream Lake Distance: 3.3 mi Elevation Change: 1,040' At Dream Lake the trail branches - Emerald to the right, Haiyaha to the left. The trail rises above Dream Lake (sometimes visible through thick trees) before coming to a rocky outcroping affording a nice view of Longs Peak. After the trail junction (with the unimproved trail that descends to the Mills/Loch trail junction), continue to the right. The trail goes through a boulder field before ending at the lake.
Share Album Published April 19, 2019 Mills Lake Trailhead: Glacier Gorge Distance: 2.7 mi Elevation Change: 760' This heavily traveled trail passes Alberta Falls then the south side of East Glacier Knob before reaching a junction with the Loch Vale, Lake Haiyaha, and Fire trails. Bear left here, cross the stream and large granite slabs to arrive at the outlet of Mills Lake.
Share Album Published April 19, 2019 Green and "Italy" Lakes Trailhead: Glacier Gorge Via:Black Lake Green Lake Distance: 6.0 mi Elevation Change: 2,360' From Black Lake, follow the trail up the inlet. After climbing about 400', the trail along the stream turns south into the bowl immediately beneath Longs Peak. Continue along the stream, navigating granite slabs and sometimes dense krummholz to Green Lake. "Italy" Lake Distance: 6.2 mi Elevation Change: 2,440' "Italy" Lake is not officially named. It lies a couple hundred yards south and slightly above Green Lake.
Share Album Published April 19, 2019 Gorge Lakes Trailhead: Milner Pass Distance: 6.8 mi Elevation Change: 3,130' Although net elevation change is only 362', the route takes the hiker to about 300' below the summit of Mount Ida before heading downhill to the lakes. Climb 1,750' in the morning on the way in, another 1,380' in the afternoon on the way out. Climb the Mount Ida trail to about 12,500' elevation, then leave the trail and contour along the ridge below 'Jagor Point'. Hike north along the spine of the ridge to treeline and a grassy ramp down to 'Lake Amore'. Go south to Love Lake and Arrowhead Lake. An ambitious hiker can continue on to Doughnut Lake, Inkwell Lake, Azure Lake, and Highest Lake.
Share Album Published April 19, 2019 Sky Pond Trailhead: Glacier Gorge Via: Glass Lake Distance: 4.4 mi Elevation Change: 1,720' After reaching Glass Lake, the trail goes over rock slabs northwest of the lake before descending again toward the western shore. After this, the trail undulates a bit, passing through dense shrubbery before topping out on the bench holding Sky Pond.
Share Album Published April 19, 2019 Glass Lake Also sometimes called Lake of Glass. Trailhead: Glacier Gorge Via: The Loch Distance: 4.2 mi Elevation Change: 1,640' The trail continues past the Loch, crossing Andrews Creek and meeting the spur trail to Andrews Tarn. Stay on the main trail as it bends south. When the trail exits the trees it gets quite steep, ascending numerous stone steps to Timberline Falls. A few yards west of the falls, the trail ascends a steep broken cliff and is often wet with falling water. From the top of the falls, Glass Lake is just a few more steps.
Share Album Published April 19, 2019 Frozen Lake Trailhead: Glacier Gorge Via: Black Lake Distance: 6.1 mi Elevation Change: 2,400' From Black Lake, follow the unimproved trail up the inlet, climbing about four hundred feet. The creek bends to the south. Cross the creek and follow cairns over granite slabs to the southwest, topping a bench north of the Spearhead.
Share Album Published April 19, 2019 Mesa Verde National Park Established in 1906 by Teddy Roosevelt, Mesa Verde is not only a National Park, but a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the United States and is is the largest archaeological preserve in the United States. See more in National Parks
Share Album Published April 19, 2019 Joshua Tree National Park Franklin D. Roosevelt used the power of the 1906 Antiquities Act to establish Joshua Tree National Monument. In 1950, the size of the park was reduced by about 290,000 acres to open the land to more mining. The monument was redesignated as a national park on October 31, 1994, by the Desert Protection Act, which also added back 234,000 acres. Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. See more in National Parks
Share Album Published April 19, 2019 Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve protects the tallest sand dunes in the USA, rising up to 750' and covering some 30 square miles. It has only been a National Park since 2004; before that was a National Monument since 1932. Bounded on the east by the rugged Sangre de Cristo mountains, the dunes make a stunning picture.
Share Album Published April 19, 2019 Grand Canyon National Park Theodore Roosevelt created the Grand Canyon National Monument in 1908, but it didn't become a National Park until 1919. Obviously, the Park's central feature is the Grand Canyon, a gorge of the Colorado River, which is often considered one of the Wonders of the World. Unique combinations of geologic color and erosional forms decorate a canyon that is 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep. Grand Canyon overwhelms our senses through its immense size.
Share Album Published April 19, 2019 Point Lobos State Natural Reserve Anyone visiting Monterey should make the short side-trip a few miles south to Point Lobos. It's not a large park, but contains many interseting sights. There are rare plant communities, endangered archeological sites, unique geological formations, and incredibly rich flora and fauna of both land and sea. See more in State Parks