Final Day in Estes Park

This is our last night in Estes Park. We are both tired and packing for the trip home. It is a good tired. We did more hiking today. We drove up to Bear Lake and did the 1/2 mile loop trail. This is an easy walk (if you don't count the downhill section that was covered in ice).

Next, we did the Bierstadt Lake trail. This one is about 1.9 miles with about 550' in elevation gain. The 1.2 miles to the top consists of switchbacks. We had to keep stopping to make sure we weren't missing the view. Fortunately, the several breaks I took to catch my breath helped. Once you make it to the top, there is a loop trail that surrounds the lake. When we finally made it to the lake, we were amazed by the beauty and the quiet. We took a few minutes to feel the warm sun on our faces and just breathed the air and the quiet stillness. With our late start into the park today, we were only able to enjoy the lake for a very short time. We wanted to make sure we made it down the hill before the sun set behind Hallett Peak.

Our final stop today was Sprague Lake. This one is also an easy 1/2 mile loop around the lake. The best part on this trail was watching a Marmot swimming in the lake. He was cracking us up. He would swim close to us, then quickly swam away. I think he was having as much fun watching us as we did watching him.

Earlier today, we went to the Stanley Hotel. This is a beautiful old hotel. Many people know it as the place Stephen King wrote the Shining. He was irritated that Stanley Kubrick did not use the hotel in the famous movie. Consequently, he wrote a version for a TV movie that was filmed at the Stanley.

Overall, another great day. Relaxed start, good breakfast, fun in town and some good hiking. The weather was beautiful again with a high in the mid 60's.