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Glad you liked it!

Janell, I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I think more and more people are arriving in the Bear Lake area before the start of the timed-entry system. My main suggestion is to enjoy hikes outside of the Bear Lake area. There are so many great ones to enjoy. Perhaps I need to do a video about those. Try visiting, Fern and Odessa Lake from the trailhead just west of Moraine Park. Lawn Lake and Ypsilon Lake are big but quieter hikes from the Lawn Lake TH near Horseshoe Park. On the west side vist the Big Meadows Loop: Onahu and Green Mtn TH or visit the East Inlet Trail, Colorado River Trail, or Timber Lake Trail. In just another week or so you should be able to do the Ute Trail from the Alpine Visitor Center to Poudre Lake. Right now there's still a lot of snow at Poudre Lake.

Thanks Billy! I sure appreciate your constant encouragement!

Glad you enjoyed it!

Hiking poles are great for the knees and actually increase my speed quite a bit, though it takes a while to become really comfortable hiking with them. I prefer the poles that are just two sections as they are more sturdy, though the poles with three or more sections collapse down further. I've also found that I hate the twist lock poles as they tend to break more easily. Hope that helps.

@@ErikStensland That is a big help. My knees have also been an increasingly annoying issue. Thank you!

I had to move to poles about 17 years ago due to knee issues. I thought I would have to quit hiking, but they saved my knees from the abuse, especially from the impact when hiking down the trails. Hope they help you!

Couldn't agree more! That's usually the way I do things. I usually have these places to myself either by arriving very early or very late in the day. :)

It sounds like a nice drive. You will definitely need entrance passes to enter the park, as they are needed all year long. If you arrive at the entrance station after 2pm, you will not need a timed-entry reservation. One thing to keep in mind though is that if you arrive in the afternoon you will be up on Trail Ridge Road possibly during an afternoon thunderstorm. That may block your views, make driving a little more challenging if it's really raining or hailing, and you won't be able to get out and enjoy the tundra. Apart from that, it sounds like a good plan. You should also expect long lines on Bear Lake Road from 6pm to 7pm.

There are so many great trails to explore, over 300 miles of trail in Rocky. The reason I didn't list the name of this lake is that it is off-trail and I have an agreement with the National Park Service not to share specific locations of off-trail areas where I photograph in order to protect them from increases in traffic.

I'm so glad! Thanks for your support!

Thanks Greg. I really appreciate it. Late September is a beautiful time to come!

Thanks Paul! I do love this place. Hope you guys are well!

More to come!

Thanks! I think that many of us feel that same way about this special place.

Thank you! :)

You are welcome. Hope you enjoyed it.

Thanks Adam.

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks a lot 😊

Shelby, I assume you mean the Estes Park Hiker Shuttle from the Estes Park Visitor Center. You need to make a reservation to get this shuttle and that reservation serves as your timed-entry reservation. Here's a link to more info on this: www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10088647

@@ErikStensland thank you!

It’s a great time to come!

Some years it really can be amazing. I think this year will be pretty good as well.

Thank you so much!

Thanks so much. So sad Mike isn’t around anymore. Sounds like you’ve really enjoyed the rugged side of Rocky!

I really don’t know about Lake Estes as it isn’t in Rocky. I suggest you give the Estes Park Marina a call. They should know.

That would be great! It will be here before you know it.

Thank you Lori!

That’s great to hear. I’m assuming you are referring to my hiking guide. 🙂

@@ErikStensland Yes. Specific info regarding specific hikes. I bought it several years ago at the Hallmark store in the Safeway complex. I keep the timed entry permits in there with maps and notes. It is a very useful guide.

So glad you enjoyed the video and made it to my gallery. I have been to Capitol Reef National Park many times and always see Chimney Rock just off the highway, but I don’t think I have any photographs of that formation.

That is correct. You only need one reservation per vehicle.

Thanks Wendy!

I think you are probably right to plan for 8:30 to enter from Grand Lake before the reservation system starts, but if you enter earlier you’ll have a better chance of seeing wildlife.

@@ErikStensland Thank you!

Thanks Greg!

Thanks so much Sherry!

John, thanks for your kind words! I rely quite a bit on the NOAA website for those. I actually put together a list of links to different areas of the park which I've put here: www.rockymountainnationalpark.com/gallery/weather/. Each elevation and area can have such different weather so I rely on checking the actual area I'm heading too. Hope this helps.

@@ErikStensland yes it helps greatly. That is precisely what I was wanting. The elevation changes can fool the generic weather apps I have. Thank you!

@@johnkrumm6860 you are most welcome!

Kathy, my suggestion is that you arrive closer 8am as it will start to be very busy at the entrance by 8:20. You may even want to consider entering the park earlier than 8 and then explore some of Lower Trail Ridge Road or Beaver Meadows before heading over to Bear Lake Rd. The big challenge is just getting through the main entrance with the crowds. Let me know if that wasn't explained well. :)

@@ErikStensland Thank you! That helps a lot!

@@ErikStensland My reservation is also in July, but during the 9:00-11:00 time slot for the main entrance (not Bear Lake Rd). Should I plan on getting there even a little earlier like 8:30? Or should 9:00 be fine?

John, if I were you, I’d arrive around 9:30 so you don’t get stuck in all the non-permit traffic trying to get in before 9.

@@ErikStensland Ok thank you for the advice!

Thanks Paul!

I appreciate it!

Terrific! I was just over there this morning. It's really greening up nicely.

So glad you found it to be helpful!

Hi Cristie, yes you can rent them from the Estes Park Mountain Shop. They will be happy to help. Heres' the link to their website. They are located on hwy 34 just a bit east of Estes Park. www.estesparkmountainshop.com/

I'm not sure that those images will be on the walls in the near future, but I just added a number of new ones this past week. Thanks for watching!

Glad you like them!

I'm so happy that you enjoyed the video!

This wasn't a very long walk. I think it was just 6 miles that evening, since the road beyond was closed. I would love to head up Going to the Sun Rd before opening. That would be incredible!

Thank you! It really is a special place. There's something about being in that open space high above it all. :)

You can walk on the road all winter long. The main differences in the spring are: 1. You can drive all the way to Rainbow Curve, saving you several miles of hiking. 2. The road is plowed so it is easy to walk on. In the winter it will be snow covered and heavily drifted.

Kathy, so glad you enjoyed this!

Glad you enjoyed it Billy!

Glad you enjoyed it

You should try it some time. :)

@@ErikStensland I would like to,but I don't have a car.