Monday morning, we checked out of the Stanley and had breakfast at Egg and I. Then we headed to the Cow Creek Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. There was limited roadside parking along the gravel road, but we arrived early enough that there were spaces. After walking past the McGraw ranch, we picked up the Cow Creek Trail towards Bridal Veil Falls. Following the creek upstream, there were lovely views of the mountains and open wildflower meadows.
Even late in the summer, there were lots of flowers in bloom.
A few pineymountain geraniums could be found.
The blanket flower was especially nice.
Heading further up the trail, there were a lot of wild bergamot, similar to the bee balm we have at home.
The trail got steeper towards the end and followed the creek more closely. There were some nice cascades and drops along the creek before reaching the falls.
And we spotted some red elderberries along the creek.
But once we made it, there was no doubt this was the falls.
I hopped around the rocks to get pictures of Bridal Veil Falls from different angles.
We took a short break here and enjoyed the view. A little rainbow was visible in the spray.
As a few more people arrived, we started making our way back. The Cow Creek Trail was a really scenic hike.
Back at McGraw Ranch, we turned on North Boundary Trail to follow it steeply up the ridge that separates Cow and West Creeks. No switchbacks, just straight up. We took a break a few times to enjoy the view looking backwards.
Once up the ridge, it descended steeply down to West Creek, though thankfully, there were more switchbacks. We spotted a little chickaree squirrel right off the trail.
The trail descended down the ridge to West Creek at a footbridge.
Across the bridge, there was another open meadow with lots of wildflowers booming.
Bees were busy collecting nectar from the wild bergamot.
At the split with West Creek Falls, we went right to stay on North Boundary Trail and climb up another ridge.
Once above this one, it was a much more gradual descent down to Fox Creek. Right across the footbridge over Fox Creek, we bushwhacked downstream a short ways to come out at the top of Fox Creek Falls. The water level was a little low, but it was a cool spot of exposed bedrock with potholes.
I climbed down to what I think was the lowest level for some pictures and then we had lunch in a nice shady spot.
The climb back up the ridge was pretty easy and then we descended back down to West Creek. At the bottom, we turned right and hiked up the spur to West Creek Falls. The creek was particularly scenic as we approached the falls.
It's a really cool waterfall - two drops of about 20 feet.
I climbed around to get some pictures, but we were pretty tired at this point.
So we started making our way back. A red admiral butterfly landed on a stump.
The trail was mostly downhill until we had to climb back up the steep ridge. It was the last climb of the day, but the last descent was the steepest part and hard on the knees.
Back at the car, we headed into Estes Park and got some stuff at the grocery store then checked into our home for the week - Misty Mountain Lodge. It was a great location close to downtown Estes Park so everything was within walking distance. After settling in, we had Mexican for dinner at Casa Grande then went to bed early as we had a big day in the morning.
Even late in the summer, there were lots of flowers in bloom.
A few pineymountain geraniums could be found.
The blanket flower was especially nice.
Heading further up the trail, there were a lot of wild bergamot, similar to the bee balm we have at home.
The trail got steeper towards the end and followed the creek more closely. There were some nice cascades and drops along the creek before reaching the falls.
And we spotted some red elderberries along the creek.
But once we made it, there was no doubt this was the falls.
I hopped around the rocks to get pictures of Bridal Veil Falls from different angles.
We took a short break here and enjoyed the view. A little rainbow was visible in the spray.
As a few more people arrived, we started making our way back. The Cow Creek Trail was a really scenic hike.
Back at McGraw Ranch, we turned on North Boundary Trail to follow it steeply up the ridge that separates Cow and West Creeks. No switchbacks, just straight up. We took a break a few times to enjoy the view looking backwards.
Once up the ridge, it descended steeply down to West Creek, though thankfully, there were more switchbacks. We spotted a little chickaree squirrel right off the trail.
The trail descended down the ridge to West Creek at a footbridge.
Across the bridge, there was another open meadow with lots of wildflowers booming.
Bees were busy collecting nectar from the wild bergamot.
At the split with West Creek Falls, we went right to stay on North Boundary Trail and climb up another ridge.
Once above this one, it was a much more gradual descent down to Fox Creek. Right across the footbridge over Fox Creek, we bushwhacked downstream a short ways to come out at the top of Fox Creek Falls. The water level was a little low, but it was a cool spot of exposed bedrock with potholes.
I climbed down to what I think was the lowest level for some pictures and then we had lunch in a nice shady spot.
The climb back up the ridge was pretty easy and then we descended back down to West Creek. At the bottom, we turned right and hiked up the spur to West Creek Falls. The creek was particularly scenic as we approached the falls.
It's a really cool waterfall - two drops of about 20 feet.
I climbed around to get some pictures, but we were pretty tired at this point.
So we started making our way back. A red admiral butterfly landed on a stump.
The trail was mostly downhill until we had to climb back up the steep ridge. It was the last climb of the day, but the last descent was the steepest part and hard on the knees.
Back at the car, we headed into Estes Park and got some stuff at the grocery store then checked into our home for the week - Misty Mountain Lodge. It was a great location close to downtown Estes Park so everything was within walking distance. After settling in, we had Mexican for dinner at Casa Grande then went to bed early as we had a big day in the morning.
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