Nashid and I finally went camping this summer. I have been trying to plan a trip for months, but we’ve had a roller coaster summer, and we just couldn’t make it out until a couple weeks ago. We went right at the end of July. The weather was great. Surprisingly, I was able to book a campsite in the national park at Aspen Glen Campground the day before our trip.
We headed up to the park Friday night after work. Even with traffic and the long drive, we made it up in time to have some light for setting up the tent and making a fire. It took several attempts to make a fire, and I’m basically convinced Nashid and I could not survive in the wilderness. We still had so much fun cooking s’mores and stargazing by the fire. Our furry friends, Ollie and Hazel, made the trip with us and always bring so much joy wherever they go. It must have rained that afternoon though, so Ollie’s ears were soaked from exploring the “tall” grass. (Quotes necessary because Ollie is very low to the ground).
Tent camping is always fun with restless nights and waking up at the crack of dawn. We tend to over-pack pillows and blankets. I’m not mad about it. When we got up, we decided to save the packing for later, and head out into RMNP (Rocky Mountain National Park) to find some wildlife. Typically, we are able to find herds of elk in the valleys of Moraine Park. This trip was a little too early for them to be down the mountain. We did, however, find some when we drove up Trail Ridge Road. This road is often closed as early as fall time due to winter conditions. The snow typically covers the Alpine Visitor Center in the winter.
We enjoyed a nice hike up the path to the top of this 12,000-foot mountain. The scenery is incredible up there. In the visitor center, we were able to grab a bite to eat. I LOVE the hot chocolate they offer. As soon as I saw the cinnamon rolls, we had to get one. Both were great, and I recommend 10/10.
The long drive back to the campsite was scenic and wonderful. I always enjoy the time spent in the car during that trek even though it can be pretty scary. It definitely tests your marital trust. We quickly packed up our tent and chairs before heading back down to Moraine Park. I spotted a perfect picnic spot in the shade. We had brought our new cooler packed with pasta salad and yummy snacks.
Our afternoon was spent hiking around the Alluvial Fan. Off the road that passes the fan, we found a little curved path filled with fire pit areas amidst the trees, and started up a fire for more s’mores.
On the way home, we drove through downtown Estes Park. I usually want to walk around downtown when we visit RMNP, but it was very crowded and warm. We tried to drive into the Stanley Hotel (where The Shining movie was filmed), but it seemed kind of locked down for guests. I could be wrong.
All in all, we had such a fun trip getting away for the weekend. Camping is such a fun and affordable way to “travel.” We opted to drive a couple hours away from our home, but it’s pretty easy to find places to camp closer to home, at least in Colorado. Backyards are always an option for tent camping as well. The point is enjoying each other’s company and getting outside for a change of scenery.
We have plans to visit Estes Park and RMNP again in September. It’s so fun to see the changes in fall! Stay tuned for another post with all the aspen tree pictures.