Bluebird Lake

Bluebird Lake in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park is one of my all-time favorite hikes. The hike offers several attractions along the way, including Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades, Ouzel Falls and Ouzel Lake. Bluebird Lake, however, is definitely the star attraction:

Jeff
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HikinginGlacier.com
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Ptarmigan Tunnel in 1932

Below are two photos from the historic Ptarmigan Tunnel in Glacier National Park. The 240-foot tunnel was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1930 so that hikers, horses and early guided park tours could pass between the Belly River and Many Glacier valleys. The tunnel was bored near the top of the arete that divides the two valleys, at an elevation of roughly 7255 feet.

Using two opposing steel jackhammers drilling from either side of the arete, and a series of dynamite charges, workers broke through the mountain in less than three months. The blasted rock was used to build doorway entrances, also known as adits, on either end of the tunnel, as well as retaining walls alongside the trail. In 1975 the National Park Service added steel doors to both ends of the tunnel, which now remain closed between October 1st and the opening of the trail, usually around the middle of July.

From Ptarmigan Tunnel's south entrance hikers will enjoy stunning views of Mt. Wilbur, Ptarmigan Lake and the glacially sculpted, U-shaped valley between the Ptarmigan Wall and Crowfeet Mountain. From the north entance you'll enjoy commanding views of Natoas Peak, Crosley Ridge, Old Sun Glacier on the slopes of Mt. Merritt, and the Belly River as it flows into Elizabeth Lake.

These photos were taken by George Grant in 1932, a year after the tunnel officially opened. The horseback party is looking towards the south in both photos:

Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Take "Exploring Glacier National Park" with you on the trail

Are you planning to visit Glacier National Park this summer - or anytime down the road? I wanted to take a brief moment to remind you about the eBook we've published (and recently updated), which provides hikers with access to detailed trail information while hiking in the park.

Exploring Glacier National Park is the mobile version of HikinginGlacier.com, the most comprehensive website on the internet for hiking trail information in Glacier National Park. This book was published to provide readers with convenient access to the information contained on HikinginGlacier.com while in the park, or on the trail, where internet access is most likely unavailable. Additionally, the format of this book will provide a much better experience for smartphone users.

Exploring Glacier National Park covers 68 hikes. Like the website, the book includes driving directions to each trailhead, detailed trail descriptions, key features along the route, difficulty ratings, photographs, maps and elevation profiles, which provide readers with a visual representation of the change in elevation they’ll encounter on each hike. Some hikes will also include historical tidbits related to the trail. Whether you're looking for an easy stroll in the park, or an epic hike deep into Glacier's backcountry, this book provides all the tools you'll need to make your hiking trip as enjoyable as possible.

As with our three websites, this book also contains several directories that will help you choose the best hikes suited to your preferences and abilities. This includes hikes listed by location within the park, hikes listed by key trail feature, and hikes sorted by difficulty rating. I’ve also included lists of our top 10 hikes, the best easy hikes, the top fall hikes, and the top early season hikes.

The guide is available on Amazon.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

The Coyote Valley Trail

The Coyote Valley Trail is another great introductory hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Located roughly 5.5 miles north of the Grand Lake Entrance on the west side of the park, the trail explores the beautiful Kawuneeche Valley, and offers hikers a great chance of spotting a wide variety of wildlife, including elk, moose, deer, coyotes, beaver, golden eagles, ospreys, kingfishers and maybe even river otter near the Colorado River.

Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

The epic one-way hike from Bear Lake to the Fern Lake Trailhead

As a result of Rocky Mountain National Park's excellent shuttle system, hikers have the option of taking the epic one-way hike from Bear Lake to the Fern Lake Trailhead in the Moraine Park area. Along the way you'll visit four magnificent lakes, a 60-foot waterfall, plus you'll make the descent into the spectacular Odessa Gorge. Here's a photo of Lake Helene, one of the lakes you'll visit on this hike:

Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Colorado bill defines requirements related to outdoor recreation on privately-owned land

Last week Governor Polis signed the "Landowner Liability Recreational Use Warning Sign" bill into law. The bill will open access to privately owned 14ers in the state, while also protecting landowners from liability. The bill states:

In current law, the "Colorado Recreational Use Statute" (CRUS) protects landowners (owners) from liability resulting from the use of their lands by other individuals for recreational purposes. However, the CRUS does not limit an owner's liability for injuries or death resulting from the owner's willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a known dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity likely to cause harm (willful or malicious failure).

The bill states that under such circumstances, an owner does not commit a willful or malicious failure if:

* The owner posts a warning sign at the primary access point where the individual entered the land, which sign satisfies certain criteria;

* The owner maintains photographic or other evidence of the sign; and

* The dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity that caused the injury or death is described by the sign.

The bill requires an individual who accesses land for recreational purposes to stay on the designated recreational trail, route, area, or roadway unless the owner expressly allows otherwise, or be deemed a trespasser.

Here's a report from FOX31 Denver:





Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

The Lawn Lake Flood

In 1903 a 26-foot high earthen dam was built at Lawn Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park to enhance the natural lake from 16.4 acres to 48 acres. This was done to help with crop irrigation in the Loveland area. Nearly 80 years later, on July 15, 1982, the dam catastrophically failed, which released more than 300 million gallons of water down the Roaring River valley. Some witnesses claim the failure created a wall of water 25 to 30 feet high! As the water ripped through the landscape it created the Alluvial Fan near the confluence with Fall River in Horseshoe Park. After killing three campers the water rushed down Elkhorn Avenue in Estes Park (see photos below) before stopping at Lake Estes. In all, damages to the area totaled roughly $31 million. Even today sections of the Roaring River's high gully walls remain unstable and prone to sudden collapse. The dam failure led to the removal of three other man-made dams within the park, including Pear Lake, Sandbeach Lake and Bluebird Lake.

Evidence of some of the destruction from the infamous Lawn Lake Flood are still on display along the Lawn Lake Trail, but the lake itself appears to have fully recovered. In my opinion, Lawn Lake is one of the more scenic lakes in the park.

Photos courtesy of the Denver and Coloradoan Libraries.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission approves 29 Outdoor Recreational Trail Grants

Governor Polis and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission announced trail-funding allocations for the 2024 Non-Motorized Trail and Land and Water Conservation Grants at its meeting in Denver on March 13. The Commission unanimously approved the grants.

“Colorado’s hiking trails are a major way we experience and enjoy our great outdoors. Whether it’s hiking through your favorite state park, exploring a new corner of our state, or taking a walk with family and friends, we are now helping more people get outside and have healthy fun by expanding trails and increasing access to them across Colorado,” said Governor Jared Polis.

There were a total of 29 Outdoor Recreational Grants funded this year totaling $7,918,274. Statewide Trails Program Manager Fletcher Jacobs highlighted the Colorado Recreational Trails Committee’s wildlife review process which emphasizes the importance of balancing wildlife and habitat needs with recreation needs in Colorado.

CPW is excited to also launch a new Trail Stewardship pilot program with additional support from Great Outdoors Colorado. This program provides funding specifically to support trail stewardship crews hired by land managers and non-profits who focus on maintenance work throughout Colorado. The State Trails Program will utilize $500,000 in funding from Great Outdoors Colorado to start this pilot based on the “Good Management” concept, which the OHV Program has operated successfully for trail maintenance and resource protection.

The Non-Motorized Trails Grant Program is a multi-agency partnership that includes CPW, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), Colorado Lottery, and the Federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP). The LWCF Grant Program is the state-managed 50:50 matching grant program for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. Funds are appropriated annually by Congress to the National Park Service and divided among the states.

Grant Stats:

Construction: 4 grants totaling $751,377

Maintenance: 9 grants totaling $919,521

Planning: 5 grants totaling $172,956

Support: 1 grant totaling $45,000

Land and Water Conservation Fund: 5 grants totaling $5,478,998

You can click here to review some of the highlights from this year’s awarded projects.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Lion Lake No. 1

For whatever reason, I never took the chance to hike to Lion Lake No. 1 until just a few years ago. Wow! What was I waiting for? The rugged subalpine landscape that surrounds this lake offers some of the most beautiful scenery in Rocky Mountain National Park, while also arguably making it the most scenic lake in Wild Basin:

Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

USDA invests nearly $66M to improve roads, trails, and water quality

Earlier this week the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced nearly $66 million to improve water quality, roads, trails, bridges and fish habitat on national forests and grasslands nationwide.

With more than 160,000 miles of trails, 7,200 trail bridges, 6,700 road bridges, and 370,000 miles of roads in national forests, this investment will support urgently needed maintenance and repairs on roads and trails, including road decommissioning, and removal of barriers to fish passage, increasing resiliency on our forest lands across the country.

National forests are also home to more than 400,000 miles of streams and 3 million acres of lakes. Approximately 80 million people rely on clean drinking water sources that originate on national forests and grasslands. These investments will protect infrastructure and support healthy watersheds in national forests so that they can continue to provide clean drinking water to the people and communities that depend on them.

Of the total funding, $37.5 million will be invested in the Legacy Roads and Trails Program, which improves water quality, restores habitat for threatened and endangered fish or wildlife, and maintains access for visitors, businesses and wildland firefighters on national forests and grasslands.

$28.1 million will be invested through the Collaborative Aquatic Restoration Program to support a second round of projects to improve water quality, prevent the spread of E. coli, restore fish passage for threatened, endangered, and other aquatic species, increase landscape resiliency, and eliminate high sediment loads in drinking water systems.

For a complete list of projects being funding in fiscal year 2024, visit Legacy Roads and Trails and Collaborative Aquatic Landscape Restoration.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Road improvement projects to impact Black Canyon

Road improvement projects at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park will begin in 2024 and continue through 2025. These much-needed improvements will create significant impacts in accessing the park. Visitors should plan on delays of up to 30 minutes during their visit and a significantly reduced number of parking spots available.

A road improvement project will begin on the South Rim in late March 2024. This project will include road rehabilitation from the park boundary on Highway 347 to the visitor center, approximately 1.8 miles (2.8 km) of roadway. This work will last approximately seven months. In 2025, there will be continuation of road rehabilitation work from the visitor center to the end of the South Rim Drive and a pavement preservation project that will impact access to and parking at overlooks along the South Rim Drive and South Rim campground availability.

This year the project is funded through the Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP). Next year's project is funded through the Federal Highways Administration's Pavement Preservation Program. After the summer of 2025, all paved roads at South Rim will either be completely resurfaced or have a preservation treatment such as crack sealing and patching and then a chipseal or micro seal applied. The result will be a greatly improved roadway for visitors to the national park.

Please use extreme caution and patience while traveling on park roadways, especially during construction. Plan extra time for visiting the park during the roadwork. Crews will be working Monday through Friday in daylight hours and roads will be alternating one-way traffic.

Consider alternative recreational areas during construction. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is co-managed with neighboring Curecanti National Recreation Area, encompassing Blue Mesa Reservoir. Curecanti also has numerous hiking trails, all of which are dog friendly. Several trails lead into the gorge to the Gunnison River and to the reservoirs. Besides being well known for its fishing and kayaking, the recreation area offers a variety of camping experiences and spectacular stargazing. The National Park Service thanks you in advance for your patience during construction activities.

More information about camping and recreational opportunities at both parks can be found at www.nps.gov/blca and www.nps.gov/cure.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Park Saddle Tour at Dawson Pass

Sitting along the Continental Divide at an elevation of 7598 feet, Dawson Pass forms the saddle between 8538-foot Mt. Helen towards the south, and 9225-foot Flinsch Peak to the north. The pass is named for Thomas Dawson, the son of Andrew Dawson, who was an official for the American Fur Company at Fort Benton. His mother was a Blackfoot Indian. Dawson's Blackfoot name was Little Chief, or Inuxina. The pass, therefore, is called Inuxina ozitamisohpi in the Blackfeet language. Dawson also acted as a guide during the early days of Glacier National Park.

If you've ever had the chance to dine at Serrano's Mexican Restaurant in East Glacier Park, you actually stepped foot in Tom Dawson's home. Built in 1909, the converted building is now the oldest house in East Glacier Park.

From its inception as a national park, Dawson Pass has been a popular destination in the Two Medicine area. This photo was taken from the pass in the 1930s, and is likely a group from a Park Saddle Horse tour:

The photo below is also likely that of a Park Saddle Horse tour near Dawson Pass from the 1920s or 30s:

Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

The "CCY Route"

For those willing to take on the challenge, climbing the trifecta of 12,454-foot Mt. Chapin, 13,069-foot Mt. Chiquita and 13,514-foot Ypsilon Mountain is likely to be the highlight of anyone's trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. The amazing panoramic views from the three peaks along the "CCY Route" are some of the best in the park.

Here's a view of the three mountains from Trail Ridge Road:

Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Wolverine reintroduction bill is introduced through Colorado Legislature

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and a bipartisan group of legislators joined together on Monday to announce legislation that would give the agency the authority to reintroduce the North American wolverine to Colorado.

Colorado wildlife officials considered the restoration of wolverine, along with Canada lynx, in the 1990s. However, due to complexities, the wolverine restoration plans were delayed in favor of lynx restoration. After lynx restoration was deemed a success, CPW returned to the idea in 2010 and completed a plan for reintroduction informed by partners and stakeholders, but that was halted because of uncertainty surrounding a federal listing decision.

Because the wolverine has been listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act, SB24-171 states that reintroduction of wolverines would not begin until a final rule designating the North American wolverine in Colorado as a nonessential experimental population (known as a 10(j) rule), had taken effect.

“Colorado is the right state to take on this work,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis. “The North American wolverine requires a high-elevation habitat with persistent, deep snowpack, and Colorado has some of the best remaining unoccupied wolverine habitat in the lower 48 states. This legislation would put us on the right path toward a successful wolverine reintroduction effort in Colorado.”

For more information, please click here.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

The Bear Lake Lodge

Below is a photo of the old Bear Lake Lodge along the eastern shore of Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. The first building on this property was constructed in 1915. After additional cabins were added in subsequent years, the resort was able to accommodate up to 75 guests per day during its heyday.

In 1919, Roger Toll, then Superintendent of Rocky Mountain, published Mountaineering in the Rocky Mountain National Park. In the book he noted that accommodations at the lodge cost $20.00 per week. Apparently inflation was kept to a minimum in the years that followed (especially during the Great Depression). A park pamphlet from 1937 stated:

"Bear Lake Lodge, located on Bear Lake, offers cabin accommodations, ranging in price from $2.50 to $3.50 a day and $15 to $20 a week. Meals: Breakfast, a la carte; luncheon, 65 cents to $1; dinner, $1 to $1.50."

The lodge remained in business until 1958; however, within two years, the National Park Service had razed all of the buildings on the property. They eventually restored portions of the area back to its natural state, and converted another portion into the current parking area.

Today, the landscape around Bear Lake looks much different when compared to the early 1900s. In addition to the commercial development around the lake, this area was also badly burned during the "Big Fire" of 1900, which was started by picnickers. According to the park website, the fire "raged for two months". Most visitors who hike around Bear Lake today are likely unaware of the rich history that took place here during the first half of the 20th Century.

Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Colorado saw fewer human-bear conflicts in 2023 due to good natural food production compared to recent years

Colorado Parks and Wildlife received 3,526 reports of sightings and conflicts with bears in 2023, which is a 21 percent decrease from the average number of reports received in 2019 - 2023. Trash continues to be the number one source of conflicts between humans and bears.

Of the 3,526 reports CPW received in 2023, 1,795 resulted in property damage to a shed, garage, home, vehicle, fence, etc. Around 92 percent of property damage reported from bears is linked to an attractant of some kind, with over 51 percent linked to trash, 20 percent to livestock, chickens and beehives, and 19 percent to bird seed, pet food, barbeque grills, coolers and refrigerators.

There are an estimated 17,000 to 20,000 bears in Colorado and every year the majority of incident reports involve bears trying to access human food sources. 2023 was no different with trash continuing to be the number one source of conflicts. Other constant sources of conflict included birdfeeders, livestock and bears accessing open garages and other human-originated items that are left unsecured. These conflicts could all easily be reduced if the public takes some simple steps around their homes and properties to prevent bears from accessing them.

Nature and human behavior play a role in the amount of bear activity that we see annually. Drought conditions and other factors that may influence the availability of natural food crops for bears, such as a late freeze, vary across the state, as does the behavior of people when it relates to human-bear interactions.

In 2023, the majority of the East Slope received adequate temperatures and rainfall to produce natural forage for bears. Compared to 2022, reports on the East Slope remained steady with CPW’s Northeast region receiving 905 reports and the Southeast regions receiving 696 reports.

CPW’s Northwest region has the largest bear population in the state and received 1,228 reports, a 35 percent reduction from the previous year. Despite good natural forage in the area, an unreasonable number of bears were reported entering homes. Reports remained steady in CPW’s Southwest region at 697.

Below is the number of reports and bears euthanized and relocated by CPW annually since 2020:

2023: 3,526 reports, 33 relocated, 63 euthanized
2022: 4,147 reports, 59 relocated, 94 euthanized
2021: 3,598 reports, 51 relocated, 66 euthanized
2020*: 4,806 reports, 118 relocated, 158 euthanized

*2020 was a notoriously bad year for natural forage production with drought conditions and a late spring freeze severely limiting berry and shrub oak availability. These conditions led to a disproportionately high number of human-bear conflicts.

For more information, click here. To watch a progression map of reported bear activity across Colorado in 2023, click here.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park