Trail Journal: Colorado + Rocky Mountain National Park

At the beginning of June 2024, my boyfriend and I headed to Colorado to attend the first-ever Outside Festival in Denver. I grabbed tickets over five months prior because I was so excited by the idea of seeing all the adventure brands I love, watching inspirational films, and hearing professional athletes like Shaun White talk about their careers.

If we peel back the layer a little more, I was also excited by the thought of going back to Denver because this was where my outdoor journey started. It’s where the seed was planted during an Airbnb guided hike experience on a mountain in Morrison, Colorado. So, this place was ground zero for the person I came to be today. I freakin’ love you, Colorado (saying with my arms raised to the sky).

Okay, back to the story. We decided that we should extend this trip a little bit so we could enjoy some hiking in the area and truly relax away from our 9-5 jobs and the Texas heat.

The Magic of Boulder

We stayed in Boulder, Colorado, in a tiny home on a lovely person’s ranch. And all I can say is Boulder took my breath away. Driving right into the area, you see the Flatirons and the Rocky Mountain range, with Longs Peak sneaking in and out of view in the distance.

Our Tiny Home on a Ranch

View Out of the Tiny Home of a Storm

Another bonus? As you drive through the area, you see trailhead after trailhead. This is my paradise – endless trails to explore at every corner.

On our first day, we made our way to a trailhead to take in the beautiful views of the Flatirons. When I was doing research on TikTok for this trip, several creators listed the Flatirons as a must-see spot. Not to my surprise, they did not disappoint in the slightest.

We trekked along the Flatirons Vista Trail which was the perfect spot for us to acclimate to the elevation. This almost 4-mile trail was bursting with wildflowers and open fields that guided your eyes right to the Flatirons into the sky. I am so jealous that the residents of Boulder have access to this place right outside of their doorstep. Also, note that feelings of jealousy (in the best ways) were constant throughout my stay here (haha)!

Rocky Mountains NP

The next day, we packed up early to head to the Rockies! This park was the main reason we added some extra days to our trip (I mean, why not).

Can I speak candidly for a moment? Estes Park, wow. What a town. How dare you be so breathtaking and bring up such feelings of awe. The way you turn the bend on the road and see the water and Rockies right there is just otherworldly. We stopped at Kind Coffee for a quick bite and for me to grab some tea. That herb cream cheese croissant will live in my mind forever. Thank you, Kind Coffee.

In under half an hour, we were in Rocky Mountain National Park and we grabbed our Bear Lake permit to hike the 4-mile Bear, Nymph, Dream, Emerald Lake via Bear Lake and Emerald Lake Trail.

Photo of me at Bear Lake

I felt so underprepared because I didn’t have all of my usual gear, like my backpack, boots, and other small essentials. This was mainly because we flew Frontier and were limited to what we could bring. Luckily, we had the one thing we needed—micro spikes.

I talked to a few locals before this trip, and they all recommended micro spikes because, aside from it being June, the mountains still have some snow and ice and are in “mud season” from the snow melting. If we didn’t have the micro spikes, we would not have made it to Emerald Lake. It would have been way too risky and miserable to hike without the extra traction.

Micro Spikes on my Hokas

Ground Squirrel Along the Trail

Now, about the trail itself! Bear Lake is one of the first lakes you see along this trail. You loop around it and get views of the Rockies in the background and in the reflection of the lake. As you walk, not just on this section but throughout the park, you will be greeted by chipmunks and other small mammals that want your food (don’t give it to them).

After Bear Lake, this is where the true adventure began. We suited up with our micro spikes and saw, in order, Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lake. Along the trail, we saw a hawk almost make a chipmunk its dinner, hiked up narrow snow-covered trails, ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at Dream Lake, and marveled at the mountains stretching over an icy Emerald lake.

View of the Rocky Mountains from Emerald Lake Trail

I loved every minute of this hike. It is the kind of hike that does something to you. It felt like a true adventure and I loved walking in different conditions than what I’m used to in Texas.

In Front of Emerald Lake

Before we left the park, we needed to stop to get our National Park Passport stamp at the visitor center. To our surprise, on the side of the road, we saw a group of people huddled around. They saw, just minutes prior, an elk give birth to a calf.

From the hawk almost snatching the chipmunk to the elk giving birth, it was truly emotional watching Mother Nature do its thing in a place meant to let it do so. I absolutely love parks and their ability to keep nature safe and allow it to flow freely.

Outside festival

On the last day of the trip, I began to feel my allergies acting up a little after a night of sleeping with the windows open. However, I wasn’t going to let that stop me from seeing some of the festival.

We went into Denver, stopped at REI (always necessary), and then headed over to Civic Park for the Outside Festival. The first thing on the list was to go and listen to Shaun White’s talk, which was great!

Afterward, we walked around and I got to meet some founders of my favorite brands - Itacate, Farm to Summit Meals, Mountain House Meals, and a few others. We got some goodies and coupons to use which is always nice.

After dodging a storm, we had to call it there and miss the concerts because I needed to get some rest and food before an early flight the next day.

Aside from me getting sick, this festival was amazing and well put together. I will be coming here next year and the year after because of everything they had to offer to outdoor enthusiasts, from the gear tables to the trip planning booths.

Thank you for the new memories, Colorado. I can’t wait to visit again.

With love,