Rocky Mountain National Park - Morraine Park

Later that evening, Jonah and I headed back into the Park. It was after 6:00 so we didn't need a timed entry pass for Bear Lake Road, and there was a lot less traffic than earlier in the day. We stopped again at Morraine Park, and walked to a spot along the Big Thompson River. My hope was that we would be able to catch some good sunset light and maybe some alpenglow on the mountains that tower over the valley.



It's a little confusing that we are in Morraine Park, which itself is part of Rocky Mountain National Park. But up here, park is used as a term for any "high-altitude, open valley or meadow." Morraine Park was formed by the movement of ancient glaciers. Before it became a National Park, this area was home to a large resort and golf course. Only the old resort's lodge still remains, and the land was allowed to revert back to its natural state.





The Big Thompson River begins inside Rocky Mountain National Park, at a place called Forest Canyon. It then flows through Morraine Park and then out of the National Park, through the town of Estes Park and eventually flowing into the South Platte River.





There was a little bit of alpenglow, but we didn't have a good view of it. It hit on some of the distant mountains on the other side of the valley. And there was not really any cool sunset light either. But it was a great place to spend some time that evening. The sound of the flowing water, mixed with the wind blowing through the grass in the meadow, was relaxing and peaceful.







We were even joined by a mule deer, which walked over to the river to get a drink and was then surprised to see people standing nearby. It was kind enough to stand still long enough for a few pictures, before it turned tail and bounded back into the meadow.