Bridal Veil Falls

If you want to see Bridal Veil Falls, be prepared to wake up early or start late. From the Cow Creek Trailhead the falls are a relatively easy 3miles in. However, parking is very limited (7-10spaces) and fills up fast. I did this after work one night with a couple of coworkers. I had talked to another Ranger and he said he saw his one and only mtn lion at dusk on this trail. 

Needless to say I was a bit paranoid. 

The trail remains fairly open for much of the hike before entering a canopied marsh.

First glimpses of Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls

Two four-letter words: Pika(s) and Lake(s)

This hike, easily one of my favorite in the entire park, is part of a five lake loop - Bear, Helene, Odessa, Fern, and Cub. Best started at the Bear Lake Trailhead, as most of the distance winds up being downhill and after 10+miles, all the uphill can be quite exhausting.

Bear Lake looking towards Long's Peak

Fireweed around Bear Lake

Past the Flattop Trail Jct, looking out into a sea of evergreens towards Bierstadt Lake
(which I hiked a couple of weeks ago.)

The trail opens up into a green meadow looking towards rocky hills.

August and still snow on the ground!

Back in the sunlight on a rocky path I hear what has become one of my favorite sounds...

...the squeak of a Pika!

This little guy sat around on the rocks near my feet for a while.

Back into the woods to Lake Helene

Climbing a bit off trail onto a nice rock overlook, you can see Lake Helene on the left, Notchtop Mtn on the right, and several waterfalls in between.

From the same overlook, looking into Odessa Gorge towards Odessa Lake

Lake Helene

High waters overflow a small stream bed looking out towards Odessa Gorge

The trail down to Odessa Lake, along the west side of Joe Mills Mtn*
(*one of my favorite coworkers is Joe Mills' granddaughter, Enos' grandniece, and Bob Flame's daughter!)

The trail follows a clear streaming originating from the southern end of Odessa Lake

Odessa Lake.
The waters were so clear, I watched the water soiled when rinsing my hands of dirt and sweat.

I sat for nearly an hour on the rock in the center, watching the sunlight flicker on the surface.

Back towards the main trail

First glimpses of Fern Lake

Fern Lake

Fern Falls

a return to Wild Basin

The Wild Basin area is located in the southeast corner of the park, about 15miles south of Estes Park; just far enough away to keep many people away. The area is dominated by water - marked by beautiful lakes and waterfalls. By the end of the summer, it was also an area dominated by hungry black bears who grew smart and started breaking into cars. No bears this day, however; just a light breeze, some sunshine, and lots of waterfalls.

From the Wild Basin Trailhead, Copeland Falls is 0.3miles away, Calypso Cascades is 1.8miles in, and Ouzel Falls is 2.7miles and you gain just under 1,000ft in elevation along the way.

Beyond Ouzel Falls lies Ouzel Lake and Thunder Lake - both on my to-do list for next summer =]

The North Saint Vrain Creek, looking west towards Copeland Falls

The lower portion of Copeland Falls

The way the light was hitting the roaring St. Vrain and the surrounding rocks was mesmerizing.

Many trees in the area have this moss-like growth all along their branches.

After following the river someways, you come to Calypso Cascades. Surrounded by trees, the cascade is quite incredible. The falls was named after the Calypso Orchid, which I had seen on my previous visit to Wild Basin; unfortunately, it was a bit late in the season to spot them this time around.

 I had a bit of fun messing around with my camera settings; bear with me here on all the C.C. pictures.

Calypso Cascades

Calypso Cascades

Calypso Cascades

Calypso Cascades

Calypso Cascades

 Cony Creek, which rushes down through Calypso Cascades and into North Saint Vrain Creek, meets up with Ouzel Creek a bit further up the trail.

Water from Ouzel Creek pooling alongside the trail.

Trees. Lots and lots of trees. I know a picture cannot really capture the essence of it all, but I was struck by just how many trees there actually were. 

Downstream along Ouzel Creek, looking up towards Ouzel Falls.

Off-trail a bit, and alongside Ouzel Falls

Happy, and a bit wet.

This is just to the left of the falls themselves. I climbed up here, finding quite a bit of snow (which is barely visible in the upper left).

Ouzel Falls

Fireweed

 One of the best parts of dragging yourself out of bed and getting on the trail real early is that you are likely to have the place to yourself. On the way to Ouzel Falls I ran into two or three couples. By the time I made it to the falls and clambered around for a bit, I had the waterfall to myself. There truly is nothing like it - to have solitude, to have lakes and rivers and whole forests to yourself. 

On the way back to the trailhead I ran into plenty of people (some of which are visible in the picture below).

Asters (or daisies?!)

Marioposa Lily