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Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is a must-visit destination when traveling to Colorado. The park is known for its stunning views and abundance of wildlife, making it a perfect location for photographers to capture a wide variety of photo opportunities. Whether you are an experienced hiker or prefer to stay by the road, there are plenty of options year round for capturing breathtaking landscapes and wildlife in the park.
The Rocky Mountain National Park is an absolute paradise for wildlife and nature enthusiasts, as it offers a plethora of opportunities to capture some of the most stunning and mesmerizing moments in nature through the lens. The park is blessed with a diverse range of animals, including large herds of elk, marmots, eagles, foxes, deer, and moose. These animals roam freely around the park, and the calm nature of these creatures makes it easy to capture them on camera. If you’re a wildlife photographer, you’re in for a treat as you can capture some of the most spectacular shots of these animals in their natural habitat.
But that’s not all the park has to offer. The Rocky Mountain National Park is also renowned for its wildflowers. From the Rocky mountain columbine to Bluebells, Fairy Slippers, Monkshood, Wild Strawberry, Snow Buttercup, Western Spiderwulf, and more, the park is home to a variety of wildflowers that bloom in different seasons, making it an ideal location for wildflower photo enthusiasts. The park’s diverse range of flora and fauna make it a must-visit destination for anyone who appreciates the beauty of nature and loves to capture it on camera.
Sprague Lake, located in the lower area of Rocky Mountain National Park, is a popular destination for visitors and photographers due to its stunning views of snow-capped peaks reflecting on the mirror-like water. It is easily accessible and best visited at dawn to capture the West facing mountains glowing with morning light and the still morning air creating a perfect glass effect on the lake.
A short hike from the road near Moraine Park, Alberta Falls is a great spot for photographers to capture the beauty of waterfalls with long exposures using a neutral density filter and tripod. Continuing up the trail leads to more photo opportunities at Glass Lake, Mills Lake, and The Loche, but requires a good ten miles of hiking to hit all three attractions.
Moraine Park is a large meadow that embodies serenity and calmness. The best times to visit are at dawn or dusk, as the Eastern sun adds a beautiful glow onto the mountain faces on the West side of the meadow, while in the evening, the mountains create amazing silhouettes in front of colorful skies. Elk can also be seen moving through the morning fog in the area, creating great photo opportunities without tourists and cars getting in the way.
The Upper Beaver Meadows area, located not far from Moraine Park, is a good location to photograph the 14,000+ foot Longs Peak that dominates the landscape.
Bear Lake Trail Head is a perfect way to see four amazing high altitude lakes in one enjoyable hike. Bear Lake is the easiest to reach and one of the most popular, with Nymph Lake and Dream Lake reflecting the large peaks surrounding them. Emerald Lake, located on the trail past Nymph Lake and the north shore of Dream Lake, offers breathtaking views of the steep mountains rising from its shore.
In the upper areas of Rocky Mountain National Park, Trail Ridge Road is a must-see during the photography tour, providing amazing views well above the treeline and plenty of opportunities to capture wildlife such as elk, marmots, and eagles. Notable locations to take photos include Gore Range Overlook and Forest Canyon Overlook. Chasm Falls, located alongside the Old Fall River Road, is an attractive waterfall that can be photographed without hiking.
