Day 4, Rocky Mtn NP

 We drove north to Estes Park, at the entrance to RMNP, late in the afternoon of day 3. Got ourselves settled and did a stop at the visitor center and an easy dinner. The plan for day 4 was focused on a hike at Bear Lake in the park. It's a bit tricky because we needed park passes plus a timed entry pass for each day at the park. Connie managed to get the best passes when they became available the evening before.

So day 4 started with an early breakfast at The Egg and a walk about at the town before our 11 AM timed entry to the park. Weather was beautiful and it was about a 10 min drive to the shuttle and another 10 min to Bear lake. 

We were concerned about the 9500 ft elevation so planned to do the 3/4 mile hike with little elevation change around Bear Lake. Connie and I handled the hike with no problems so decided on a second hike.

The second hike was round trip to Nymph Lake, which involved about a 200 foot elevation climb and a moderate mile hike. All was well and the scenery at the two lakes was beautiful in very different ways.

On the ride out of the park there was a herd of elk in a meadow and a large buck, with magnificent antlers, very close to the road. We got some great pictures of the herd and the buck.

Back down to Estes Park for dinner. 

Here are photos of the day --

Bear Lake 
At Bear Lake 
Nymph Lake 
Nymph Lake 
Elk herd
Big daddy!

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