Latest photos from Rocky Mountain National Park

I spent much of this day up above tree line in Wild Basin. Bright pink bog laurel and white globeflower were abundant near some of the alpine lakes, though they were reaching their end. It seems like their season is always so fleeting. 

Visitors enjoy the short path at Forest Canyon Overlook with Mount Ida in the background. It was a beautiful morning up in the alpine tundra with lots of small wildflowers: alpine avens, forget-me-not, and sky pilot. 

The Never Summer Mountains as seen from the Gore Range Overlook, just before sunrise on a beautiful June morning on Trail Ridge Road. 

Longs Peak looks over Rocky Mountain National Park during a sunrise deep in the backcountry. 

On this morning the wind was blowing hard and in the distance it was raining over the mountains. This was happening just as the sun rose, which turned the rain and the mountains into a beautiful pink color for a glorious minute or two. 

This morning there was a thick haze in the low valleys of the park and clouds over the eastern plains. I drove up Trail Ridge Road to Rainbow Curve where I could get above it and made a few photos like this that show the layers of hills stretching into the horizon. Haze with side-lighting really brings out all of the different layers of hills that can be seen from this vantage point. Up above in the tundra it was clear blue skies with very little haze. 

This is the time of year when the lower meadows are about as green as they get during the summer season. Everything just feels so alive and joyful at this time of year. You can hear the birds singing, smell the flowers, and enjoy such beauty all around. 

It was another gorgeous early summer morning here in Rocky Mountain National Park. The vegetation even at the higher lakes is appearing. I saw so many little flowers that have just arrived from bog laurel to marsh marigolds. It won't be long until summer is in full swing. This has to be my favorite time of year in Rocky. 

The spires of Flattop Mountain look down on a small stream coming out of Emerald Lake. There is still some snow up here, but it is melting fast. 

Following a rainy night, fog developed in the Endovalley, just west of Horseshoe Park. The leaves on the aspen were bright green and nearby elk were enjoying the fresh green grass. The world was so moist and alive on this morning. It was delightful. 

I'm back following a month away and my first hike was up to Bierstadt Lake. There was just a crack in the clouds on the eastern horizon creating a gorgeous and colorful start to the day. The snow had all melted, making it an easy hike up to the lake. 

Hallett Peak glowed brilliantly at the dawn of the day and reflected in the outlet of Lake Haiyaha as the snow turned to running water. 

A recent snowstorm left a few inches of snow on the mountains making them look much more wintery than they have looked in a while. With threatening clouds overhead and the sun breaking through it really made for a dramatic scene. The mountains you can see in this photo are: Otis, Hallett, and Flattop. 

Longs Peak looks through the clouds and falling snow as a snowstorm arrives from behind it. Soon the mountain would completely disapear and the snow would begin to gather up here. 

The pasque flowers are out, announcing the arrival of spring. They normally arrive around this time and face cold weather and often snow, but this year they are not alone. Aspen trees are beginning to put out their leaves, green grass is flourishing, lakes are melting, and other flowers are beginning to bloom as well. 

It was a very cold and blustery morning up on top of Lumpy Ridge. There was a fresh coat of snow covering a very icy trail as I headed up in the dark this morning. Up top, the wind was howling and I think I was the coldest that I've been all winter. I made a few photos before I lost feeling in my fingers and had to head down. This one was my first view of the sun as it peeked over the ridgeline to the east. 

The first light illuminates Upper Beaver Meadows following a decent snow storm. From this view, you can still see the scar from the East Troublesome Fire which swept through this area in October of 2020. 

On this morning we awoke to about 6" of fresh snow, so I headed into a ponderosa pine forest to see what I could find. I simply love the way that the orange trunks of these trees contrast so beautifully with the white snow. 

Although we've not had much snow this winter, if you get back far enough it can start to feel more like winter. On this morning I skied up to enjoy beautiful Notchtop Mountain and the area was delightfully snowy. 

This morning I spent sunrise up near Emerald Lake. Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain lit up beautifully this morning. They are such dramatic mountains when viewed from here. I always leave with such a sense of awe after seeing them. 

We've started to get a little more snow lately, though not nearly as much as we need. This snow has helped to make everything look a little bit more wintery. When I made this photo it was snowing hard up at Cub Lake. 

There was a little snow last night so I went out to photograph sunrise on the Mummy Mountains. They looked so dramatic and beautiful with that coat of snow and the warm first rays of the sun. 

We've started to get some snow up in the mountains and so I went out and skied up Flattop Mountain yesterday morning. The trees were all covered in snow and there wasn't a breath of wind as I made my way upward. It was definitely starting to feel a bit more like winter in the mountains. 

This dramatic looking formation is part of Sundance Mountain. You can see this view as you travel up Old Fall River Road. I was up there on a hike while filming my latest video. This scene always looks so stunning in the winter. 

Mount Meeker and Chiefshead Mountain stand tall in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park. From this angle you can see why Chiefshead was given its name as it looks like the profile of a man lying down. The best view is from the Old Gallery in Allenspark where you can see the head, belly, and even the feet of this giant. 

Yesterday, I hiked up Flattop Mountain. It was warm and sunny down at the parking area, but as I climbed higher it became more wintery and at the very top the winds were howling and the windchill was below 0F. I made this photo as I returned to tree line. This view looks out at the Mummy Range. As you can see, there's not a lot of snow on the surrounding peaks. We're having the lowest snowpack on record in Colorado. 

On a flowing stream near Sprague Lake the ice that formed around it took on some fascinating shapes that I simply couldn't overlook. There is always so much beauty to be seen in the natural world if you just pay attention. 

The day's first light hits the rarely seen summit of Hallett Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park as clouds cling to the mountains.

On this morning the winds were bitterly cold and blowing very very hard. I was up on top of Deer Mountain and quickly photographed Taylor Peak and the Sharkstooth as clouds quickly blew over the top and around them. 

I climbed up to a high perch to watch the rising sun illuminate Longs Peak. The predawn light in the east was dramatic and cast enough warm light onto the mountain to make this photo work. Just after I made this photo the clouds swallowed up the light and everything quickly returned to a flat gray. For just a few minutes, the wonder of our world was visible, but only to those who were on the lookout for it.

The winds were howling this morning but the stunning scenery made the effort worthwhile. Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain tower over the always interesting ice at Dream Lake at sunrise in early January. 

This was the view at sunrise on January 1st, 2026 looking out at Twin Sisters Mountain from Chasm Lake. I had hoped to get some warm light on Longs Peak this morning, but the clouds moved in and blocked the rising sun. It was still a wonderful day to be out. For full trail conditions on the trail to Chasm Lake, see my update here: rockymountainnationalpark.com/gallery/trail-conditions/

Although we don't have a lot of snow, the ice on the lakes is sure looking pretty. This is from The Loch which was as smooth as glass out in the center areas. The ice was about 8" thick in the middle, though because of the warm weather we've had the edges are sometimes a little thin so be careful. 

A few beams of light break through the clouds to illuminate Hagues Peak and Mummy Mountain. As you can see there is very little snow on the peaks. We're having one of the lowest snow years in memory. Hopefully it will arrive soon!

On this day I took a walk up Old Fall River Road from the Alluvial Fan parking area. Chasm Falls was looking very pretty with lots of ice around the falls. All year round this waterfall is worth a visit. 

The Mummy Range glows at sunrise on the first day of December following one of the first winter snow falls. There is something about the winter that creates such an interesting pastel hued light on many mornings, usually on very cold mornings.