Latest photos from Rocky Mountain National Park

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.  

A Stellars Jay perches on a limber pine near Dream Lake. These highly intelligent birds will sometimes mimic other birds such as raptors to send other birds into hiding so that they can clear out a feeding area. 

This day was stunning with fresh snow on Longs Peak and fog rising up out of Bear Lake on a perfectly calm morning. It was so still that the reflection in the lake was almost perfect. Such days are truly to be savored and enjoyed. 

It has been stunningly beautiful lately and I've been busy out in the park with my camera, but I've fallen behind in posting photos here. This is my busiest time of year with making new photos, making sales, and this year I'm also teaching a workshop. Once everything slows down I'll come back and add lots of new beautiful autumn photos. 

This morning we had a brief minute of colorful light on the eastern horizon which could be seen over Little Horseshoe Park. It was a great start to the day. 

Notchtop Mountain reflects in a small tree line lake at sunrise on a spectacular autumn morning. 

The elk rut is underway. This big bull elk was hanging around outside my house along with his harem of female elk. You can hear their bugles in the air all around Rocky Mountain National Park at this time of year. 

The calm waters of Mills Lake reflect the towering peaks above on a beautiful early September day. I was up there filming a video which will be released on Monday September 8th. 

I spent the day up in the Never Summer Mountains visiting a few places that I haven't been. The weather wasn't ideal for photography, but it gave me a chance to scout out some new locations. Here's a view of a few of Rocky's peaks that few people get a chance to see. The more I explore Rocky Mountain National Park the more amazed I am by all the different perspectives there are to enjoy. I may have to return to photograph this spot with some clouds and warm light.

My wife and I made a hike in Wild Basin. The clouds were low and threatening, but it felt so wonderful to be up near tree line experiencing the drama of the park. As you can see the autumn colors are making their way down the mountain.  

It's a glorious start to the day on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Longs Peak looks down on the late summer scene as the sunrise paints the world with beautiful pastels. 

Low clouds hover over the tundra while spots of sunlight break through on a stormy day in Rocky Mountain National Park. As you can see, the tundra is changing into its autumn colors. 

This morning we were treated to a really colorful sunrise. Once again this is due to the smoke in the air from wildfires far to our north. I think the current round of smoke is coming from Montana. Fortunately, it has been pretty cool and rainy lately and so although we have smoke in the air, our fire danger has dropped dramatically over the last week. For this we are all very very thankful. 

We've finally had some cool and even rainy weather move in to the area. This has even produced some days with low-lying clouds and fog. On this morning I was up at Gem Lake as the clouds moved in and out giving this area a very mysterious feel. Let's hope that the wet weather continues for a while to keep away the growing wildfires. 

I've not done very well at remembering to post here lately. For those of you who watch this page regularly, I do apologize. Here is a photo from a recent evening spent up above tree line. The sunset was really colorful due to the smoke in the air, most of it currently coming from places outside of Colorado. As you can see, the tundra is definitely wearing its autumn colors. 

This time of year is so beautiful in the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park. Most of the snow has gone and the tundra is beginning to take on its autumn colors. This means that it won't be too long until winter returns to the high country. So now is definitely the time to get out and enjoy it while you can. I'm certainly busy trying to put on some miles and visit some of my favorite backcountry locations. 

We had some days filled with wildfire smoke, making photography difficult, but these gorgeous ponderosa pines still looked wonderful despite the smoke. I just love the way each tree has a different shade of trunk in this light and how a couple of trees are just so different from all of the others, breaking the mold and bringing an extra touch of beauty into the forest. 

In some remote parts of Rocky Mountain National Park there are still flowers and lush green grass while higher up the mountain signs of autumn can be seen. This is really the very end of the summer season up high in the park, a time that is not to be missed.