Latest photos from Rocky Mountain National Park

At this time of year the last of the high country flowers begin to bloom. In some remote locations they can be incredible at this time of year. Yet their beauty is fleeting. Any day now, the first frost will hit these high areas and within a day they will be gone. Sometimes that first frost arrives in the night at the end of July and sometimes it's as late as mid-August. Because it can end at any moment, I savor every moment that I get to enjoy them. 

There are still a lot of wildflowers blooming all over Rocky Mountain National Park. This has actually been a surprisingly good year for wildflowers. I hope you've been able to get out and enjoy them.

Melting snow and meadows of wildflowers are a common find during the month of July in Rocky Mountain National Park's backcountry. Between 9,000 and 11,000' above sea level things are typically very green and full of life at this special time of year. 

Although I've spent over 10 years exploring and photographing this park, I continue to be amazed by its beauty. During the summer season I'm able to get back into little corners that don't see many visitors and these often hold some of the most stunning views. As I was hiking back following a remote sunrise I came around the corner and was delighted by this gorgeous perspective. 

Lately, I've been spending a lot of time all over the park, heading into areas where almost no one ever visits. There are so many beautiful valleys and little lakes all over. At this time of year many areas of the park like this are lush green as the last of the snow melts.

This morning a light rain was falling as the sun rose creating a few minutes of warm and colorful light here in Rocky Mountain National Park. This is looking out towards Twin Sisters Peaks from the lower portion of Trail Ridge Road.

Wildflower filled meadows, rushing streams, and jagged mountain peaks. This is what I think of when I imagine July in Rocky Mountain National Park. This is peak summer season in the high country. It sure doesn't last long, so be sure to get out there and enjoy it while you can. 

This is one of the most idyllic times of year in Rocky Mountain National Park and there's no place I'd rather be than way out in the backcountry of Rocky. It's all so fresh and inviting at this time of year. 

The high mountains are quickly losing their snow as we head into the height of summer in Rocky. Yet that melting snow makes for rushing streams that fill the air with their marvelous music and mist. 

At this time of year elk can be found up in the tundra along Trail Ridge Road. They stay very busy eating the tundra grasses and don't think of much else right now. At this time of year, their antlers grow at an amazing rate, sometimes growing as much as 1" per day. 

Alpine sunflowers and alpine phlox bloom in the high country of Rocky Mountain National Park. This magical period is always so amazing but so short-lived. If you get a chance, drive up Trail Ridge Road and then hike out on one of the trails along the road to enjoy the wildflowers.

On this morning I was on a mountain about six miles back from the trailhead. The sun rose over the Great Plains and was soon swallowed by clouds just above the horizon. It was beautiful, dramatic, and short-lived. 

We've had some really warm weather lately and the snow is melting fast. The good news is that wildflowers are blooming up high carpeting the tundra and announcing that summer has arrived. 

Late in the evening, following a thunderstorm on Trail Ridge Road, the sky filled with these amazing mammatus clouds which created a surreal landscape.

High in the backcountry there is still quite a bit of snow and even frozen lakes as you see here. I love the way the warm light on the mountain costrasts with the dark stormy skies and the icy foreground. I made this photo while out filming a video in Rocky Mountain National Park. It should come out on my YouTube channel on Friday June 20th. 

I spent sunrise this morning up at Chasm Lake at the base of Longs Peak. It was a gorgeous morning up there. Most of the lake was frozen, but this area you see in the photo had opened up. Be aware that there is still a steep snowfield that has to be crossed to get here and the consequences for slipping are serious. It should melt out in the next two weeks or so, making it accessible to everyone. 

Mount Baker is one of my favorite mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park. I love to see it from the Kawuneeche Valley like in this photo or from up on top of the nearby mountains. It is always so impressive. This morning a small band of rain falls on the peak and is lit by the rising sun. 

I was up in the alpine tundra for sunrise this morning and it was looking gorgeous. The snow is melting, the first flowers are blooming, and elk were grazing nearby. Does anyone know where I can find the pause button, so we can enjoy this special time of year for a little longer?

The weather was cold and rainy most of the day, but when I arrived at Odessa Lake, the sun was occasionally breaking through and illuminating the surrounding peaks making for a beautiful scene up at this recently melted lake. The trail up to the lake is not recommended right now as there is still a lot of snow as well as some fallen trees, but that snow should melt in the next couple of weeks. 

It is simply stunning in Rocky Mountain National Park right now whether you are up high in the mountains or simply taking a stroll through Beaver Meadows, everywhere you look the world is full of color and life.

With all the moisture we've had recently everything is very green right now. The mountains still have a fair amount of snow on them as well, which makes for idyllic scenes. This is Mount Meeker and Longs Peak this morning.

Many of the lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park are still covered in snow and ice. On this evening the sky lit on fire at sunset and it reflected off of that snow and ice, creating a wonderful orange glow all around. It was one of the most beautiful nights I've seen this year.

The streams in Rocky Mountain National Park are flowing very fast and full right now with all the snow melting up high. This makes places like Calypso Cascades in the Wild Basin area of the park really stunning to view right now. Just be sure to keep your distance from these streams as they are quite dangerous.

It was a wet morning in Rocky Mountain National Park. Clouds were moving in and out along the with the rain. Everything was so lush and green it felt like being in the Pacific Northwest. These type of days are rare up here and so are greatly enjoyed and appreciated.

The elk babies are beginning to be born in the Estes Valley and in the lower meadows of Rocky Mountain National Park. This young one was just born shortly before I made this photo.

Be sure to stay far away and give them plenty of space. It can be very dangerous to upset a mother caring for her newborn.

Mount Ypsilon is looking pretty this morning at the start of the Memorial Day Weekend. Snow covers the high peaks and down low it is a beautiful spring day. It's hard to beat the weather we're having today!

I love this little grove of ponderosa pines up above Moraine Park. These trees always have such personality and and seem to be so joyful all year long. I really enjoy spending time in the ponderosa forests near the eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.

I spent this day making a video showing the difference in the weather conditions between the low meadows and the high mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park. As you can see, there's still a lot of snow up high as we look across at Longs Peak.

The pre-dawn light was very pretty this morning in Moraine Park and the mountains seemed to loom over the meadow. Nearby were herds of elk grazing on the fresh grass. In a few weeks they will give birth to a new generation and a joyfulness will return to these meadows.

Longs Peak is looking gorgeous this morning with all of that wonderful spring snow from last week's snow storm. Today, the temperature in Estes Park is supposed to reach 76F which is far too warm for this time of year. Fortunately, later this week the temperatures are supposed to go back down to highs in the mid-50s, but over the next couple of day's we're likely to lose a lot of snow on our mountains.

I found this pasque flower surviving in the snow next to Lily Lake this morning. The temperature was a very chilly 20F. Yet this will probably be the last time I see a pasque flower in the snow this year. Today the temperature is predicted to reach almost 70F and the next few days are supposed to be even warmer. So, our beautiful white snow is going to vanish very quickly. So I'm enjoying it while I can.

This morning Longs Peak and all the mountains were covered in a beautiful white blanket of snow while the meadows below are quickly turning to green. It's a wonderful time of year to be in Rocky Mountain National Park!

The last few days have been wet and snowy, mostly snow at the higher elevations and rain at lower elevations. Bear Lake received about 7" of new snow. The storm ended last evening, so this morning I headed up to Dream Lake and it was simply magical with fresh snow covering everything. It's not going to last long though. The sun is out and everything is beginning to melt quite quickly, turning the lower parts of the park various shades of green as life returns.

Fog hovered just over the trees above Beaver Meadow this morning while frost covered the meadow. It was 25F (-4C) this morning which felt a little chilly after the last warm days. We're all hoping for some snow later this week as things are really pretty dry right now.

There was fog hovering over the Estes Valley this morning which made for some great photo opportunities up in Lumpy Ridge. Above the fog was clear sky and it looks like it is going to be a warm and sunny day up here.

This last week has been really beautiful with life returning to the lower parts of the park and snow still covering the higher peaks. On this day I spent a little time up at Gem Lake enjoying the dramatic views of Longs Peak before starting work on a new hiking video that should come out on Monday.