When you’re from the lowlands of Louisiana, having your morning coffee with a majestic view of the Rockies in the distance is awe inspiring. Our perch at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont, CO, gave us a view of the mountains being painted by the rising sun in the morning and a silhouette in the evening. This morning was different. We packed a picnic lunch and set out to explore Trail Ridge Road in the Rocky Mountain National Park.
The highest continuous highway in the United States, Trail Ridge Road has more than eight miles of roadway above 11,000 feet and has a maximum elevation of 12,183 feet. The roadway closely follows the historic pathways used by native peoples to cross the Rocky Mountains. Trail Ridge Road was constructed between 1926 and 1932 opening in July 1932.
We were told Trail Ridge Road is open for approximately two months
per year. Luckily we were able to travel the roadway from beginning to end and enjoy the scenes along the way. Trail Ridge Road covers 48 miles from Estes Park on the east side to Grand Lake on the west side. Eleven miles of the roadway is above the tree line and becomes the Alpine Tundra. Even though no trees are in the Tundra, it is filled with wildflowers and wildlife.
The roadway crosses the Continental Divide at Milner Pass, elevation 10,775 feet. The Continental Divide is interesting since water on the east side flows down to the Mississippi River and Atlantic Ocean while on the west side the water flows down the Colorado River to the Pacific Ocean.
Just off Trail Ridge Road is the Holzwarth Trout Lodge, now part of the Rocky Mountain National Park. The Colorado River runs through the ranch where many original cabins are open to visitors. One of the cabins, the Mama Cabin, is named for Sophia Holzwarth who ran the dude ranch. Other cabins include the main house, ice house, and guest cabins. The ranch operated from 1920 until 1973 giving guest a Western experience.
We ended on trip with a cup of coffee and pastry while relaxing on
the waterfront in Grand Lake.
