cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

I'm visiting Rocky Mountain National Park in early August for about nine days. Any suggestions for photo opportunities?

don1047 Loc: Colorado

Trail Ridge Road is a must. Sprague Lake, Bear Lake, Adams Falls, yada, yada. They're everywhere.

cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

Thanks so much. I guess I'm interested in the yada, yada.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

The Grand Lake region can supply some pictures of elk and moose. Be sure to visit Estes Park. If you don't mind hiking some the fourteeners, they will provide even more opportunities. It already been said by don1047, the photo opportunities are all over the park.

SilverthorneRuth Loc: Silverthorne, Colorado

Upper Beaver Meadows for birds and maybe bears. I was there two weeks ago and a sow and cubs were near Horseshoe Park and Sheep Lakes. Endovalley and the Alluvial Fan area is amazing after the flood of 2013-very interesting and you might see some bighorns up the hill to the left.

As mentioned, Sprague Lake early in the morning - maybe a moose, but at least beautiful reflections of sunrise in the water. Bear Lake attracts a million people, but it is pretty. Go early. Alberta Falls hike is nice.

Our 2 favorite hikes are to Emerald Lake and Sky Pond. Amazing photo opps!

In Estes Park, there are two photography stores to visit: Alpenglow Images on Elkhorn (Richard Hahn) and Images of RMNP (Erik Stensland) just behind Bond Park. Erik sells a small guide to photography in the park - very helpful if you' re new to the park. Both shops will help you see what's in the park.

You must plan on driving up Trail Ridge before sunrise to catch the early morning sun on Longs' Peak and also stay up there for sunset over the range. Cool clouds build over Longs in the pm.

More moose on the west side (Kawuneeche Valley); marmots at Rock Cut.

You'll love it. Just stop where all the other cars have stopped and you'll see something spectacular! Have fun 📷 🐐 🗻!

OldEarl Loc: Northeast Kansas

You will see some oddities. Mule deer (odocoileus hemionus) does often run with bull elk (cervas elephas canadeisis). In the deer family, the purpose of antlers is attraction of females as well as showing dominance by size. Our friend the wapiti has the size advantage over the muley bucks.

When approaching Elk, do not wander down into a meadow you cannot escape from easily.

If you can get Kurt Dannen's guide to hiking trails, pick one up.

Outdoorsafe Loc: Colorado Springs

When on Trail Ridge Road look for Pika - small "rabbit-like" animals that live in the many rock piles along the road but only at the very highest elevations. Near the highest point in the road there's a rest stop with a bathroom - if you look on the other side of the road you should see both pika and marmots scurring around. There are usually others parked there trying to photograph them.

phys406

You don't say whether you hike. If you do, my favorite hike, and I've hiked a lot in the park, is Chasm Lake, off rte. 7 maybe 8 miles south of town. Spectacularly situated just below Long's Pk. A gradual and not very long hike except for the very end where there is a 100' foot climb with so-so footing. But it's higher altitude than many other hikes. Parking is limited so weekday is better.

Walleyejohn

one of my favorite Natl. parks, opportunities everywhere.

cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

Thanks to you all.

I'm getting shots in my hips, so I hope to be able to hike and to do a little non-technical climbing, like Thatchtop and Sky Pond. I've been there many years ago, and I did bring a camera, but I wasn't thinking of photo ops primarily. So I recall some lovely walks that weren't photographically interesting. And I didn't explore much beyond the Bear Lake neck of the woods.

NormanHarley Loc: Colorado

Did anyone mention Fall River Road? It is a one way dirt road that ends after a long climb on Trail Ridge Road. It is open now for the season.
http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/road_status.htm

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

I'd recommend checking out the ranger-led high mountain meadow walk that starts at the visitor center on the Trail Ridge road. It was an easy hike and very helpful to have a ranger explaining the 12,000 ft. elevation eco system.

Sometimes it seems to stir the creative juices if I hear interesting facts about plants or animals. For example, I took this photo of "The Old Man of the Mountain" flower on that ranger tour. This little sunflower is a perennial which regrows for 20 to 70 years before it finally stores enough energy to blossom and set seed. It blooms for a few brief weeks and then dies.

Old Man of the Mountain

(Download)

jfn007 Loc: Close to the middle of nowhere.

Don't forget your bear spray.