Colorado: from Garden of the Gods to Maroon Bells

In September 2017 we spent six days driving across Colorado — from the red rocks near Colorado Springs to the high mountain roads and lakes of the Rockies.

Garden of the Gods

In Colorado Springs we visited the Garden of the Gods park. The whole park is made up of unusual red rocks. The land for it was once given to the city of Colorado Springs on the condition that the park would stay free forever.

Two jagged red rocks rise above grass and bushes, with mountains visible in the distance between them — Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, September 2017

People go rock climbing here: we saw people scrambling up the rocks.

Sharp red rocks lit by the low sun against a pale sky — The rocks of Garden of the Gods, and Alexandra by a boulder balanced on a narrow support, September 2017

A huge red boulder rests on a narrow stone base; Alexandra stands next to it by the rock — The rocks of Garden of the Gods, and Alexandra by a boulder balanced on a narrow support, September 2017

Fifteen kilometers past lakes

From Colorado Springs we drove to Rocky Mountain National Park. On the way we spent the night at a mushroom spot and picked mushrooms: that night is among the shots that never made it into the blog.

In Rocky Mountain we spent the whole day on the trail and walked about 15 kilometers past lots of lakes. Among them were Bear Lake and Dream Lake.

Pavel with a light blue backpack walks across a wooden footbridge over a stream among spruce trees — On the trail in Rocky Mountain, September 2017

Alexandra in a yellow T-shirt stands on the shore of a mountain lake, with sheer gray cliffs behind it — One of the lakes on the trail, September 2017

And then we headed to a waterfall.

A white stream of water flows down smooth rocks between tall spruce trees — A waterfall, September 2017

A road at 3700 meters

The next day we drove along an amazingly beautiful mountain road. It runs at more than 3000 meters, and its highest point is about 3700. Breathing at that altitude is a bit hard: any movement, even the simplest one, leaves you short of breath.

The mountain road through Rocky Mountain, September 2017

Up at the top, right in the mountains, there is a visitor center, and its windows look out on the mountains too. That's Rocky Mountain for you: it takes your breath away, both literally and figuratively.

Rust-colored high-country slopes with low shrubs, a valley below, and dark mountains under clouds in the distance — By the high road, September 2017

Maroon Bells

We spent one more day driving through scenic Colorado, and then we got up at six in the morning and made it to Maroon Bells. There we went on a short hike to Crater Lake. The trail is lined with white-trunked trees — just like birches.