Alpenglow at Lake Haiyaha in Rocky Mountain National Park

Winds were ravaging the lakes up the Bear Lake Trail this morning. A secluded spot near Lake Haiyaha however offered some of the magic at sunrise, with Hallett Peak dominating the scenery

Morning light on Longs Peak

One of my favorite spots on the hike towards Emerald Lake in the Rocky Mountain National Park, is this view towards the magnificent Longs Peak. Pines and sky add to the drama

Trail Ridge Road

Scenic glory from Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved through road in Colorado. 48 miles long Trail Ridge Road connects Estes Park on the park's east side and Grand Lake on the west, across the Continental Divide, and was opened for traffic in 1932. Some 11 miles run above the treeline while its highest point is at an elevation of 12,183 feet (3,687 m).

Morning mist in Kawuneeche Valley

The weather is unpredictable in the Kawuneeche Valley on the west side of the range. Even in summer mornings the valley can suddenly be covered by mist patches

Sprague Lake after the storm

After a thunderstorm peace and quiet returns at Sprague Lake in the Rocky Mountain National Park. The lake and grass shimmer in a beautiful summer evening light. The lake was named after Abner Sprague, explorer, pioneer, homesteader, rancher, civil engineer, resort owner, mountaineer and author. One of the first settlers to the area that is now Rocky Mountain National Park.

Sunrise on Hallett Peak

This sheltered pond near Dream Lake offered the stillness and reflections that the windy lake itself couldn't give this morning. Still, well worth the early rise and hike. Hallett Peak dominates the scenery.

Chaos Creek near Lake Haiyaha

Chaos Creek, flowing into Lake Haiyaha ("Big Rocks"), didn't steal its name

View towards Longs Peak

Bear Lake reflections

© 2016 Marc Haegeman. All Rights Reserved

A moose calf in Kawuneeche Valley

Mom and baby moose didn't mind the buzz they created by appearing suddenly in front of a group of visitors of the Holzwarth Historic Site in the Kawuneeche Valley. They went on feeding, even if some people came much too close, careless of the potential danger. The moose is not for nothing called the most dangerous animal in the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Moose feeding on willows in Kawuneeche Valley

Mom and baby moose didn't mind the buzz they created by appearing suddenly in front of a group of visitors of the Holzwarth Historic Site in the Kawuneeche Valley. They went on feeding, even if some people came much too close, careless of the potential danger. The moose is not for nothing called the most dangerous animal in the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Elk in the tundra

Backlighting from an early morning sun reveals the velvet on the antlers of this magnificent bull elk, up in the tundra of the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Elk in the tundra

One of the most beautiful backgrounds in the Rocky Moutain National Park for wildlife shots.

The rugged peaks of the Rockies

With this telephoto image one can appreciate the scale and grandeur of the peaks in the Rocky Mountain National Park even more. The highest in the Park, Longs Peak, is over 14,000 ft / 4300 m.

The Colorado River in Kawuneeche Valley, close to its sources

Hard to believe that this gentle stream is responsible for creating the Grand Canyon and several more of the American Southwest's most striking geological features. But these are only the beginnings of some 2,300 kms before the Colorado reaches the Gulf of California.

Pink lake

Lily pads color the reservoir pink near Walden, northern Colorado. In the background are the peaks of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness area.