I'm saying it's a great way because it was only a 200' elevation gain throughout the .7 mile one-way hike to the falls. This will mean so much more to you later when I tell about the other hikes we took in RMNP.
The falls were a beautiful, worthwhile trip and it was an easy hike to see such grandeur. The falls were named after Alberta Sprague the wife of Abner Sprague, one of the original settlers in the Estes Park area. Abner was also the first person to pay a fee in as a visitor to enter Rocky Mountain National Park in 1939. The name "Sprague" should be familiar since we also hiked around Sprague Lake earlier in the week.
Here's Gary standing closer to the top of the falls. I was actually quite a ways away from him when I took this photo but eventually joined him, carefully stepping over the rocks and ridges to get up on that rock outcropping.
This is Glacier Creek which Alberta Falls flows into. This was taken on our hike back. You can see the fall colors just starting to turn along the creek.
This one-sided bridge crosses Chaos Creek at the beginning of the trail. You can see the trail meandering off to the left.
From Alberta Falls we headed back to Trail Ridge Road and Horseshoe Park. From a turn-out you get these spectacular views of this expansive part of the park. Our time in Colorado has been filled with these beautiful azure skies and puffy white cotton clouds.
The three peaks below are (from left to right) Mount Chiquita (13,068'), Ypsilon Mountain (13,514'), and Fairchild Mountain (13,502'). The lighter green patch on the mountain right in the middle of the photo is an alluvial fan which you can see a little better in the next photo (the second picture I zoomed in on the mountains). The road to this area was closed due to flood damage last year.
Why is the park called Horseshoe? You'll see why below! The Fall River meanders through the park creating these oxbow curves which is why they think settlers may have named the park Horseshoe.
Psalms 147:10-11
He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness.
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