The Wild West

Wild Basin is a scenic trail, the southeastern entrance into Rocky Mountain National Park and the less traveled area of the park compared to its northern counterparts. That doesn't mean the beauty isn't there--here we had the opportunity to witness some of the best and most  pristine scenery the National Park has to offer although we had to work a little harder to get there!

A dirt road leads to a ranger station, parking and horseback or hiking trails.  It was from this eastern side of the park that we had a great hike up to Copeland Falls and then further up to Calypso Cascades (see one-way miles below).  The Wild Basin Trailhead also leads to a number of lakes (some as far away as an 8-mile hike) in the area.  The last lake on the hike, Snowbank Lake, has a 3,021 foot gain in elevation, and remember you're starting at 8,500 foot elevation.  Do I need to really tell you we didn't do that???

 

It's a short hike up to Copeland Falls, but you're walking along Cony Creek (which is catch and release only) the whole way and you know how much I love the sound of water rushing so it made our whole hike so very pleasant.  

As I mentioned earlier, you drive in on a dirt road to get to the trailhead.

Here's Gary at the beginning of the trail.  Doesn't he look like a happy hiker?  I think he kinda looks like a sourpuss in this photo.  He sometimes gets annoyed with me for wanting to take his pic ... I say, "Just deal with it, okay?"

Our short hike reaped great reward with Copeland Falls.  Not exactly the tallest waterfall (is that an under-exaggeration if you've ever heard one before?), but it was a pretty site.  These are the lower falls (which indicates there are upper falls as well).

 

And here are the upper Copeland Falls.

 

It was a rigorous last 1.5 miles up to Calypso Cascades but once again so worth the hike and the great outdoor exercise! Here's a view of our trail.

And now for the tumbling Calypso Cascades ... so beautiful!

 

This bridge crosses the creek right at the Cascades and provided a perfect photo opp!

And to top it all off, how about some sound affects with that water?  I couldn't resist videoing the falls so you could experience the lullaby sounds of the rushing waters.  Sorry it's sideways ... how easily I forgot that I can't do portrait with video and need to stick with landscape!  I hope you enjoy the sounds of many waters like I do!

This blog ends our Rocky Mountain High experience.  Next up?  Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and the beautiful mountain-surrounded town of Ouray (pronounced Your-way) where the Fall colors were splashed all over the mountainsides.

Psalms 93:4

More than the sounds of many waters, than the mighty breakers of the sea, 

the LORD  on high is mighty.