It's always a pleasant surprise when you're able to experience the most gorgeous views without the…read moreexertion found with a typical hike. But that's exactly what we experience at Coyote Valley Trail - it's more of a leisurely walk that really showcases all of the beauty held within Rocky Mountain National Park. Your hike will take you through the valley, and you'll see boundless greenery and plenty of trees with the Colorado River running to the side. While we didn't see many animals, we did read that this is a great place for animal sightings. We did catch some moose tracks, though. About 2 miles roundtrip, there's plenty of info plaques, benches, and little scenic stops to enjoy as you meander. While there are some good mud puddles and dips toward the end of the hike, at least the first half would be easily done with a stroller - perfect for families. Lots of mosquitos in the parking lot and at the beginning of the trail - highly recommend you bring some bug spray. While many people enter the park through the Beaver Meadows entrance, Coyote Valley is actually close to the Grand Lakes entrance. This trail was not busy (nor was this entrance) during our visit. So it's possible not as many people come this way, and this beautiful hike is a bit more of a hidden gem.

This is such a pretty area. The short one mile nature trail offers sweeping views of the Kawuneeche…read moreValley and the Never Summer Mountains. Even though I didn't see any, there are all sorts of wildlife in this grassy area. Moose and elk are common in Coyote Valley. If you want to sit and enjoy this area, there are picnic tables and benches along the trail. The Coyote Valley Trailhead is located about five miles north of the Grand Lake Entrance. The Colorado River runs along this trail. The source of the Colorado River begins at La Poudre Pass Lake in the northern part of Rocky Mountain National Park and is not too far from here. It was cool to see this little stream and know that it travels all the way to the Gulf of California and is the same waters that carved out the Grand Canyon.

Hidden Valley is a former ski area that is a junior ranger headquarters in the summer months. There…read moreare picnic tables, restrooms and hiking trails in this area of Rocky Mountain National Park. During busy seasons, a park ranger is on hand to answer questions that you may have. I stopped here and enjoyed walking on the short half mile Hidden Valley Nature Trail. You can enjoy the sounds of water flowing from Hidden Valley Creek as you hike. Hidden Valley Ski Area opened in 1955 and officially closed in 1991. Hidden Valley is located on Trail Ridge Road which closes in the winter.

This scenic, minimal cellphone service drive, was enthralling throughout the entire journey. The…read morebyway passes a few of Colorado's ghost towns, and we visited the Town of Lyons, CO through this byway. In addition to the stunning mountain scenery, this byway also provides a unique close-up look at the Continental Divide. The area is filled with aspen trees, so in the fall it becomes a dazzling quilt of gold, yellow, orange, green and brown. The fall is also a wonderful time to visit the area because it is elk mating season. The route to Lyon's CO, wasn't that long. At most, a 30 minute drive from Estes Park. It does get dark fairly quick, so this drive is recommended during morning hours and daytime. For anyone who's wondering, there is no cellphone service. I was unable to check in at the Saint Catherine's Chapel on the Rock, because my cellphone carrier wouldn't simply allow it. It wasn't a negative mark, in fact I'm grateful for it. This is a place to step back and disconnect from the technology world. There are small resting areas every so few miles. You can step out of your vehicle and find some picnic tables nearby with a wonderful view.

Leaf peepin season in Colorado! Always the perfect drive this time of year. Beginning in Netherland…read moreand drove all the way to Estes Park. There wasn't quite as many aspens as I thought there would be along the scenic drive. When we did come across patches aspens, it was beautiful. For being a weekend, the drive was not overcrowded at all. And it's always great to stop in Netherland and Estes Park for a quick walk and a quick bite.

The Alluvial Fan in Rocky Mountain National Park is a cascade of water flowing down through a…read moreboulder field. It is located off the Old Fall River Road about three miles west of the Fall River Entrance Station. Both the East and West parking lots provide access to the Alluvial Fan. I parked in the East lot and hiked the easy 0.7-mile out-and-back trail that leads to the bottom of the cascading waterfall. The West parking lot has picnic tables and allows access to the top of the waterfall. There are more boulders to climb on this route. There is a 56-foot long bridge that crosses over the river that allows access to the East side. The Alluvial Fan was formed in 1982 when a dam breached at Lawn Lake and brought down tons of water, trees, boulders and other debris into the valley. This fan-shaped area was formed as a result of all of the debris that was deposited. Today, it is a beautiful waterfall that cascades over a field of boulders. I took my shoes off and enjoyed walking and soaking my feet in the crystal-clear water. The surrounding valley and mountain views make it a nice area to relax and enjoy. The Old Fall River Road closes during the winter season.

This is a really lovely part of the park, generally not too busy as it is an offshoot from Bear…read moreLake road (and there isn't a ton of parking). You can take some really nice hikes through the Hollowell meadows and continue on to more strenuous hikes as you wish. They also have some really great picnic spots here, and I don't know about you, but for me a picnic in a beautiful place just cannot be beat!

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is home to hundreds of hiking trails, several of which have…read morebecome nearly as famous as the park itself. Bear Lake and Bierstadt Lake, in particular, attract hikers and nature enthusiasts from around the world. The well-known trails are gorgeous (mere adjectives cannot describe the awesome grandeur of RMNP), but I'm partial to the obscure trails scattered throughout the park. Hollowell Park Trail -- my favorite by far -- is hidden behind two gender-neutral bathrooms* at the end of an unmarked road. It may not be as famous as other trails, but it's every bit as scenic and serene. I'm directionally challenged, but I will attempt to describe how to find it. Approximately one quarter mile past the east entrance of RMNP (the one facing Estes Park), turn left on Bear Lake Road, drive approximately one mile, and then turn left onto a road heading towards the two aforementioned bathrooms. Hollowell is not a strenuous trail, but parts of it are rocky (these *are* the Rockies) and a bit steep, so take your time and be mindful of your footing. The air is noticeably thin in the mountains, so you might be short of breath until your lungs adapt and adjust to the high elevation. I consider myself to be in excellent physical condition, but even my respiratory system works harder than usual in the Rockies. Bring water, rest when you feel fatigued, breathe deeply, and walk at a pace you find comfortable. A hike on the Hollowell Park Trail is like a lesson on the ecology of RMNP. Over the course of a leisurely three-mile hike, I spotted many plants common to the Rockies, such as yellow rabbitbrush, juniper, and arctostaphylos uva-ussi (aka the more phonetically interesting "kinnikinnick"). Kinnikinnick is notable not only for its rounded leaves and tiny, bell-shaped flowers but also for its appeal to black bears and grizzlies. Bears consume the shrub in late fall, which leads to constipation and prevents them from defecating during winter hibernation. See, aren't you glad you follow The Mysterious Ryan M.? Where else on Yelp would you learn about the opportunistic eating habits and gastrointestinal systems of grizzlies and black bears? Yes, bears are common throughout RMNP, so exercise caution and common sense, especially if you find yourself alone on a seldom-traveled trail such as Hollowell. The signs posted prominently at the beginning of the trail advise hikers to stand their ground if confronted and to fight back when necessary. I propose an addendum to the signage: "When fighting back fails, poke the bear in the eye with your bleeding stump." Hollowell Trailhead was not listed on Yelp, so I performed my civic duty and added it myself. I can't think of a better way to spend an afternoon in the Rocky Mountains. The sentimental part of me wants to keep Hollowell my little secret, but the larger, narcissistic part of me wants credit for exposing Yelp to such a gorgeous, seldom-seen part of the Rockies. *When you check in on Yelp, you can answer "yes" in response to the question, "Are there gender-neutral bathrooms?" Yelpers are dying to know. The Hollowell Park Trailhead does not offer karaoke. Kosher options refer only to Orthodox Jewish hikers consumed by wildlife.

"Roof of the Rockies."…read more I stopped at every viewpoint on Trail Ridge Road when I was driving through Rocky Mountain National Park. It is the highest continuous paved road in the United States (48 miles). Rock Cut Overlook has an elevation of 12,110 feet and has parking on both sides of the road. They call it Rock Cut because of the large boulder that had to be cut into for the highway to go through. What I like about this stop is the amazing view of the mountains across the street. One of the mountains has a tarn inside of it. Tarns are small, mountain lakes or pools that formed in glacial basins or cirques. There is a short half mile trail called Tundra Communities Trailhead that you can walk on. It begins at the Rock Cut parking lot. Stay on the paved trail to protect the fragile tundra plants all around. It takes years for them to grow back. Trail Ridge Road is only open during the summer season.

The amazing snowy mountain views just keep coming with Rock Cut Overlook, you might spot the elk…read moreherd grazing on the grass nearby. From here Tundra Communities Trail starts (depending on the weather). Most people have never experienced the tundra wilderness before, which makes the opportunity to hike along this trail such an incredible and eye-opening adventure! Some amazing plants and animals have adapted to live and thrive up here. The Tundra Communities Trail is 1-mile roundtrip and paved with interpretive signs along the way. Be advised that pets are not permitted on this trail.

I was able to visit Chasm Falls over the summer. To get here, you have to drive on the Old Fall…read moreRiver Road that starts at the winter closure gate near Endovalley. This gravel road is one-way and only opens in the summer. The road eventually ends up at the Alpine Visitor Center. It is a 11-mile winding scenic road with Chasm Falls being a few miles into the drive. Chams Falls is a beautiful waterfall and is a short walk from the parking lot. The parking lot only holds a small number of cars. There is a viewing platform that you can watch the waterfall from. The waterfall drops 25 feet through a narrow granite chasm. There are also gorgeous views of a narrow canyon to the east of Chasm Falls. When Old Fall River Road is closed in the winter season, you can walk or bike the roughly 2 mile trail up and back to Chasm Falls from the winter closure gate. There is parking near the Endovalley Picnic Area.

Stanley Park is a beautiful park in Estes Park that is located right next to Lake Estes. This place…read morehas all sorts of things to do. Stanley Park has bike paths, a skate park, playground, a few ballfields, tennis and pickleball courts and a dog park. On occasions, this park will host concerts and festivals. I was in town for a 5K run that was supposed to take place here. But the event was canceled due to some nearby wildfires that were causing smoke to fill the air. I ended up doing the run virtually on the sidewalk and enjoyed the beauty of the surrounding area. You can get a glimpse of the mountains from Rocky Mountain National Park in the background. The bike park course is open to the public and to non-mountain bikers too. The perimeter track can also be used for running, walking your dog and horseback riding. The paved part can also be used for bikes, skateboards and roller skates. If you don't have a bike, they have bike rentals nearby. After I finished my run, I spotted an Elk hanging around grazing the grass.