[Gallery] An Iowan’s Escape to the Rocky Mountains, Part 1

Hey everyone, it's Tom Drake here.

My family and I recently took an unforgettable trip to Colorado, specifically to Rocky Mountain National Park, and we had an absolute blast. The 12-hour drive across Iowa and Nebraska were well worth it! We spent five days exploring different places like Gem Lake, Alberta Falls, Dream Lake, and a lot of other amazing spots. The elevation gain was high, especially in areas like Trail Ridge Road, which was really amazing. Overall, my family's trip was an extreme success.

I love hiking through the state of Iowa, but every once in a while, you just have to go a little bit bigger. So join me as I take you through probably one of my best vacations and hiking experiences in the last ten years. For anyone planning a vacation, whether it be in spring, summer, or fall, know that Rocky Mountain National Park gets extremely busy. Earlier or later in the seasons can be good, depending on weather patterns, as they can be unpredictable at high elevations in the mountains.

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We went in early June (3rd - 7th), and as you'll see in some of the photos, there was still snow on the trails. That didn't deter us, except for in one location. As we were heading up towards Emerald Lake, we stopped short at Dream Lake. Dream Lake was amazingly beautiful, but it would have been nice to have finished the full four-lake set. Starting at Bear Lake, we headed to Nymph Lake, then on to Dream Lake, and finally you can make it to Emerald Lake. We turned back at Dream Lake because of the amount of snow that was still left on the trails, which made it very difficult to hike without spikes on. It's always better to be safe rather than sorry.

We stayed in Loveland, CO, and each day drove into Estes Park by way of the Big Thompson Canyon Road. The road is very curvy and windy, as it follows the Big Thompson River.

It can lead to some motion sickness, but the views are amazing, and so is the wildlife that we saw on this trip. Speaking of wildlife, we encountered trout, frogs, elk, moose, marmots, ground squirrels, and much more. Seeing these animals in their natural habitat added an extra layer of excitement and wonder to our adventure.

As I mentioned, this gallery is just part one, so watch for part two as I'll take you through days three and four with lots of other amazing things to enjoy, including a tundra trail at the top of Trail Ridge Road and our highest elevation gain of over 12,000 feet. For all the details and photos on this trip, just keep scrolling. I hope you enjoy part one of my Iowan escape to the Rocky Mountains, and that it inspires you to a new adventure.

Looking for Part 2? It can be found here, as I explore Colorado's Trail Ridge Road, The Alluvial Fan, Tundra Community Trail, the Continental Divide, and much more. Check this Iowa adventure.